From the Zagori villages to Mountainous Arcadia, Travelgo.gr recommends 5 picturesque villages that are ideal for the first autumn weekends. Enchanting landscapes, outdoor activities and traditional cuisine.
Autumn is just a breath away and the upcoming weekends are perfect for refreshing escapes into nature. For mountain lovers, we handpicked 5 wonderful villages, from the Zagorochoriato Mountainous Arcadia, ideal for getaways this time of year. Plane tree-shaded squares, cobbled lanes, forests, lakes and traditional tavernas create the perfect backdrop for relaxation and tranquility.
Elliniko, Arcadia
A lesser-known village between Stemnitsa and Karytaina, Elliniko, built on three hills at an elevation of 700 m., on the southwestern slopes of Mainalo, is an ideal destination for escapes in nature’s embrace. The houses retain their traditional form and a stroll through the lanes transports you to another era. In the central square of Agia Triada the imposing two-story school building that once housed the village’s primary school will impress you. Enjoy a Greek coffee or a tsipouro at the traditional cafés on the square and visit the village’s Ecclesiastical Museum with its two impressive chandeliers.
With charming guesthouses and two little tavernas, Elliniko has everything you need to spend a peaceful weekend in the mountains,while it also makes a good base for discovering some of the area’s loveliest sights. Nature lovers will find their paradise in the enchanting Lousios Gorge with its many trails and beautiful monasteries, enjoying activities such as cycling, hiking and rafting on the river. Be sure to also see Ancient Gortyna, the famed sanctuary of Asclepius in antiquity. Its ruins lie beside the Lousios River, at an altitude of about 350 m.
Zarouchla, Achaia
In about two and a half hours from Athens, you can be in a picturesque place that blends peerless natural scenery, serenity and nature-based activities. Built at an altitude of 1.100 meters on the slopes of Chelmos, amid firs and chestnut trees, Zarouchla is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful villages of Achaia. In the settlement you will find lovely guesthouses and cozy tavernas to savor local flavors, while your eye will be drawn to the imposing tower houses, some of which have been restored.
Naturally, you won’t skip an excursion to the enchanting Lake Tsivlou (half an hour from Zarouchla), an important wetland with rich flora and fauna. Perched at an altitude of 700 meters, it was formed in 1913, when a major landslide in the area blocked the bed of the Krathi River. The area lends itself to a host of activities, from hiking to horseback riding, mountain biking, and even 4x4 drives that will thrill the more adventurous in the group.
Chrysso, Fokida
Built at the foot of Parnassos, just 8 km from Delphi, Chrysso is one of the most beautiful traditional villages of Fokida. Restored houses surrounded by lush gardens, two squares, many stone churches, traditional cafés and tavernas where you will savor tasty meat from local producers create the perfect setting for relaxation and calm. The view is captivating, as the olive groves of Amfissa, the beach of Itea and Galaxidi unfold before you. From Chrysso, you can venture to Delphi, head up to Arachova or descend for strolls by the sea.
Vourgareli, Tzoumerka
Built on the fringes of theTzoumerka, between two fir-clad ridgelines that protect it like a natural embrace with lush vegetation and running waters, Vourgareli is ideal for escapes into nature. The village is built at an altitude of 750 m. and encircled by a dense fir forest. It is 58 km from Arta and the route is enchanting. The first stop in Vourgareli includes coffee in the central paved square with the enormous plane trees. From here the view of the mountains is mesmerizing, as if you were on a large balcony.
Above the village you will see the Monastery of Agios Georgios, where the captains of Roumeli and Epirus declared the revolution in Tzoumerka. A significant sight is also the 13th-century Red Church with its famed frescoes, set in a verdant idyllic landscape in the settlement of Palaiochori, 3 km south of the village. Its name obviously derives from the reddish color of the bricks from which the church’s masonry is made.
Ano Pedina, Zagorochoria
With a small plateau at its feet, well-preserved stone houses, neatly kept cobbled lanes and quality guesthouses, this picturesque and serene village of Central Zagori is an ideal choice for those seekinga good base to explore the area. Ano Pedina is built at an altitude of 960 meters on the southern slopes of Tymfi and about 35 kilometers from the city of Ioannina. The village is a designated traditional settlement, as it preserves the characteristic Zagori architecture. Everywhere you look you see well-preserved houses and mansions, fully in harmony with the superb natural environment. A major sight is the Monastery of Evangelistria, at the entrance to the village. Other monuments include the church of Agios Dimitrios (1793) and the old school where the Library of Neofytos Doukas with rare volumes is housed.
The location of Ano Pedina is ideal for getting to know the area, totraverse the Vikos Gorge and to go rafting on the Voidomatis. It is worth taking a stroll through Kato Pedina, as well as to the neighboring settlement of Elafotopos, while nearby you will find many interesting villages (Vitsa, Monodendri, Aristi, Papigo, etc.), old churches and stone bridges.
