GREECE - TRIP TO METSOVO - THE VLAHIC BEAR LAND OF PINDOS - HOMELAND OF GREEK BENEFACTORS - WINES - CHEESE PRODUCTS - WHAT TO SEE AND DO AT METSOVO

 

Metsovo - the Vlach bearland of Pindos that became the homeland of the Greek national benefactors, wines, cheese and dairy products

Metsovo

 

Metsovo is perched on the slopes of mountain range of Pindos, above the Metsovitikos River and at an altitude of 1160 m. and it is one of the largest Vlach villages in Epirus.  

 

Our motocycle at the central square of Metsovo

 

It is an excellent travel destination for all year round, which can satisfy those who love hiking trails in the mountains and lovers of sports on the river and at snow since it has two ski resorts, those who want to taste unique wines and cheese products, most of which are excellent products of geographical origin, and those who love folk art and culture.

 

Traditional products at the central square of Metsovo

Metsovo is the homeland of great national benefactors of Greece, such as Michael Tositsas, Nikolaos Stournaras, Georgios Averof and his descendant, Evangelos Averof Tositsas, who allocated significant amounts of money for the development of their hometown.

 

 

Metsovo

 

According to one version, Metsovo in Vlach means the place of the bear, the habitat of the brown bear is in the vineyards and for this reason, every year on the last Sunday of May, the mountain marathon race ''UrsaTrail-In the footsteps of the bear'' is organized here, which starts from the village of Metsovo, passes through the vineyards and continues on the mountain paths, following the footprints of the bears. Let's walk together in this beautiful Vlach village!

 

 

A walk in the Averofian Garden with a view of the Pindos mountain range

 

 

The Averofian Garden is located in a short distance from the central square. From this garden you can enjoy the view of the Pindos National Park.

 

Tree at Averofian Garden

 

 

The Averofian Garden is filled with plants and trees, typical of Pindos, while in its center is the church of Saint George, where George Averof, one of the greatest Greek benefactors with Metsovian ancestry, prayed before leaving for Alexandria, Egypt in 1837.

 

 

Agios Georgios at Averofian Garden

 

 

Averof became rich in Egypt and decided to help his homeland. Metsovo was destroyed in 1854 after a revolt of its residents against the Ottomans, which is why Averof helped finance the reconstruction of Metsovo. He also created the garden in Metsovo by sending a gardener from Alexandria. The church of Agios Georgios is a characteristic architectural example of Basilica and has icons from the early 18th century.

 

 

Averofian Garden

Take a walk inside Averofian Garden

 

 

 

He also benefited the whole country by financing the reconstruction of a large number of schools, the renovation of the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens before the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and the top battleship of Greece at that time, the battleship Averof.

 

Wines and cheeses of Metsovo

Evangelos Averof had other plans besides the reconstruction of Metsovo. He wanted to build a winery, so the first vineyards were created, ginets in the Vlachs, the most mountainous in Greece at 950-1050m. altitude with the French varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir and the local Vlachiko and Syrah. He also wanted to build a model cheese factory and an institution to be able to manage all of this.

He named the first wine “Katogi Metsovou”, since he vinified it in the basement (katogi) of his house. He built a winery on the edge of the village, which developed rapidly. After his death, “Katogi Metsovou” changed its name to “Katogi Averof”, while many more wines were produced.

The estate has evolved in recent years and the vineyards are expanding on the slopes of the surrounding mountains as well as in monasteries and ravines. At the same time, a hotel was built on the winery site.

The vineyards of Metsovou are located in the habitat of the brown bear. Bears walk through the vineyards for this reason and it is said that the wines of Metsovo are blessed by the touch of the bear!

You can find traditional cheese products everywhere at Metsovo

 

In 1958, the Tositsa Foundation cheese factory began operating. It was Evangelos Averof's vision to create a school of cheese makers and a cheese factory. The most famous cheese is the smoked Metsovone cheese, a cheese made with 10% goat's milk and 90% cow's milk after a three-month maturation period. 

The family mansion was converted into the Museum of Epirus Folk Art and an adjacent house became the Averof Art Gallery, with works from Evangelos Averof's personal collection and is directed by Tatiana, Averof's daughter. It contains works by Greek painters and sculptors such as Iakovidis, Gyzis, Lytra, Parthenis, Hadjikyriakou-Ghikas and many others.

 

Bell tower of Agia Paraskevi

In the center of Metsovo, see the church of Agia Paraskevi with its elaborate wooden carved iconostasis and the magnificent bell tower.

 

Food – coffee

 

Trattoria Lele, near the central square of Metsovo

We ate lunch at the new restaurant Lele, next to the main square of the village. We ordered the variety of Metsovo sausages, the Lele salad, the four-cheese pizza, the Margarita and the garlic bread.

 

 

We liked everything and we are glad that Metsovo has its own trattoria and a group of young chefs who dare to have a restaurant with a different menu and to think outside of the box  of this region!

We took our coffee at the Styl cafe, above the trattoria and when we visited the Averofian garden at Metsovorama, which has a beautiful view of the Pindos National Park.

A break for lunch and coffee at Metsovo

 

Routes starting from Metsovo

First Route: Eastern Zagori - Artificial Lake Aoos - Lake Zorika - Vovousa - Tristeno - Tsipiani Bridge - Doliani - Leptokaria - Fragkades 

 

Second Route: Anilio - Mantra Hodza Pass - Baros Pass - Kalarrites - Syrrako