Metsovo Travel

Metsovo
Situated close to the peak of Katara and below the beautiful artificial Lake Aoou, Metsovo is one of Greece’s best known tourist destinations. It is approximately 60 km from both Ioannena and the town of Kalambaka. The route to Metsovo (constant hairpin bends) can present problems in winter, but only in cases of heavy snowfall and ground frost is extra caution required.
It extends along one of the highest peaks of the Pindus, exciting the visitor with its “Alpine� architecture and its striking scenery. The church of Agia Paraskevi has an interesting carved icon screen and its wall mosaics are copies of the ones at Ravenna. Also worth a visit are the Monastery of Agios Nikolaos with its 17th century frescoes and the Tossitsa Mansion, which has been converted into an excellent museum of Ipiros folk art. Metsovo’s craftsmen and women keep alive the traditions of woodcarving and weaving, while the area produces some of the country’s most delicious cheeses and a wonderful robust red wine.
Its ski center and the number of mountains in the vicinity make Metsovo a paradise for skiers and hikers.
Among Greece’s most picturesque small towns, Metsovo (60 km. east of Ioannina) rests upon the ruins of ancient Tymphi. It extends along one of the highest peaks of the Pindus, exciting the visitor with its “Alpine� architecture and its striking scenery. The church of Aghia Paraskevi has an interesting carved iconscreen and its wall mosaics are copies of the ones at Ravenna. Also worth a visit is the Monastery of Aghios Nikolaos with its 17th century frescoes and the Tossitsa Mansion, which has been converted into an excellent museum of Epirot folk art.
Metsovo’s craftsmen and women keep alive the traditions of woodcarving and weaving, while the area produces some of the country’s most delicious cheeses and a wonderful robust red wine.
Its ski center and the number of mountains in the vicinity make Metsovo a paradise for skiers and hikers.
This is a traditional mountain village that has become so popular that at times the original appeal is in danger of being overwhelmed by tourism at its worst. Still, most visitors find it satisfying—some even find it magical. It’s about a 1 1/2-hour bus ride east of Ioannina. Although there are a couple of buses to Metsovo in the morning, there’s really only one back from Metsovo in the late afternoon that allows for a day in the village—so either pay close attention to the always-changing bus schedule or, better still, rent a car. (It can also be approached by buses coming from Athens or Thessaloniki.)
The village sits at about 1,000m (3,300 ft.) above sea level, nestled among peaks of the Pindos mountains, so in addition to attracting day-trippers, it draws serious nature lovers and hikers from all over Greece and Europe. Overnight accommodations are often strained, especially during Greek holidays. And because there are ski slopes nearby, Metsovo is a popular destination even during the winter.
Assuming that you’ll come here on a day’s excursion, what you will experience is a village that has maintained a certain style of architecture; traditional customs such as clothing and dances; crafts such as weaving, embroidery, and woodwork; and several food specialties. The buildings, of course, can be seen at all times just by strolling around. They’re what most of us think of as Alpine style—stone, with wooden balconies and slate roofs. A declining few of the older people wear traditional clothing all the time, but the fancier costumes are worn only on Sundays and holidays.
If you want to see the dances, July 26 is the village’s feast day, but also one of its most overcrowded days. Crafts are always on display and for sale in dozens of shops up and down the main street. Some is touristy kitsch, but some is authentically local and handsome. The best of the latter is at the Metsovo Folk Art Cooperative, about 50m (164 ft.) from the Egnatia Hotel on the slope above it. The traditional Epirote foods can be sampled in several restaurants. Disneyland it ain’t, but don’t go to Metsovo thinking you’re discovering a quaint native village. There’s even a fairly ambitious conference center in town.