On the slopes of northern Pindos, at an altitude of 1450 to 1600 meters, is the impressive picturesque Vlachochori of Samarina, which is considered the tallest village not only in Greece but also in the Balkans, while many call it the “Alpine Capital of Pindos”.
It is built on the border of Western Macedonia and Epirus, between dense beech and pine forests, with abundant running cool waters and a glorious history, which begins from the distant past and becomes widely known mainly during the struggles and uprisings of “Vlachouria”. .
Before the creation of the settlement of Samarina in the place where it is today, there were various Katounes, ie settlements from various livestock farms, which were gathered around the supreme lord, Chelniga. The largest settlement was the one located in the monastery of Agia Paraskevi, where the its inhabitants stayed throughout the year.
There are several versions about the origin of the name Samarina, but the most probable one is derived from the word samari, where according to Kostas Krystallis, the words samaras, samari and sagma, are considered more probable words of production, due to the fact that the Samaritans were engaged in construction of this kind.
The founders and first settlers of the village should be considered the inhabitants of the village Pretori of Thessaly, since the historical maps of the area that are placed in the 16th and 17th century, mention the place of Samarina as Santa Maria de Praitoria.
Samarina is a village with intense activity and its inhabitants are engaged not only in tourism, but also in logging and animal husbandry. The women of the village weave thick woolen cloths, blankets and carpets, while the “dristels” of the village or the “laundries of nature” are wonderful, where they first appeared in Greece around the middle of the 19th century and through them the clothes were cleaned. with the help of hydraulic energy.
Despite its high altitude, Samarina is accessible and beautiful all year round. Both its white color, what the winter generously gives it and its dense snowfall, as well as the cool green of summer, make it a holiday mountain village that can hardly be compared and that even more difficult can be forgotten.
The distance that separates it from the city of Grevena is 52 km, while the wonderful ski center of Vasilitsa is only 15 km away from it.
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