• Ancient Greece
  • Religious Interest
  • Travel in Nature
No Result
View All Result
Exploring Greece TV
  • HOME
  • ATHENS
  • ATTICA
    • East Attica
    • North Attica
    • South Attica
    • West Attica
    • beaches of Attica
    • Argosaronic Islands
  • GREECE
    • PELOPONNESE
    • WEST GREECE
    • CENTRAL GREECE
    • THESSALY
    • CENTRAL MACEDONIA
    • EAST MACEDONIA
    • THRACE
    • EPIRUS
    • IONIAN ISLANDS
    • AEGEAN ISLANDS
      • NORTH AEGEAN ISLANDS
      • SPORADES
      • CYCLADES
      • DODECANESE
    • CRETE
  • CYPRUS
  • MORE
    • Ancient Greece
    • Travel in Nature
    • Religious Interest
  • SO YOU KNOW
  • Greek
Exploring Greece TV
  • HOME
  • ATHENS
  • ATTICA
    • East Attica
    • North Attica
    • South Attica
    • West Attica
    • beaches of Attica
    • Argosaronic Islands
  • GREECE
    • PELOPONNESE
    • WEST GREECE
    • CENTRAL GREECE
    • THESSALY
    • CENTRAL MACEDONIA
    • EAST MACEDONIA
    • THRACE
    • EPIRUS
    • IONIAN ISLANDS
    • AEGEAN ISLANDS
      • NORTH AEGEAN ISLANDS
      • SPORADES
      • CYCLADES
      • DODECANESE
    • CRETE
  • CYPRUS
  • MORE
    • Ancient Greece
    • Travel in Nature
    • Religious Interest
  • SO YOU KNOW
  • Greek
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Exploring Greece TV
  • Ancient Greece
  • Religious Interest
  • Travel in Nature
Καλπάκι

Pogoni: The border villages that come alive only in the summer time

Wildlife and tranquility that soothes your soul

Exploring Greece TV by Exploring Greece TV
in EPIRUS, GREECE, IOANNINA
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twittershare

Green landscapes, running waters, wild nature, and traditional buildings that count centuries of life. This is what the visitor will see in an unknown to many areas of Epirus and specifically the prefecture of Ioannina, Pogoni. It is one of the border areas of Greece on the Greek-Albanian border, which goes through lonely winters and lively summers. An area that seems to be transformed during the summer months but falls into... winter sleep the rest of the time. Ideal choice for those who are looking for a true retreat away from any crowds of tourism but for absolute contact with nature.


Arta: Walking on the bridge and the wonderful villages


Pogoni: The border villages that come alive only in the summers

The villages of Pogoni are many, some larger and others smaller. In a few of them, such as Kalpaki, Ravenia, and Doliana you can find traditional guesthouses in every sense of the word in which you will enjoy real peace. It is no exaggeration to say that he can only hear the sound of birds or running water. In winter few guesthouses in operation offer, however, great and special hospitality with traditional breakfasts and local flavors to make an additional gastronomic trip.

Gretsi location, Pogoni

Having as a starting point the village you choose, you can take a road trip and see natural landscapes, and rivers and follow small hiking routes. The well-known river of the area is Kalamas and the mountain that surrounds the villages is called Kassidiaris. Try making stops in villages where you will find traditional cafes with wooden stoves lit and residents ready to tell you stories from the past. The villages of Pogoni are very close to the border station of Kakavia, the border with Albania which you can easily reach.

Sosinou Monastery, Parakalamos Pogoni
Sosinou Monastery, Parakalamos Pogoni

One of the very interesting villages in the area with similar sights is Pogoniani. In the border village of Pogoniani, you will visit an interesting folklore museum with household utensils, textiles, loom, local costumes, agricultural and livestock tools, and photographs from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Of amazing beauty even in winter, which is completely quiet and not crowded, is the lake of Zaravina, in Pogoni, which is accompanied by several myths. Lake Zaravina hosts a unique ecosystem with rare species while from a geological point of view, the lake is a deep ravine that at some point in the very prehistoric years was filled with water from the glaciers that were constantly melting.

