Cave of Kokkali | Vrodero

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Cave of Kokkali | Vrodero

Just outside the village of Vrontero, you will discover the well-hidden “Cave of Kokkalis”, which is an important memorial site of one of the most difficult periods in the modern history of Greece. It is the cave -visible today- that housed the last hospital of the guerrillas of the Democratic Army during the civil war. In 1948 and towards the end of the civil war, the guerrillas were confined around the lakes of Prespa. There was thus a need to find a place where a hospital for the wounded would be set up. The location of Spilia between the West bank of the small Prespa River and the Greek-Albanian border provided security and good accessibility. Its original area was about 70 sq. m., but with various opening interventions it was enlarged to cover the basic needs. Just before the entrance, you will pass a small wooden bridge. In addition to the main chamber, there are other smaller chambers, circulation corridors, and the wooden staircase leads to the upper level, where lofts were created to make the most of the space. The cave was named after the excellent and pioneering surgeon Peter Kokkalis (father of the well-known businessman Socrates Kokkalis), who operated in the cave. He had even served as Minister of Health of the ‘mountain government’ during this period.

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