Sights

Αξιοθέατα

 

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.

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.

 
 

Museum of Chanaka

The Folklore Museum of Chanaka is housed in the old stone manor house of the Venetian family in the area of Agios Georgios (Grigoriou Chanaka 1) and is a museum of Metsovian -Vlachian art of Metsovo.

Completion of restoration works and the supervision of the Museum was commissioned to the Dance Club of Metsovo in February 2013. It is open from June 2014.

The folklore museum accommodates guests on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9am to 2pm. The other days of the week after concertation and only for group tours.

Church of Agia Paraskevi

The church of Ag. Friday is located in Metsovo - in the center of the settlement - and is probably its 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.

500 years have already been completed since the first renovation of the Church of St. Metsovo Friday, made in 1511. Of course, the church of Agia Paraskevi is older. And only the mention of 1380 AD. in the anonymous time of Ioannina for the hieromonk Isaiah as a professed Metsov, confirms the veracity of the truth, since Agia Paraskevi was initially a Monastery and Isaiah was her Adventist.

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 flocks established in Russia.

 
 

Tositsa Folklore Museum

The 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 operating since 1955. It is housed in the rebuilt Mansion Tositsa, the patron of the well-known family of benefactors, originally built in 1661.

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 what could be found in a mansion at the time of the great economic prosperity of Metsovo, but also objects that make up for the nation's 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.

Averof 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 for the monastery and his leader 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 work done around the 1960s by the Foundation Baron Mihail Tosista.

A chapel dedicated to the martyr Agios Nikolaos of Metsovo, who was martyred in 1659, is formed in contact with the exterior side of the church. The monastery is surrounded by cells and other auxiliary buildings that are kept in good condition.

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. The Holy Monastery of the Assumption of the Virgin 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 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.

 
 

Valia Calda

It is located on the borders of Epirus and western Macedonia between the prefectures of Ioannina and Grevena, near the villages of Krania, Perivoli and Vovousa. It includes the Valley of Valia Kalda 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

It is located in the Prefecture of Ioannina near Konitsa and the villages of 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.

 
 

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. It is suitable for beginner skiers as it has easy slopes and small lengths. Here you will find organized ski schools, ski and snow rental shops truck. There are also 3 slopes for experienced 700m, 1000m and 1200m. It features a chalet with restaurant and café for hot chocolate moments and traditional flavors.

The ski resort of Karakoli is located at an altitude of 1340 meters to 1520 meters and is 1.5 km away 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. until 1850 m., has an overhead two-seater lift and 3 slopes. Ideal for all guests.