For two days toured Konitsa and the surrounding villages. We bring you the experience from an area that looks like a fairy tale
By Vangelis Kioulhatzis
Several kilometers away from the major urban centers of the country, very close to the Greek-Albanian border, is hidden the “secret” of Epirus.
The reason for the picturesque town of Konitsa in recent years is becoming a popular tourist destination attracting many visitors from Greece but also from abroad.
In an action of the Municipality for the promotion of the tourist product, the along with a group of journalists and travel agents was hosted for two days in the remote area and will tell you everything he saw and learned about this special part of the Greek countryside, which you may not know much about.
The idyllic landscape that fascinates you with “good morning”
You do not need to search much to face the incomparable natural beauty of the area. As soon as you reach the entrance of Konitsa, which is located at 600 meters altitudeyou look up and you are in front of one “Vast” green landscape.
Going a little further you will find in the ravine of Aoos.
The river follows a route of 10 km, spreads in the plain of Konitsa and then joins with two other rivers, Voidomatis and Sarandaporos. It crosses the Albanian border and ends in the Adriatic. It is the only river in Greece that originates in it but flows into another country.
Right at the entrance of the ravine of Aoos is the impressive stone bridge of Konitsatrademark of the small town but also of the prefecture of Ioannina in general.
With 20 meters height and 35 meters length it is one one of the largest single-arched bridges in the entire Balkans. It was built around 1870 by the famous masons of the area who left their mark in Konitsa and the surrounding villages, with their art traveling around the world.
The unique natural beauty of the area is complemented by its imposing mountain peaks Trapezitsa and Gamila (of Mount Tymfi) which reaches 2,497 meters in height.
It is important to note that this whole place, which really resembles a painting, belongs to the Vikos-Aoos Geopark and in 2015 it was officially recognized as one of the 150 UNESCO World Geoparks.
The sports activities that magnetize tourists
We cross the emblematic bridge and reach the opposite side of the river where we are welcomed by the staff of the Municipality of Konitsa headed by Mayor Nikola Exarchou and Deputy Mayor Aris Lazogiannisto give us a first short tour and talk to us about the place.
As they explained to us, the Municipality has set a goal to reform the area of ​​tourism in order to highlight its beauties but also to support the local community. They play a key role in this project, as they said sports activities on the river Aoos but also around it as well already constitute a pole of attraction for Greek and foreign tourists.
The “experts” spoke to us in more detail about our sports and in fact in their … natural environment.
So we met Iraklis Moisidis, who is mountain guide and is actively involved with Via Ferrata. This is a species climbing in which special cables are used and one can participate without previous experience. It is characterized by moderate difficulty as Hercules explained to us and with the help of a small excavation equipment provided to us, we can explore the wild beauty of the gorge.
The other sport that interested us is River trekking which was told to us by Alexandros Nikolopoulos, who organizes sports activities in nature.
This is, as he told us, a sport that has started to become organized in recent years and is essentially about crossing the river Aoos.
With the help of a fully professional equipment and under the guidance of Alexander, one can walk and navigate the river for at least 5 hours. Swimming, diving, climbing … the unique ravine of Aoos offers all this to a route of 10-13 kilometers. Especially in the summer when the river water level drops, the experience is even more enjoyable.
Alexander made special mention of canoe for which he characteristically stated that “any self-respecting kayaker comes for kayaking in Aoos, is one of the most famous rivers in Europe».
In addition, for anyone who wants to explore the mountains of North Pindos, Konitsa also offers this possibility. By Smolika, Tymfi, Trapezitsa, Nemertzika and Grammos to “embrace” the area, there are many options for hiking and often multi-day and one-day excursions are organized. What will definitely impress the visitor when hiking in these places is the dragon lake of Smolikas but also that of Tymfi. .
Of course, the demand for extreme sports has not gone unnoticed by the Municipality. Mr. Exarchou revealed to us that there is a big project in the plans of the municipal authority that concerns opening an extreme sport schoolwhich as he said will launch the area.
We came closer to nature but also to God
It was a key part of our trip the tour of the religious points of interest of the area, which were not few and really enchanted us.
