From the breathtaking landscapes of Valia Calda to the famed Vlach villages, Grevena gives you many reasons to discover and fall in love with it.
Picturesque villages, dense forests, rivers and striking stone bridges. Grevena hides treasures and places of incomparable beauty that are worth visiting at least once. From the magnificent landscapes of the Valia Calda National Park to the famed Vlach villages, Grevena gives you many reasons to get to know it and fall in love with it. It is one of the most distinctive destinations in Northern Greece for those who love nature, exploration and adventure. Below, we have gathered all the reasons to travel to this region of Western Macedonia.
The city of mushrooms
For years, Grevena has been Greeces capital of mushrooms. The mushroom is part of local tradition and a symbol of the city, decorating parks and squares. Beyond the Mushroom Museum (in the village of Lavda, 35 km from the city of Grevena), you will find restaurants that serve dishes solely with mushrooms, as well as shops that sell them in every form. In the area, alternative tourism agencies operate that organize mushroom foraging excursions, while every August the Panhellenic Mushroom Festival takes place in the city. Explore the city starting from the two central squares: Eleftherias Square, where the stone clock tower dominates (also known as Clock Square) and Aimilianos Square where the heart of entertainment beats.
Excursion to the Vlach villages of Grevena
Perched on the slopes of Pindus, amid bridges and dense forests, the Vlach villages of Grevena keep tradition alive. The most famous Vlach village is Samarina (50 km from the city of Grevena), famed for its natural beauty, abundant cold waters and healthy climate. Due to its elevation (ranges between 1,450 and 1,600), every winter Samarina is adorned with snow, though the village is beautiful in the other seasons too. The women of the village weave thick woolen textiles, blankets and rugs, while the villages dristeles, otherwise known as natures washing machines, are wonderful. Smixi (40 km from Grevena) is the closest village to the Vasilitsa ski resort from the Grevena side. Other well-known Vlach villages of Grevena are Perivoli, Avdella and Kranea.
The stone bridges of Grevena
The stone bridges of Grevena are the largest and most impressive in all of Macedonia. Notable for the size of its arch is the bridge of Aziz Aga, near the village of Trikomo. It spans the Venetiko river (a tributary of the Aliakmonas) and has the widest arch among the surviving bridges of Macedonia, reaching 15 meters and a total length of 70 meters. Equally impressive is the Portitsa bridge, built at the foot of the gorge of the same name outside the village of Spilaio. The short-length gorge and the stone double-arched bridge at its entrance compose a unique landscape of wild beauty. The two enormous rocks that rise like the Symplegades behind the bridge inspire awe, while the scene is completed by the emerald waters of the Venetiko river.
Valia Calda: The warm valley
The Pindus National Park, also known as Valia Calda, on the border between the prefectures of Grevena and Ioannina, is one of the most important and pristine parks in Greece. It includes the valley of Valia Calda (warm valley in Vlach), which lies at an altitude of about 1,400 meters and is encircled by the mountains Lygkos and Mavrovouni up to the peaks of Mount Avgo. Several streams cross the valley, most notably the Arkoudorema, which is a tributary of the Aoos. The National Park has five main entrances, about as many as the villages located around its perimeter: Vovousa, Milia, Kranea, Perivoli and Mikrolivado. Every year hundreds of travelers visit the Valia Calda valley to admire its impressive and unforgettable landscapes.
To Vasilitsa for skiing
The Vasilitsa National Ski Center is located on the northeastern side of Mount Vasilitsa which reaches an elevation of 2,249 m. as well as on the neighboring Mount Gomara, in a magical setting in the northwestern part of the Grevena prefecture, 42 km from the prefectures capital, in the heart of Pindus. It has been operating since 1975 and serves approximately 60,000 visitors every year. Open 350 days a year, the ski center offers ski lovers 16 runs with a total length of 22 km. Vasilitsa has 7 lifts, including childrens, making the ski center easily accessible for families.
