Places worth visiting

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Ski resorts

The visitor of Metsovo has at his disposal three ski resorts. Politsies or Prophet Elias is located at altitudes 1360-1620 m, and is just 4 minutes away km. from Metsovo. Suitable for beginner skiers and children who want to get acquainted with skiing, as it has easy slopes and a short length. Here you will find organized ski schools, ski and snow rental shops truck. Also, there are three slopes for experienced 700 m., 1000 m. and 1200 m. Finally, there are Alpine ski slopes ( anklaouf ) on the plateau of the area . The ski resort features a chalet with restaurant and café for hot chocolate moments and traditional flavors. The ski resort of Karakoli is at an altitude of 1340-1520 m. and is 1,5 km. from Metsovo. It has a one-seater 800 meters long, which serves 2 tracks, one 1800 meters (easy) and the other 1.000 meters (very easy). Finally, the ski center Zygos is at your disposal. At an altitude of 1680 m. to 1850 m., has an overhead two-seater lift and 3 slopes. Ideal for all guests.

Averoff Gallery : The home of top Greek painters

The second largest gallery after the National Gallery, covering the most important Greek painters of various eras, where the evolution of Greek painting appears, as well as the influences that determined the future of the leading artists. More than 200 works of great Greek painters of the 19th and 20th centuries constitute the dowry of one of the most important cultural sites in Epirus. Lytras, Gyzis , Volanakis, Parthenis, Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas, Tsarouchis, Moralis, Fasianos: are just a few of the great names you will see signing the works of the Averof Gallery, which is housed in a magnificent 3 storey building behind the central square of the settlement. On your trip to Epirus, it's definitely worth a visit and a hidden diamond for art lovers.

Valia Calda

For them and those looking for a different adventure within a unique beauty landscape: It is located on the borders of Epirus and western Macedonia between the prefectures of Ioannina and Grevena, near the scenic Zagorochoria Krania, Perivoli and Vovousa , which welcome you in their own way in a landscape of unparalleled beauty. It includes the Valley of ValiaKalda and Arkoudorema with the Lygos and Mavrovouni mountains. Particularly rich is the forest fauna of many species, some of which have disappeared elsewhere. The whole area is the most important habitat of the brown bear in Greece, the wolf and many other smaller sarcophagi or herbivores.

National Park of Vikos-Aoos

For those who want to explore through paths and canyoning: It is located in the Prefecture of Ioannina near Konitsa and the cosmopolitan Zagorohoria Monodendri, Aristi and Papigo. It includes the gorge of Vikos (Voidomatis tributary), the Aoos gorge and the Tymfi mountain range. Characteristic and particularly impressive are the intense alternations of the landscape, where the steep ravines follow quiet slopes and the verdant rocks of lush forests. The brown bear, the wolf, the otter, many smaller carnivores and rodents live in the park, while significant populations of wild boar and wild boars have been recorded. The area's avifauna is rich with various species of raptors and a number of small forest birds.

The Square with the Bears

The square of Metsovo is one of the most famous of mountainous Greece and thousands of visitors pass by it every year, they are photographed next to the sculpture with the two bears and change their eyes with the elderly Metsovites who sit "traditionally" in their kiosk and comment on the Vlach.

Tositsa Folklore Museum

The Folklore Museum of Metsovo, also known as Archontiko, is one of the first works of the Baron Michael Tositsa Foundation in Metsovo and has been in operation since 1955. It is housed in the rebuilt Tositsa House, the patron of the well-known family of benefactors, originally built in 166 . A tour of the museum's premises brings to life the atmosphere of past centuries and shows to the visitor the way of organizing and operating a metovovian mansion. With the philosophy of the "open museum", precious objects and rich collections evolve into their natural space, in the halls, stables, warehouses and large lounges of the old mansion. The exhibits include that it could exist in a mansion at the time of the great economic prosperity of Metsovo, but also objects that make up for the nation historical memory: Collections of weapons and swords from the struggle of 1821, bronze and wooden cooking utensils, jewelery, costumes, decorative plates and silverware, gold-plated saddles, chests, agricultural tools, looms and ornate woven fabrics. The museum also exhibits an important collection of 66 icons dating back to the 15th to the early 20th century, as well as a collection of Byzantine artworks covering a period from the early Christian years to the late Byzantine era. In 1991, Evangelos Averoff's apartment was opened on the third floor, with personal items and photographs of his life.

Averoff Gallery: the home of top Greek painters

More than 200 works of great Greek painters of the 19th and 20th centuries constitute the dowry of one of the most important cultural sites in Epirus. Lytras, Gyzis, Volanakis, Parthenis, Hadjikyriakos-Ghikas, Tsarouchis, Moralis, Fasianos: are just a few of the great names you will see signing the works of the Averof Gallery, which is housed in a magnificent 3 storey building behind the central square of the settlement. On your trip to Epirus, it is definitely worthwhile to visit.

Katogi Averoff Winery

The Katogi Averof winery is located in the village of Metsovo at an altitude of 1100 meters. More than 1200 oak barrels are housed in its cellars, where red wines mature, while in the wine cellar there are rare collection bottles of vintage wines from 1974 onwards. The visit of the winery, using a variety of audiovisual media, is an original guided tour of wine production and the history of the winery, culminating in a tasting of the wines of Katogi Averoff.

