Road trip to Epirus - Discover 7 beautiful villages in Epirus

In recent years, Molista, has become an attraction to outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy going “offline” for a while. The friendliness of its people, the diversity of its fauna and flora, and its overall scenery create a unique combination of elements that offer a memorable experience in nature for visitors.

Syrrako is a mountainous village located on the mountain slopes of Tzoumerka. Endowed with indescribable sceneries of wild beauty, Syrrako is the true jewel of Tzoumerka. Syrrako, one of the most beautiful villages of Epirus, stands out for its traditional character and features stone houses, traditional fountains, arched bridges, and narrow cobblestone streets, that will charm you. It has in fact been designated as a traditional preserved settlement. The central square of Syrrako is the most picturesque spot of the village filled with taverns under the shade of two perennial plane trees. An ideal place to enjoy your coffee with panoramic views.

Mikro Papigo is amphitheatrically built on the steep slopes of Mt. Timfy and can be reached approximately 3 km higher up from Megalo Papigo. Apart from the scenery, the village itself has remarkable beauty as well. Right after entering, the visitor comes across the central cobblestone square. Along the stoned alleys, there are many great examples of the Zagorian architecture, also made of stone.

Tsepelovo offers us a combination of stone manors with paved alleys and the evergreen surroundings of Mount Tymfi. Most of the residents here are either sheep farmers or loggers something that can be easily seen since the majority of the houses are built with wood in contrast to other villages. You will have the chance to see the beautiful manors, the square, the cultural center of Estia, and the church of Agios Nikolaos that dates back to the 18th century.

Nestled in the Pindus Mountains at an altitude of 1000 meters, Vovousa was a very quiet traditional logger’s village up until 2013! Named after the roots of the Aoos River, which runs right through the middle of the village. Residents of Vovousa protested when a proposed dam threatened to destroy a way of life that has been passed through generations, violating the national park territory in the process. The protest was peaceful and took the form of a festival that injected the area with a condensed dose of culture once a year. The 2015 edition turned into a full week of film screenings, workshops, lectures, children’s activities, music performances, photography exhibitions, and more, establishing the Vovousa Festival as a newfound tradition. Artistic director Kamilo Nollas, whose author dad Dimitris Nollas has deep roots in the region, has made it his goal to draw people away from the siren call of the Greek islands and get them interested in the mountains instead. “We want to jumpstart tourism,” says Nollas, “bring culture to an otherwise isolated location and educate people on sustainability and the environmental treasures of our national parks.” And what better way to celebrate his cause than a small yet eclectic festival by the people who love Vovousa the most? “We want to put a definitive stop to the Aoos dam, so our children can inherit this land unspoiled as we did.”

It is the exceptional Pyrsogianni, a traditional, picturesque and beautiful village built at an altitude of about 850 meters on the slope of Grammos, overlooking the valley of the large river of the region, Sarantaporos. Amphitheatrically built Pyrsogianni, enjoys the “embankment” of a dense forest around it. Mansion houses are built around small stone squares and stone-paved streets, stone fountains tell the village’s history while the Pyrsogianni’s landmark is the imposing church of St. George with the impressive bell tower. It is built on the site of an older temple, dating back to the 18th century. Pyrsogianni is the homeland of the famous masons and stonemasons, although few are the ones who continue the famous and historical profession of the stone craftsman. Very interesting exhibits from the stonemasons’ life are exhibited at the Museum of Masons of Rocks, in the stone building of the village’s old school.

The car ban through the settlement has helped significantly to maintain the traditional character. The characterization and preservation of the village as traditional, has strengthened its unchanged nature and allowed the restoration and reconstruction of old buildings by using the same stones and same historic architecture. The oldest name of the village until 1920 was Sopetseli or So(m)potseli, a name which in Slavic means “land of many waters”. Dilofo is one of the best-preserved villages of Zagoria. It is a typical example of Zagorian architecture, as all the buildings are made from local slate, and for this reason the village has been designated as a protected settlement. The village consists of stone fountains, cobbled streets, small churches, and mansions, among which the highest house in Zagoria, the Makropoulos mansion is 13.5 meters high. According to tradition, the son of a wealthy Zagorian married a girl from the neighboring village Koukouli (Cocoon). When settled in the house of the groom in Dilofo, the girl expressed nostalgia for her village. Her loving husband built the towering mansion so that she can gaze at her village from its higher floors.