Ioannina and the surrounding villages
Ioannina : Built on the west bank of Lake Pamvotida, Ioannina is reflected in its calm waters, opposite the mountain Mitsikeli. It is a beautiful, picturesque city, which combines historical memories with the reality of a modern big city that is the most important economic and spiritual center of NW Greece. The visitor can stroll in the castle, admire its mosques and be guided to its museums, walk on the lakeside road under the age-old plane trees or in the historic center of the city with its beautiful listed buildings. You can also visit the beautiful island of the lake, where you will enjoy a wonderful walk through its picturesque settlement and the remnants of its long history, which comes to life in its famous late Byzantine monasteries with its masterpieces.
Asprangeli : The “Gate of Zagori”, at a distance of 30 km from Ioannina, an ideal base for tours to other villages, seat of the Municipality of Zagori. In 1943 the Asprangels were destroyed by the Germans. The ruins of the church of Ag. Nikolaou, which reveal the former glamor of the village. It is worth the visit to the Monastery of Asprangella with a one hour walk, which offers a view of the basin of Ioannina. Unique is the sunset from the entrance of the village and the walks on the slopes of the surrounding mountains.
Ano Pedina : Ano Pedina is a small village with white stone houses, stone cobbled streets and corners with beautiful views. It is worth a visit to the magnificent stone-built old primary school, with the rare books of the library of Neophytos Doukas. Sights are the fortress architecture monastery of Evangelistria, at the entrance of the village, built in 1786, with exceptional paintings and important relics, St. Dimitrios (1793), with a beautiful wood-carved iconostasis of the 19th century, in the village square, Ag. George and the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Also the monastery of Agia Paraskevi (1750), one kilometer above the village offers a wonderful view to the mountain Mitsikeli, while it is worth visiting the surrounding area Monodendri – Vikos Gorge 6 km, bridges of the Gardens 9 km ).
Monodendri : Monodendri is built at 1060 m. And is worth admiring its mansions, cobbled uphill streets and churches. In the central square is the church of Agios Athanasios. From there you can continue the path and find yourself in the gorge of Vikos and after five hours of hiking to the springs of Voidomatis.
Papigo : Papigo is one of the 46 villages of Zagori and is located northeast of Ioannina (about 59 km). It is divided into Big and Small Papigo. Both are located at the root of the Astraka peak of Mount Tymfi (or Gamila). The Megalo at an altitude of 900m. and Mikro a little higher while the distance between them is about 2km. The whole area is dominated by the mountain range of Tymfi (Gamila) which in the north forms the ravine of Aoos and in the southwest the gorge of Vikos with the river Voidomatis.
Tsepelovo : Tsepelovo is the largest village in the area of Zagori. It is 48 km from the capital of the Prefecture, Ioannina. Two kilometers outside the village, above the so-called gorge “Vikaki”, is the stone Monastery of Rogovo, built in 1028. There, Neophytos Doukas wanted to establish a higher educational institution (“Higher School”), but his vision did not took place with the unrest during the fall of Ali Pasha. The traditional stone architecture is present in all the houses, in the paths and in the churches of the village. The cultural center of “Estia” stands out, the Church of Agios Nikolaos, which was renovated in 1753 and painted in 1786 by the skilled hagiographers from Kapesovo, the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin, Kato Panagia and various mansions of historical families of the village.
Kapesovo : Kapesovo is 43 km from Ioannina and is located in an amphitheater on the edge of Messaria, at an altitude of 1,100 meters. The visitor can see the large stone houses of the village and visit the church of Agios Nikolaos (1793). Also of interest in Kapesovo are the library, the Folklore Museum (Paschaleios School) and the Cultural Center.
Vitsa : Vitsa, a village in Central Zagori, a traditional settlement, with special historical, architectural and ecological interest, is one of the most characteristic villages of Zagori, a region unique in Greece and Europe for its history, culture and nature. of. It is located at a distance of 36 km from the city of Ioannina, on the road axis of Central Zagori, on the borders of the Vikos-Aoos National Park and at the beginning of the famous ravine of Vikos.