Monastery of Agios Nikolaos

The monastery of Agios Nikolaos, built in the southwest of Metsovo, near the bank of the Metsovitikos River, was one of the most important monasteries in the region. Its founding dates back to the Byzantine era, as in the 14th century. it is the first time to speak of the monastery and the leader of Isaiah . In its long history it was repaired several times, but it was radically renovated around 1700. Its present form is due to the restoration works that took place around the 1960s by the Baron Mihail Tosista Foundation. A chapel dedicated to the martyr Agios Nikolaos of Metsovo, who was martyred in 1659, was formed in contact with the exterior of the temple.

Holy Monastery of the Assumption

The Assumption Monastery is located at a short distance from the settlement of Metsovo, at the intersection of the two tributaries of Arachthos, Metsovitikos and Anneliotikos. It is a unique monastery located in Metsovo and was built in 1754. It includes two-storeyed cells, guest houses, paved courtyards in planes, magnificent frescoes, iconostasis and 17th century icons and its bell tower, which from the middle and above is wooden. They say his bell was made in Giannena in 1870. The Monastery of Panagia Metsovo (a monastery of the Lower State or the Lower River) was founded in the 17th-18th century and is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The location of the monastery and testimonies show that the monastery served the hikers who took the road of Zygos to reach Thessaly. Since 1958 the Monastery has been closed to be renovated and recommenced in 1977 by the nun Thekla. Every year, on August 15, there is a big festival in honor of Our Lady.

Church of Agia Paraskevi

The church of Saint-limit Fri askefis located in the center of Metsovo and perhaps the most remarkable temple. Rare Temple has such a great historical weight as the church of Saint Paraskevi of Metsovo, which was and represents for the Metsovites the axis of rotation of their religious, national and cultural life. The temple of Agia Paraskevi, apart from its spiritual and cult character, is also a brilliant cultural monument that impresses visitors. Of great artistic value is the temple of the temple, which was painted by Metsovites woodcarvers in 1730. The carvings of the icon screen depict various episodes from the Old and New Testaments as well as various decorative elements. The twenty-two icons of the upper zone of the iconostasis are the faculty of the NT. Greece and belong chronologically between 1700-1730. The ten splendid images of the lower section are Russian and are placed between 1820 and 1840. They are tribute to Metsovite flocksestablished in Russia.

Lake Aoos Springs

To the east of the prefecture of Ioannina, about 20 kilometers from Metsovo a magical place that will make you think you are part of the fairytale waiting for you to explore it . A mountainous artificial lake that combines a unique labyrinth of streams, natural small lakes and extensive mountain meadows that vibrate with life unfolds in front of you with unrivaled beauty that does not exist like that. The lake was built in 1987 on the Politses Plateau in order to produce energy. Around it there are 7 small dams with the largest one having a height of 78 m. Its area is 11,5 km2 . and is at an altitude of 1,350 meters, which classifies it as the most mountainous large lake in Greece. It is located between two National Parks of Valia Calda and Vikos-Aoos.

Mountaineering routes of the area

The area of Metsovo and the artificial lake of Pogon Aoos is ideal for hiking and mountaineering all year round. The "Pitic" network From the Municipality of Metsovo and the Natural Club "Kolakis Pithos " was designed and marked a grid of seven major hiking routes. Some of these routes run through the area of the Aoos Pond Reservoir, while the rest cover the whole of Valia Calda . The routes were initially marked with square orange marks on metal poles, with the distinctive name of each route. The European Path E6 From the Metsovo area, the E6 European Route passes along its route from Igoumenitsa to the eastern border of the country. Two of its most interesting legs are the city of Metsovo. The Montenegrin Shelter In the Kokkini location Frost and at an altitude of 1950 m., is the stone-built mountain shelter of Mavrovouni of the Municipality of Metsovo. It has a capacity of 30 people.

Ursa trail

The Athletic Club of Metsovo organizes already in 2013 in Metsovo the mountain running races Ursa Trail and In the Footsteps of Arcku. These games have become not only an institution for the region but also an important part of the athletic calendar of athletes running our country and not only. The aim of the organizers through the route design is to bring the athlete through the bear's habitat and to sensitize him to issues of environmental protection and brown bear. The route passes through old paths that have been cleaned up with a lot of volunteer work and can now be used not only by athletes on the day of the race but also by ourselves for walking or mountaineering. The total length of the match "Ursa Trail" is 40 km. with 2.700 m. altitude difference and the race "In the Footsteps of the Bear" 18 km. with 940 m. It passes through historic paths and of particular aesthetic and natural value monuments of the area, with the first piece of UltraTrail that forms an octagon to the east of Arahthos in the area of Anilio and the second track that is also the route of the small race west of Arachthos in the region of Metsovo.

Closed Municipal Gym

The the closed Metsovo Municipal Gym includes a multipurpose stadium similar to the most modern of its kind and a gym. It also has two open-air basketball courts. Made preparations s groups n basket, volley, handball, etc.

Football field

The Football Stadium has dimensions 50X 95 with patio and modern changing rooms. The stadium is adjacent to the indoor gym. Here is the preparation of football teams.

St. George 's Park

The main street of Metsovo square leads to the Averoff Garden (St. George 's Park). It is a beautiful park flooded with trees and plants that make up the entire flora of Pindos. There you will be able to admire an extraordinary miniature of Pindus made with care and great effort. Inside, well preserved, is the restored chapel of St. George, in front of which Georgios Averoff prayed for help in 1840, before taking the road of foreigners. He has never been back since. But he kept his word and money sent out, repaired the old church and made a whole garden with all the trees of Pindos.