Our trip to Greece ends with this blog. The last stop we visited was Vikos Gorge and the Zagoria region . Before that, we made a short stop in the city of Ioannina.
Ioannina – a city with a rich history
Ioannina, a city in northwestern Greece, is known for its historical heritage and the picturesque Pamvotida Lake, which also has an islet . Among the attractions are the Ottoman fortress, the old town and the Museum of Greek History. During our visit, we walked along the lake (where boats go to the island) and through the old town and the fortress. We immediately got the feeling that we were already close to Albania.
Vikos Gorge and Zagoria Region
Then we headed to Vikos Gorge, one of the deepest canyons in the world and part of the Vikos-Aoos National Park. The canyon boasts spectacular views and is home to many rare plant and animal species. The hike through the canyon is long and unfortunately we didn’t do it with the kids. We still had a great time at all the viewpoints. Visiting the region was one of the highlights of our trip, as we were captivated by the untouched nature and beautiful views.
The region also has a turbulent history related to World War II.
Just upon arriving in the region, we came across an interesting statue called "Zagorska ženska" (The Woman of Zagorje). The statue represents a strong and unwavering woman from the Zagoria region. During World War II, women from Zagoria played a key role in the resistance movement. In addition to taking care of their homes and families, they courageously supported the fighters, carried messages, provided supplies, and actively participated in the battles against the occupiers.
The statue symbolizes their strength, endurance and courage, which they showed in the most difficult times. It is erected as a tribute to all the women who contributed to the freedom and independence of the region. During the Italian and German occupation, Zagoria was the scene of many battles and resistance movements. Zagoria was an important strategic point due to its difficult-to-reach location, offered by mountains and canyons. Many villages in the region were destroyed, and the inhabitants suffered great losses.
The famous stone villages of Zagoria
The Zagoria region is famous for its stone villages, which are true architectural masterpieces. The houses are built of local stone and have characteristic slate roofs. The villages are connected by narrow stone bridges and cobbled streets, creating a unique and picturesque landscape. Today, many of the houses have been converted into hotels.
Monodendri and the Monastery of St. Paraskeva
From Monodendri we walked to the Holy Monastery of Saint Paraskevi, where there is a beautiful view of the canyon. It is a short walk. Otherwise, the town is a great starting point for a hike down into the canyon. We skipped the hike and drove a little higher above the village and walked through a very special forest: Stone Forest , it is an interesting natural formation of stone columns that create the illusion of a stone forest. At the same time, you can see where the material for the houses' frames comes from.
Micro Papingo and Papingko Pools
We also visited the Mikro Papingo and Papingko Pools, natural pools where you can swim in the summer. These natural formations of pools and pools are truly beautiful and are the perfect place to refresh and relax.
We had lunch by the river, at Voidomatis River View Point . This point offers a beautiful view of the Voidomatis River, where rafting adventures are also possible. We enjoyed the peace and beauty of nature by the river.
There are narrow and winding roads and small parking lots throughout the region. Only here by the river is there a large and spacious macadam parking lot. At the same time, there is no campsite in the region, so we slept wildly everywhere (two nights), there are more than enough quiet corners in the region.
Stone bridges
We also saw the famous stone bridges. We visited five of them. The most famous of them are:
- Plakida-Kalogeriko Bridge - known for its unique three-arch design.
- Kokkori Bridge (Noutsos) - with its imposing arch, it is one of the most photographed spots in the region.
- Milos Bridge - an old stone bridge that offers beautiful views of the surroundings.
- Missios Bridge - one of the most beautiful bridges in the region, built from local stone.
Most of the bridges are right off the main road and only a minute or so walk away. Although we had planned to do a longer walk between the bridges the next day, unfortunately we got caught in the rain, so we decided to head back home.
We'll come again sometime!
Our trip to Greece ended with exploring the beautiful Zagoria region and the impressive Vikos Gorge. There are so many hiking trails and mountains in the region. Unfortunately, these are longer tours, so we will have to come back another time. It would have been nice without the kids.
Vikos and Zagoria really impressed us. It was colder, extremely green, wet, rainy and cloudy, but we still saw a few of the main points that really fascinated us. I recommend taking at least three days to visit.
