The Awe-Inspiring Natural Landscape of Greece’s Zagori

The celebrated arched chromatic span successful Vikos-Aoos National Park. Credit: Erik1980/CC BY-SA 3.0

Zagori, which includes tiny chromatic villages known arsenic Zagorochoria, is simply a portion successful the Pindus mountains of Epirus successful northwestern Greece conscionable northeast of Ioannina.

It is an awe-inspiring earthy scenery with an incredibly well-preserved web of 46 villages and features nationalist parks, a monastery, rivers, and waterfalls. In September 2023, the portion was included successful UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

“These accepted villages, typically organized astir a cardinal quadrate containing a level histrion and surrounded by ineffable forests maintained by section communities, showcase a accepted architecture adapted to the upland topography,” UNESCO said successful its listing description.

Looking for a splendid all-year-round getaway to a spot considered to beryllium 1 of the astir beauteous and affluent ecosystems successful each of Europe? Look nary further.

We person compiled a fewer of the galore places worthy visiting to marque your acquisition unique.

The stunning portion of Zagori, Greece

Monodéndri

Panoramic presumption of Monodendr. In the inheritance lies Vikos Gorge. Credit: Vincent C Aout/ CC BY-SA 3.0

Situated astatine an altitude of 1,060 meters (3,278 feet) and listed arsenic a nationalist monument, Monodendri is 1 of  Zagori’s astir picturesque villages.

It hosts immoderate beauteous two-story mansions and constrictive streets that walk the village’s paved chromatic courtyards. The Monastery of St. Paraskevi tin beryllium admired from afar, and a rocky way that starts astatine the cardinal quadrate volition pb you to the stunning Vikos Gorge.

Vikos Gorge

View of Vikos Gorge. Credit: Skamnelis/CC BY-SA 3.0

The celebrated Vikos Gorge, the tremendous canyon which is visited by galore tourists passim the year, is really accessible from galore vantage points.

While there, you volition person the accidental to locomotion the celebrated Vradeto Stairs astatine the borderline of the gorge. These  1,200 metre chromatic stairs link the villages of Vradéto and Kapésovo.

Monastery of St. Paraskevi

Visit an abandoned monastery astatine the borderline of Vikos Gorge which dates backmost to 1413 to 1414. This is simply a spot wherever you tin halt and meditate portion taking successful a unsocial presumption of the gorge.

Vikos–Aoös National Park

The halfway of the park, an country of 8,402 acres, comprises the spectacular Vikos Gorge. The park’s remoteness and comparatively tiny quality population, affluent plantlife, and a plethora of ample mammals specified arsenic the brownish bear, is what makes this parkland unique.

It is 1 of the past existent European chaotic areas, hosting a assortment of earthy habitats and ecosystems that fertile it among the astir invaluable parks for quality conservation successful Greece.

It is location to galore rare, endemic and protected works taxon arsenic well. Aside from trekking, athletics enthusiasts and quality lovers alike tin besides bask rafting successful the Aoos river, which is besides a unsocial mode to research the quality of the landscape.

Waterfalls successful Illiochori

Unknown to astir radical is the colony of Iliochori, built connected the eastbound slopes of Tymfi. It is simply a small, quaint colony that is location to 3 spectacular waterfalls that signifier 2 earthy emerald-colored pools.

The waterfalls, located astatine “Balta di Striga;” the highest of them reaches a tallness of 25 meters (82 feet). The hiking way is precise pleasant, with a marked way that begins astatine the colony quadrate — if successful doubt, you tin ever inquire 1 of the villagers, who volition surely beryllium capable to amusement you the way.

The Famous Stone Bridges of Zagori

Konitsa Bridge, successful Vikos-Aoos National Park. Credit: Michael Paraskevas – panoramio/CC BY-SA 3.0

The bridges of Zagori are iconic presences successful the area; each of them are constructed with chromatic yet each of them is unsocial successful their ain way. Surrounded by gorgeous landscape, these bridges are worthy a stop, adjacent if conscionable for a speedy selfie!

Be definite to spot them all, including Kondodimos (or Lazaridis) Bridge, Plakidas oregon Kalogeriko (Monk) Bridge, Milos Bridge, Kokkoris (or Noutsos) Bridge, Pitsionis Bridge, and Mirisis Bridge.