Stone, tradition, fresh air and authentic mountain flavors. Five picturesque mountain villages in Epirus, ideal for Christmas getaways.
In Epirus you’ll find some of the most beautiful Greek mountain villages. Far from the city noise, the stone-built settlement-gems in this special region of Greece offer moments of tranquility with endless doses of enchanting nature and tradition.
Stone everywhere, crisp mountain air, crackling fireplaces, views of snow-capped peaks and unforgettable flavors. Can you think of a better setting for Christmas holidays? We put together a list of some of Epirus’s most beautiful mountain villages for festive getaways.
Metsovo
Built amphitheatrically at 1,150 m. on one of Pindus’s loveliest slopes, amid beeches and firs, Metsovo is a year-round favorite, but in winter, half-veiled in mist or wrapped in a white mantle of snow, it is simply enchanting. Traditional architecture, authentic mountain flavors and the unique beauty of Epirote nature make this stately town in the prefecture of Ioannina one of the most popular mountain destinations in Greece.
Upon arriving in Metsovo you’ll leave the car to wander the cobbled alleys, see the mansions with covered verandas and heavy wooden doors, the stone fountains and the local shops selling folk art. Metsovo’s central square is one of the most famous in mountainous Greece, with thousands of visitors posing beside the landmark sculpture of the two bears. A stop at a taverna is a must, to try divine pies, kontosouvli, kokoretsi and, of course, Metsovone,the famous smoked cheese. Visit the superb Folklore Museum of the Tositsa Foundation (Tositsa Mansion), the Averoff Gallery, as well as the Katogi Averoff winery, where the eponymous wine is bottled.
Papigo
You can’t travel to the Zagori villages and not visit Megalo and Mikro Papigo, two of its best-known villages, about three kilometers apart. Megalo Papigo at an elevation of 900 m. and Mikro Papigo at 980 m. offer one of the most alluring settings for winter holidays in Epirus and make an ideal base for exploring the entire surrounding area.
A stroll along the cobbled lanes reveals well-preserved houses of Zagori architecture, churches and stone fountains, while the imposing "towers" of Astraka rising above the settlements command the gaze. Notable options for lodging and dining, as well as opportunities for thrilling hiking routes (from Mikro Papigo starts the trail to the Dragon Lake of Tymfi, one of Greece’s best-known alpine lakes), attract travelers seeking relaxation, atmosphere and adventure in nature.
Dilofo
Dilofo is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and best-preserved villages of Zagori. Built at an altitude of about 900 m. on the slopes of Tymfi and 32 km from Ioannina, thesettlement has been designated traditional and is an outstanding example of Zagori architecture. All buildings are made from local slate.
Leave the car at the entrance to the village (no vehicles circulate inside the settlement) and begin your wander through the village’s atmospheric setting of narrow cobbled lanes, magnificent mansions (such as the 13.5-meter-high Makropoulos Mansion- said to be the tallest house in Zagori), stone fountains and a lovely central square with a huge plane tree.Sights in the village include the imposing Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos (1850), the Anagnostopouleios School, which operated as a Boys’ School and later as a primary school, as well as two stone bridges (Agios Minas and Kapetan Arkoudas) located near the village.
Syrrako
Built on a slope of Mount Lakmos, at an elevation of 1,200 meters and 52 kilometers southeast of Ioannina, Syrrako is one of Epirus’s loveliest villages. A declared traditional settlement, with stone houses roofed with slate slabs, well-made cobbled lanes and many carved fountains with running water. Cars stay outside the village.
After parking at the village entrance, follow the stone-paved path that will lead you to the center of the settlement. In the picturesque square stand two large plane trees and the covered stone Gouras fountain with ice-cold mountain water. Syrrako is the birthplace of great figures. Among them the first constitutional prime minister of Greece, Ioannis Kolettis, the poet and fighter of 1821 Georgios Zalokostas and the renowned poet and author Kostas Krystallis. Krystallis’s parental home has been converted into a folk art museum.
Vourgareli
Built on the fringes of the Tzoumerka, at an altitude of 750 m., between two fir-clad ridge lines that protect it like a natural embrace with lush vegetation and running waters, Vourgareli is ideal for escapes into nature. The village is 58 km. from Arta and the route is enchanting. When it snows, the fir-covered peaks create a fairytale setting. Your first stop in Vourgareli includes coffee in the central cobbled square with its enormous plane trees. From here the view of the mountains is mesmerizing, as if you were on a grand balcony.
Above the village you will see the Monastery of Agios Georgios, where the chieftains of Roumeli and Epirus declared the revolution in Tzoumerka. Another significant attraction is the 13th-century Red Church with its famous frescoes, set in a lush, idyllic landscape in the settlement of Paleochori, 3 km. south of the village.
