Metsovo traditional village: a stunning place at Epirus, Greece - top attractions
Metsovo is a town in Epirus on the mountains of Pindus in northern Greece, between Ioannina to the north and Meteora to the south. THE ARISTOCRAT ON THE MOUNTAIN
This lively mountain town in Epirus, with its diverse history, traditions and customs is a popular winter holiday destination
It’s another world 1,000m above sea level. The town of Metsovo perches on one of the most beautiful slopes of the Pindus Mountain range, the ‘crossroads’ of Epirus, Thessaly and Western Macedonia. Built like an amphitheatre, its tile roofs and wooden porches stretch out across the slope, its grand mansions nestled in between beech and fir trees. The soothing sound of water always on the move adds to the majestic atmosphere. This is an ideal destination for lovers of relaxing mountain holidays.
What to do in Metsovo
Home of the benefactors and living tradition
Metsovo has always been a thriving town, with an economy based on livestock, trade and crafts. Metsovite travellers and traders became prosperous, particularly in the Danubian principalities and Russia, then brought the benefits of their wealth back to their homeland by constructing public buildings, bridges, churches and schools. Metsovo, in essence a market town, became a cultural and commercial hub for merchants and traders from East and West. Of its benefactors, particularly noteworthy is the Tositsa Foundation, and Evangelos Averoff, who were the driving force behind the economic boom and an influx of tourism in 1970.
Bear square
Metsovo’s main square is one of the most famous attractions of mountainous Greece and thousands of visitors pass through it every year, stopping to take a picture next to the monument of two bears exchanging glances, while elderly Metsovites look on, conversing in their local Vlach dialect.
Averoff Gallery
More than 200 paintings and sculptures by the great Greek artists of the 19th and 20th century are exhibited here, the most significant focal point of culture in Epirus. Lytras, Gyzis, Volanakis, Parthenis, Hatzikiriakos-Gikas, Tsarouhis, Moralis and Fasianos are just a few of the big names in the collection, housed in a spectacular building with three floors behind the town’s main square. This museum is well worth a visit during your trip to Epirus.
A peaceful lake
The high altitude of this artificial lake at the source of the Aoos River makes it the only one of its kind in Greece. In the winter the blue water sinks into the white landscape and in the summer it’s draped in the foliage of the dense riparian forest. The beech forest gives way to a forest of firs to the north of the lake, the boundary of the Pindus National Park and the renowned Valia- Kalda. The serene setting is relaxing, an idyllic alpine landscape.
Politses ski resort
It may be small, but it offers all the necessary facilities for amateur skiers. Metsovo’s ski resort is in Politses, at an altitude of 1,400m, and has five pistes and three lifts.
The famous cheese of Pindus
It’s called Metsovone and is a delicious traditional smoked cheese, one of the most popular in Greece. They say that it contains all the aromas of the Pindus Mountains. The secret is in the milk, provided by the region’s farmers, whose animals roam freely in the surrounding valleys from spring until autumn.
The largest centre of Aromanian life in Greece, Metsovo is a large regional hub for several small villages and settlements in the region of Pindus, and features many shops, schools, offices, services, museums and galleries. Primary aspects of the economy of Metsovo are agriculture and tourism and is a popular tourist destination, particularly during the winter.
The etymology of the name “Metsovo” from the words Mitsous, Mesovounon or from the unattested Slav word *Mẹčovo, meaning bear-place, which have been proposed at times by academics and historians, are not accepted by linguistic research. On the contrary, there appears to be an etymological relation between the Vlach form Minʤu and the Greek form Metsovo, which is formed by the theme Mets and the Slav ending ovo.
The town is famous for its local cheeses (Metsovone and Metsovela) and winemaking industries, including the Katogi vineyard of the Averoff family. A museum named Averoff Gallery is dedicated to Georgios Averoff. Metsovo is also a popular winter vacation destination and a ski resort. The Metsovo Ski Centre is situated not far from the centre of Metsovo.
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