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All
about the countryside
Excursion 3 The beauty &
bridges of the Aliakmon (Voio) |
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Neapoli - Tsotyli
- Avgerinos - Vithos - Pentalofos - Dilofo - Agia Sotira - Morfi - Koryfi -
Chryssavgi - Krimini - Rodochori |
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In the foothills of
the Pindos Mountains, on the road to Epiros, Voio is the most picturesque,
mountainous area of the county. It is a paradise for nature-lovers and
everybody else who appreciates the charm of beautiful little villages,
rivers, waterfalls, ravines, breathtaking views, and pine forests. Visit
Neapoli,(where you may buy hand embroidery treasures from the Women’s
Cooperative), and enjoy its beautiful surroundings graced by a tributary of
the Aliakmon where plane trees flourish on its banks. At Tsotyli, visit
the ruins of an ancient town at Apidea, the historical GymnasiumÓ (High School)
and Episkopio (the Bishop’s mansion). |
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The Villages of
Voio invite discovery. But, look carefully! They are in such harmony with the
environment you may miss precious details. Precisely because of their ability
to weave buildings with the landscape, the craftsmen of Voio won
international repute for excellence. They were skilled in stone and
decorative motifs: churches, monasteries, schools, houses, arched bridges on
the rivers. The best way to “feel” Voio is to
follow your spirit of adventure and, with the help of a map, explore. The
provincial roads, which connect the villages, wind through forests, around
rivers and streams and offer pleasant surprises at every turn. The more
remote a village is, the more beautiful it remains, untouched by today. |
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The route from
Tsotyli to Avgerinos and Kastanochoria leads around the Ondria mountain, with
boundless forests, fresh-water springs and old legends about girls made from
marble. Avgerinos, at 1,050 m. height, with an ideal climate, reflects the
art of traditional craftsmen in its two-storey mansions and the village
square.
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Leaving Avgerinos
you can visit the historical monastery of Agia Triada (Holy Trinity).
Construction started in 1779 and finished in 1797. From the monastery, the
unpaved road weaves through enormous beech trees leading to Vithos and
Pentalofos, the largest village in Voio. The inhabitants of the neighbouring
villages, fleeing the Turks, found refuge
here and stayed. They built their houses, paved the streets of the
village with stone, built marvellous churches, and constructed bridges on the
Paramoritsa river. They travelled abroad and reached as far as Persia and
South Africa, leaving as a legacy examples of their unique skill. |
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Of special
historical and artistic interest is the church of Agios Achillios in
Pentalofos, built in the middle of the 18th century Nestled between forested hills
at a height of 940 m, you’ll find the charming village of Dilofo renowned for
its architecture, friendly people and home of traditional craftsmen. Returning to Tsotyli you can visit the
traditional villages of Morfi and Agia Sotira. From Morfi you can visit the
double-arched bridge of Tsioukas (1720-1730), and the triple-arched bridge of
Triadas (around 1810). |
The
Voio
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