Basilica of Agios Achilleios
On the islet of Agios Achilleios in Little Prespa, among stones marked by centuries of history, lie the remains of one of Greece’s most emblematic Byzantine basilicas. Built by Tsar Samuel at the end of the 10th century (c. AD 986–990) to house the relics of Saint Achilles, this three-aisled, timber-roofed basilica still impresses with its large scale and architectural grandeur. The stepped synthronon in the apse bears witness to its episcopal character, while in the diaconate a cist tomb, attributed to the patron saint, is preserved. The surviving fragments of 11th- and 12th-century frescoes reveal the monument’s later interventions and the different phases it underwent over time. Reaching the site via the pedestrian bridge that crosses the lake is an experience in itself—one that feels like stepping into the past, where nature embraces history.