The religious element is strong in Konitsa and the surrounding villages, remaining indelible over time. Beyond the many sacred monuments that date from the Byzantine periodreligious tourism in Konitsa is flourishing because of it Agios Paisios. The Elder spent his youth in Konitsa, where until today we have the opportunity to visit the house where he grew up.
The pole of attraction for the pilgrims is also the Holy Monastery of Stomio, which can be reached on foot for about an hour and a half, following a route of about 5 km along Aoos. This is a very popular monastery that was restored by Agios Paisios himself, in which he even consecrated himself.
We followed a different path (not so long) and found ourselves at small church of St. Barbarawhere according to what Saint Paisios had confessed, there he had his first deity.
We lit a candle and thought for a while about the amazing view under the setting sun.
Next stop on our tour of the religious monuments could not be other than Holy Monastery of Molyvdoskepastis. A historical monument for the place as its construction dates back to around the 7th century AD. The Byzantine monastery is located a “breath” from the Greek-Albanian border, at the point where the Sarandaporos River joins the Aoos, 20 km from Konitsa.
In its long history the monastery renovated 2 timeswas the spiritual of the region during the Turkish occupation, while during the Second World War it was bombed by the Nazis, when suffered severe disasters.
For many decades it was left without monks, however, since 1988 and then it functions normally as a male Monastery. They were recently relocated to the roof of the monastery lead plates and so rightly continues to bear the title “Lead-Covered”.
We are not far from the Greek-Albanian border and we reach the settlement of Molyvdoskepasti where we are welcomed by His Eminence Archimandrite Fr. Spyridon and leads us to the imposing Holy Temple of the Holy Apostles.
The interior of the temple, which built in the 16th century, it really stuck with us and took us to other times.
Impressive was the view from the courtyard of the church where we can see exactly the point that separates the Greek from the Albanian territory, but also the plains where bloody battles were fought during World War II and the Greek Civil War.
Tour of the historic Mastorochoria
The settlement of Molyvdoskepasti was the starting point of our little trip to the villages of Petra or otherwise the Mastorochoria as are well known. They owe their name to the local craftsmen of the area who decorated Epirus with their stone buildingsthus giving it a distinct identity which it retains to this day.
Molyvdoskepasti, therefore, now has very few permanent residents (just over 20) who, however, reserved a very warm welcome for us, as befits a village in the Greek province.
We tasted the local delicacies that were served to us and we tasted from the water of the Nemertzika springswhere according to local tradition any visitor who drinks this water, will one day return to the village.
Next stop, the village Ghana where again the stone buildings and cobbled streets monopolize the interest.
We walked until we were “disoriented” by the smells from the traditional cafe “Platanos” where delicious pies were waiting for us and Mrs. Vasso.
We sat down and reverently watched her make it continental “batsaropita” and then we tried some of the local tsipouro.
Tireless, despite the long distances (the municipality of Konitsa has an area of ​​over 930.00 square kilometers, one of the largest in Greece) we continue and reach Amaranth Baths. As evidenced by the name of the village, there are the famous steam baths, at an altitude of approx 1,260 meters.
Hundreds of visitors have been going to the village for many decades to discover them healing properties of steam baths which provide solutions to respiratory problems, rheumatoid arthritis, sciatica and even gynecological problems.
The steam is natural and comes out of holes that exist even outside the building where the baths are housed.
Apart from these, it is worth the short stay in the rented accommodation of the village as it is a quiet and green place with a fairytale view.
What is left of the trip
The magical combination of the liquid element with the towering mountains, the traditional buildings and the picturesque churches gave us images that they filled us with pleasure and we will definitely remember them for a long time.
But what we keep from our short tour of the villages of Epirus and we will certainly not forget, is the simplicity and authenticity of the people we met.
They have learned to live away from the luxuries and comforts of life in a large urban center. But they gave us the feeling that there is nothing they are missing. They unselfishly love their place and express it with pride.
We talked about their problems and worries, eating together at the same big table.
We went to their parties, we danced and sangfeeling that we are not tourists or passers-by, but members of their own small family.
Their hospitality and passion pushed us to love little Konitsa even more. Because, as they say, people “make” their place. So, we would definitely like to “take” the mountains again and be there again, for a short getaway.
