Mountainous Nafpaktia with its spectacular natural beauty and picturesque villages is an ideal destination for mountain lovers.
A short distance from Nafpaktos, the villages of Mountainous Nafpaktia (Kravara to the older generations) offer moments of pure mountain calm to those who dream of an escape into natures embrace.
Dense forests of oak, fir, beech, plane and chestnut spread around the settlements springs with running water and traditional fountains adorn the squares, stone-built guesthouses welcome visitors with lit fireplaces and simple tavernas pair their local delights with local tsipouro. As for activities, get ready for hiking, mountaineering, mountain biking and 4Χ4 routes. Below are the villages worth visiting in Mountainous Nafpaktia.
Ano Chora
About 60 km from the town of Nafpaktos, at an elevation of 1.050 m, you will reach Ano Chora, the area’s most developed village for tourism. It sits in the heart of a magnificent forest of fir and chestnut that reaches right into the village, and has well-kept stone houses with red-tiled roofs, cobbled lanes and traditional guesthouses with views across the whole mountain. In the main square stands the Church of Agia Paraskevi and, a little further down, the ’40s vintage bus, the «Karnavalos», which until the ’80s ran the Nafpaktos-Ano Chora-Kato Chora route.
Strolls here will lead you to the village’s other «neighborhood», Kato Chora, which lies a little lower down. Besides the path that links Ano with Kato Chora, there is also the Hercules Trail that connects Ano Chora with Ampelakiotissa, passing through the Kakavos Gorge- a hiker’s delight!
Ampelakiotissa
Northwest of Ano Chora, Ampelakiotissa offers unique views over the idyllic landscape around it. The village took its name from the monastery of the same name in the area, which dates from 1455. According to tradition, the icon of the Virgin Mary found at the spot where the monastery was built came from Ambelakia in Thessaly. Here there is also a wonderful epitaphios, a 1735 work, by Mariora, the most famous embroiderer of Constantinople. The village is a favorite base for hikers who set out from here to explore the surrounding mountains, such as Tsekoura and Ai-Lias.
Elatou
A village «true to its name», as it is nestled among firs on a mountainside, at an elevation of 1.050 meters. Stone houses, cobbled lanes and wonderful views of the verdant slopes that embrace the village create the ideal setting for low-key getaways. Elatou makes an ideal base for excursions to the villages of the area as well as the surrounding forests.
Platanos
Fifty kilometers beyond Nafpaktos, the soothing scene of Platanos unfolds before you, with beautiful cobbled lanes, stone houses and traditional little cafés. It is one of the most beautiful villages in the area, preserving its traditional character intact. The sign on the plane tree in the square informs you: «Altitude 875 m., healthy climate». The village has a Folklore Museum with a rich collection, as well as a museum space dedicated to the National Resistance.
Evinokhoria
Using Platanos as your starting point you can head toward the impressive artificial lake of the Evinos. The villages of Neochori, Arachova, Klepa and Perdikovrysi offer enchanting views of beautiful Lake Evinos and the Evinos dam. They have very few permanent residents and attract those who seek tranquility and a connection with nature.
