Small Greek villages with beautiful houses, spotless yards and colorful flowers, keep the flame of tradition unquenchable, untouched by time.
Dilofo, Prefecture of Ioannina: A traditional small Greek settlement with dominant Zagoritian architecture
Dilofo is a mountain village in the prefecture of Ioannina and belongs to the Zagorohoria complex of Epirus. It is built at an altitude of 900 meters on the slopes of Tymfi. It is 32 kilometers away from the city of Ioannina, while access is quite easy by following the signs since the village is not on the road. This characteristic peculiarity, combined with the prohibition of the passage of cars within the settlement, has contributed significantly to the preservation of its traditional identity.
The characterization of the settlement as traditional and preserved has given a unique authenticity to the Zagoritian architecture of the town as only restorations and reconstructions of old buildings are allowed.
The oldest name of the village until 1920 was Sopotseli, a name that in Slavic and Vlach means “place with many waters”. It is built on two hills, with relatively small slopes. It it developed around the Central Square (Mesochori), from where the three main pedestrian streets (cobblestones) start radially, leading to the three districts, Pano Mahalas, Kato Mahalas and Pera Mahalas.
Its attractions include stone fountains, stone-paved cobblestones, small churches and mansions such as the Makropoulos mansion (Loumidis), being the highest residence in Zagorochoria with a height of 13.5 meters. According to the tradition of the place, the son of a rich Zagoritian married a girl from the neighboring village of Koukouli. When they settled in the groom’s house in Dilofos, the girl expressed perpetual nostalgia for her village. So then, the husband built the towering mansion for her so that his wife could look down on her village from its highest floors.
In Dilofo, there are a hundred mansions of which few are permanently inhabited. Apart from the Church of the Assumption (1850), there are also many smaller chapels and monasteries such as Virgin Mary, Sotiros, Agioi Taxiarches, Agia Paraskevi. The Central Council of New Monuments of the Ministry of Culture declared it a Historic Site. According to the majority decision of the Council, the settlement of Dilofo in Zagori is declared a historical place “because of its architectural, urban planning and folklore importance”.
Kastanitsa: One of the greatest chestnut productive small Greek villages
Kastanitsa is a mountainous village in Arcadia, on the border of the prefectures between Arcadia and Laconia and built on the slopes of Mount Parnon at an altitude of 840 meters. It belongs to Tsakonochoria, the villages founded by Tsakones and is the first Tsakonochori for which there is a written reference. The village maintains unchanged elements of the Tsakonic tradition and has been declared a traditional settlement.
The beautiful traditional settlement that connects nature with man, is considered one of the most ideal small Greek villages for tranquility, wandering and hiking on the paths that cross the forest that surrounds it.
A unique escape experience is Kastanitsa – Prastos path, which passes through the Mazia gorge. For hundreds of years it was the most important channel of communication between the two fighting villages until the 1970s, where the first constructions of the region’s road arteries took place.
The chestnut forests around the village, which give it its name, extend over 4,500 acres, including about 38,000 trees. Kastanitsa, after all, remains one of the largest producers of chestnuts in Greece and one of the most scenic small Greek villages. They are all privately owned, with the average annual production corresponding to the last 200 tons (in 1960 it exceeded 500 tons).
Syrrako: The historical noble village of Epirus
Much has been written about the origin of the name “Syrraco”. Some have suggested that the name came from the many waters flowing into the village. Others that it comes from Syracuse, a city in Italy and others from the first leader of the inhabitants, Syros.
P. Aravantinos writes that it got the name from the owner of the village of Syrrako from Ioannina. That is why it seems more likely to be the opinion of the Epirotian historian Ioannis Lambridis who notes that the word Serakou is Vlach and means poverty and nudity.
Syrrako is a historical noble village of Epirus. It is located 52 km southeast of Ioannina, on Mount Peristeri, at an altitude of 1200 meters. The date the village was built remains unknown. It is most likely that the first settlement was created in the 15th century.
Syrrako gradually, especially after the end of the Second World War, was deserted, reminding the ghost of its glorious past. In the last decades, a period of reconstruction of the village began. The love of the inhabitants for their ancestral residence resulted in the construction of around 100 new houses and the repair of many others.
However, the prospects for the residents’ return and permanent residence in the village are not favorable. Syrrako, possessing an unparalleled architecture, standing out for its wonderful natural beauty, the guesthouses, the two folklore museums and the improvement of the road network, can lay the foundations for tourism development with respect for the natural environment, managing to regain its former glory.
Peleta: The settlement that unfolds a story of unparalleled architecture and natural beauty
The traditional settlement of Peleta stretches on a beautiful plateau on the southeast side of Parnon at an altitude of 660 meters. Stone was the first and main material with which the inhabitants of this small Greek village built their private houses. The harmony of the houses with the natural environment and the unparalleled respect for nature led to the creation of an enchanting traditional settlement.
Stately stone-built houses give a dynamic presence, highlighting the traditional character of the community, which the residents with extra attentiveness maintain even at present. The ornate architecture is a source of inspiration, admiration and lends a distinct character, showing both Greek and foreign visitors the rich history of the settlement.
Wonderful natural landscapes as well as artificial architecture depict a picturesque and at the same time idyllic area where Peleta extends. The coolness and climate of the town captivate leading to a unique journey of elaborate images and natural sights. In the evening hours you will have the opportunity to be introduced to the mystagogy of the village, drinking a glass of the renowned red wine.
Poulithra: An amalgam of insular and mainland Greece
The village of Poulithra, a coastal settlement of the prefecture of Arcadia, is found shortly after Leonidio, offering notes of calm and relaxation. Still almost untouched by mass tourism, it maintains the picturesqueness and traditional elements that characterize it.
According to the archaeologist Professor Konstantinos Romaios, in Poulithra is the ancient city of Polichni, mentioned by the historian Polybius. The citadel of the ancient city is located on the hill next to the port of the village. Today, in the area’s wetlands there are traces of the ancient port (destres). Also, on the hill (vigla) there is an ancient castle and Byzantine walls.
With the Arcadian nature found here in all its glory, the greenery from the edges of Parnon acts as the natural background of the village, which slopes lazily towards the sea.
Few whitewashed houses with flowery ornamented courtyards, impressive mansions that follow the local, traditional architecture of Kynouria and a small and picturesque port photograph the special beauty of the village.
At the edge of the village is the small church of Saint George, which can be reached by boat and offers a panoramic view of the small Greek village and the waters of the Aegean. The beach is small with fine pebbles and crystal clear waters.
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