Lake Zaravina
Lake Zaravina

The historic Kalpaki Pogoni

Villages of Pogoni without visiting the historic Kalpaki is not possible. The historic village of Kalpaki, which is one of the largest villages of Pogoni and the seat of the homonymous municipality, was a point of fierce clashes in November 1940. The Italian plans for the occupation of Greece initially provided for the surprise attack on Epirus and Corfu to occupy them.

If you find yourself in Kalpaki you will see that on the hill above the village dominates the imposing bronze statue of the Fighter of the '40s that is accessible to admire it up close, while in the village there is a War Museum with rare exhibits.

The villages of Pogoni are filled in the summer with people who now live in the cities and return to their homeland. The traditional festivals with clarinets seem to unite them as they are a landmark of the area. And when winter comes, villages that had 200 and 300 people in the summer may be left with families counted on the fingers of one hand. If you miss this peace and disconnection from the bustling everyday life, then the villages of Pogoni should probably be your next destination.

How to get to Pogoni: To get to the villages in Pogoni you have to pass through Ioannina. Starting from Athens, you have to cross 455 km. The trip lasts about 5.5 hours via the national road from Athens to Patras, then through the Rio - Antirio bridge, and the Ionian road. Once you reach Ioannina follow the road to Kakavia according to the signs at the entrance of the village.

 

Travel to Greece – Google News – Follow us

Epirus: Konitsa Ioannina – Chioniades the small Greek village where more than 70 painters were born

A trip to Zagorochoria: Picturesque villages worth exploring

Vikos Gorge: the view of the Grand Canyon of Greece that holds a Guinness World Record

Follow exploringgreece.tv on  Instagram and Facebook

Tags: Ioannina villageslakes Epirus
ShareTweetShare
Facebook Youtube Twitter Youtube Vimeo Instagram

our Webisites

ExploringGreece.tv

  • About ExploringGreece.tv
  • Data Protection Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Website ID information
  • Contact us

See Also

  • Ancient Greece
  • Religious Interest
  • Travel in Nature

Copyright © 2017-2025 Viewmax Media.

  • HOME
  • ATHENS
  • ATTICA
    • East Attica
    • North Attica
    • South Attica
    • West Attica
    • beaches of Attica
    • Argosaronic Islands
  • GREECE
    • PELOPONNESE
    • WEST GREECE
    • CENTRAL GREECE
    • THESSALY
    • CENTRAL MACEDONIA
    • EAST MACEDONIA
    • THRACE
    • EPIRUS
    • IONIAN ISLANDS
    • AEGEAN ISLANDS
      • NORTH AEGEAN ISLANDS
      • SPORADES
      • CYCLADES
      • DODECANESE
    • CRETE
  • CYPRUS
  • MORE
    • Ancient Greece
    • Travel in Nature
    • Religious Interest
  • SO YOU KNOW
  • Greek
No Result
View All Result
  • en English
  • el Ελληνικα

Copyright © 2017-2025 Viewmax Media.

  • HOME
  • ATHENS
  • ATTICA
    • East Attica
    • North Attica
    • South Attica
    • West Attica
    • beaches of Attica
    • Argosaronic Islands
  • GREECE
    • PELOPONNESE
    • WEST GREECE
    • CENTRAL GREECE
    • THESSALY
    • CENTRAL MACEDONIA
    • EAST MACEDONIA
    • THRACE
    • EPIRUS
    • IONIAN ISLANDS
    • AEGEAN ISLANDS
      • NORTH AEGEAN ISLANDS
      • SPORADES
      • CYCLADES
      • DODECANESE
    • CRETE
  • CYPRUS
  • MORE
    • Ancient Greece
    • Travel in Nature
    • Religious Interest
  • SO YOU KNOW
  • Greek
No Result
View All Result
  • en English
  • el Ελληνικα

Copyright © 2017-2025 Viewmax Media.

Newsletter

  • Greek