The Pindus mountain range is Greece’s gem: it includes some of its most beautiful and highest mountains and some of its most picturesque villages. In the mountains that define the Northern Pindus National Park, many villages nestle, each with its unique charm.
Mikro Papigo
One of the most famous villages of Zagori, Mikro Papigo is surrounded by magnificent nature and has preserved its traditional architecture almost entirely, with grey stone walls and slate roofs. Its paths are also paved with the same grey stone. Even the road to the village, despite its twists and turns, is beautiful.
Ganadio
Ganadio is a small village in the municipality of Konitsa, designated as a traditional settlement at an altitude of 890 meters, nestled in lush greenery. Ascending the winding road to the village, plane trees, oaks, and maples accompany you along the way.
Molista
The architecture of Molista is characterized by buildings with simple, austere lines, mainly fortress-like structures with few openings, thick walls, and sturdy wooden beams. Decorative elements are limited to stone arches. Here, you’ll enjoy the unique tranquillity of the landscape and its breathtaking beauty, as the village is surrounded by dense forest.
Dotsiko
The village is divided by the Dotsikiotis River, a tributary of the Venetikos, bridged by a magnificent single-arched stone bridge, likely built in the 19th century. The heart of the village beats in the small square with the large plane tree overlooking the bridge, where you can learn everything about the local life.
Milies
Milies is one of the villages of Ioannina, near the artificial Aoos Lake and Metsovo. It sits at an altitude of 1,160 meters, surrounded by dense greenery. Its main attraction is the Bear House, a glass pavilion that houses a taxidermied bear found injured in the early 1990s by a local who tried unsuccessfully to save it.
Dilofo
Located at an altitude of 900 meters, Dilofo is surrounded by enchanting nature. It is a designated traditional settlement with no cars allowed in the village. You can wander through its cobblestone alleys, admiring the stunning traditional Epirus architecture and nature. The houses are built from stone, slightly lighter than the dark grey of Papigo, and equally beautiful whether they are two-story mansions or humbler, single-story homes crafted with care. The village square, with its ancient plane tree, is the meeting point for visitors and locals, as is the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin, built in 1850.
Kipoi
The village is named after the flower-filled gardens of the houses. Full of cobbled streets leading to old fountains and stone-built houses with doors painted in various colours (yellow, sea blue, red, and green) and scenic views, it resembles a painting. A landmark of the village is the tall bell tower with a clock in the Church of St. Nicholas, known for its beautiful architecture. Nearby, you can visit some of the most beautiful bridges of Epirus, like the Kontodimos or Lazaridis Bridge from 1764, the Kokkori Bridge from 1750, and the three-arched Kalogeriko Bridge from 1748.
Tsepelovo
Tsepelovo is also part of Zagori, though slightly more remote than the other villages in the area. It was the administrative centre of Zagori in the 18th century and experienced commercial prosperity during the Ottoman era, mainly due to timber trade. Like all villages in the area, Tsepelovo is filled with stone buildings with beautiful entrances, some featuring balconies, and many have doors and windows painted in shades of blue that soften the austerity of the stone. A stroll through its stone-paved streets reveals all its beauty, including the lush landscape and unique Zagorian architecture. The square is dominated by an ancient plane tree and the 18th-century Church of St. Nicholas, a three-aisled basilica with a dome painted in 1786 by iconographers from Kapesovo.
Kapesovo
Kapesovo is a small village, yet it is beautiful. Located at an altitude of 1,100 meters, it has the Mezaria Gorge to the north and the Vikos Gorge to the west, which lend the landscape a wild beauty. Walking along its cobblestone paths, often covered with a fine layer of lush green grass, you’ll admire the well-kept houses with charming doors, colourful flowers, and various other buildings.
Ano Pedina
In southwestern Tymfi, in Central Zagori, between Elafotopos and Monodendri, lies Ano Pedina. A more orderly village than Kipoi and built with the same off-white stone as Dilofo, it is beautiful. At the village entrance, the Monastery of Evangelistria, with its fortress-like structure and church dating to 1793, welcomes you, creating a scenic setting with well-maintained stone mansions. It is a well-organized village with charming guesthouses and traditional taverns, making it an excellent base to explore the surrounding area.
