GUIDE FOR THE MUNICIPALITY OF ZAGORI
The inhabitants of Zagori villages coexist in perfect harmony with the natural environment. Snowy peaks, gorges and rivers, wild animals and birds make up a rich ecosystem. In this idyllic environment, people used the local stone to create picturesque villages. Stone houses, churches and monasteries, cobbled streets and stone-built bridges create an architectural whole which is unique to this region of Greece.
Here you will find the Vikos-Aoos Geopark, which belongs to the UNESCO Global Network of National Geoparks and is part of the North Pindos National Park. The Vikos Gorge is a living natural history museum. Its depth is truly impressive, as is its biological wealth, and the mountainous countryside is home to varieties of plants found nowhere else in the world, as well as to rare mammals, birds and reptiles.
At Monodendri, you can pay a visit to the petrified forest at Oxia, the Rizarios Exhibition Centre, the monastery of Agia Paraskevi at the entrance to the Vikos Gorge, and the ruins of the Molossian settlement on the road to Vitsa. At Kapessovo it is worth visiting the Paschaleio School and climbing the Vradeto Steps, a stone-paved stairway consisting of 1100 steps, which makes for a stunning hiking trail. Looming over Papingo, the most well-known village of Zagori, are the renowned Towers of Astraka, giant rock formations promising extraordinary experiences! Swim in the chain of natural pools (known as ‘ovires’) at Rogovo, see the Provatina Chasm, the second deepest in the world, and enjoy the excellent climb up to the fairytale Drakolimni Lake on Mount Tymfi, a popular destination for hikers. You can also learn about the area’s natural wealth and cultural heritage in the following museums: The Lazaridis Flora and Fauna Museum at Koukouli, the Agapios Tolis Folk Art Museum at Kipi, the Economides Museum at Elafotopo and the Sarakatsaniki Stani, a recreated village and open-air museum at Gyftokambos, near Skamneli. Take a stroll around the traditional villages and admire the famous stone Zagori bridges of Noutsos, also known as Kokkoros, the bridge of Plakidas or ‘Kalogerikos’, as well as the bridges of Missios, Kamber Aga, Vovousa and so many others.
Visit the monasteries of Voutsas at Greveniti, Spilaiotissa at Aristi and Agios Ioannis Rogovos at Tsepelovo.
At the headquarters of the Municipality, Asprangeli, there is the Northern Pindos National Park Information Center, and there are other info-kiosks at Vovousa and Mesovouni.
The hiking trails in the area, between Monodendri and Vikos, and Tsepelovo, Tsuka and Rosa are very much worth exploring, as are the footpaths that connect the villages. There is also the excitement of paragliding at Asprangeli, horse riding at Kato Pedina, canyoning at Vikos, kayaking and rafting on the Voidomatis River, as well as mountain biking along the forest roads. There are mountain refuges for walkers in the area at Astraka and Vovousa.
Activities
Experiences
Epirus manages to be a one-of-a-kind destination: an enviable combination of cultures and traditions, with a natural environment unique in Greece, and it never fails to surprise and delight its visitors. Epirus is located in the north-west corner of Greece and is an ideal travel destination all year round.
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Epirus manages to be a one-of-a-kind destination: an enviable combination of cultures and traditions, with a natural environment unique in Greece, and it never fails to surprise and delight its visitors. Epirus is located in the north-west corner of Greece and is an ideal travel destination all year round.
