The Northern side of Komotini city stretches out to the forest of Nimfaia with the very tall pine-trees and with the resting places which were especially created by the Forest Inspection for the visitors. A true lung for the town and for its inhabitants is the forest of pine-trees of Nimfaia, where the ruins of the Byzantine fortress are preserved at its highest point. At the same level there is a communal pavillion, form where, along with good and tasty food, one can savour a unique sight of Komotini's plain until the waters of Thracian open sea.
Still westwards the road passes by the picturesque place of lasmos (2.732 residents), lasmos town, according to tradition, was founded by the inhabitants of the neighbouring Byzantine town Peritheorio. At the 15^th km of the provincial road Komotini-Xanthi, through lasmos, there are some towers left from the fortification encJosed grounds which bear the stamp of the Imperial monogram. There are the impressive ruins of the Byzantine Peritheorion, town that succeeded the Roman Anastasioupoli.
The carnival of Sapes is famous by virtue of the fact that it gathers a multitude of people, both locals and foreigners. The picturesque agora of the town has an intensive local colour. The abundant green vegetation of this place can be seen from the last buildings of this town spreading to the forest which has plenty of oak-trees, pine-trees and albutus. At the amphetheatrical site of the city settlements for the repatriated were made.
From Gratini northwards lies the mountaneous settlement Paterma where one can still see the ruins of the little one room Byzantine church and the wallless settlement. An arched stone path bridges the ravine taking you over the river Paterma. The place of an extraordinary natural beauty offering the tourist a magnificent flora and freshness of riverwater, is a must for anyone wishing to spend a day in nature. It is for this reason that the Forest Inspection Department has had a special place built for recreation and amusement.
A precious spellbounding asset for the Prefecture of Rodopi that will always attract new tourists are the rich water wildlife sanctuaries. The area has been endowed with a unique natural beauty and the picturesque coast offers views that go beyond imagination.
A combination of the grandiose mountain Ismarou and the coast with sunny beaches, lakes and lagoons is ideal for any type of activity. Vistonida lake and Ismarida lake along with a group of five other lagoons offer the ideal conditions for a rich flora and bird fauna.
Vistonida lake lies in the western part of the Prefecture down the Old National Highway between the Prefecture of Xanthi and that of Rodopi being an extension of the intimacy of Porto Lagos. It is a wide lake basicaly quite shallow which is separated from the sea by a single strip of land.

An exceptional place in the Rodopi Prefecture is the one that ends at the historical picturesque Maronia 30 km far from Komotini. A little bit before the town of Xilagani (17 km) on the left side one can see some parts of the fortification of the Acropole of Ergani (13^th-12^th century B.C.). From Xilagani there are two ways to Maronia, both in the unique colours of the surroundings. To South West direction, the road goes to the Imeros village, making a bigger circle. Its beach is sandy with shallow clear water and has at its disposal a touristic pavillion and an area of pine trees right next to the beach. In the little harbour of Imeros or at the pisciculture of the region one can find fresh fish or sea food.
The road continues its course to the coastal settlements of the Profitis Ilias, of Alkiona and of Plataniti, which apart from the very clean beaches of Thracian open sea, are gradually and continuously developing with new hotels and fish taverns, built next to the coast. Before arriving to Profitis Elias, one goes through a little water wildlife sanctuary, which is very rich as far as its flora and fauna are concerned. The swans, the erodioi and many other species of birds offer a veritable magic site to the visitor.

The destination of all this itinerary is Maronia, to which one can arrive very quickly using the briefest road passing through Prokinites village. After Proskinites village on the left side of the road, one will find a cave with rich natural embellishments: stalactites and stalagmites. Tradition attributes this cave to the cyclope Polifimo. The investigation was made by the Greek Speleological Company. This cave can't be visited yet, but it's bound to be soon open to visitors.
Maronia, built on the hillside of Ismaros, is picturesque with its restored houses, with the churches of the 18^th century, of Holly Mary and of St. John Prodrome, with traces from all periods of its long-lasting history. The square in the centre of the settlement functions as a balcony, from where someone can see the Olive trees and the thracian open sea. The longevive plane trees of the square and the taverns with the fried lamb constitute the pole of attraction for the summer months.