They are among the most popular mountains resorts of Greece and are considered “diamonds” of Thessaly.
The reason for the mountain villages of Elati, Pertouli and Neraidochori which are ideal resorts for a Christmas getaway.
OR Fir spreads on the southwestern slopes of Koziakas, at an altitude of 900 meters.
It is built amphitheatrically, in the shadow of the imposing Red Rock, gazing at the surrounding peaks of South Pindos.
Immersed in dense fir forests, it fully justifies its name. The old stone buildings, the cobbled streets and the small squares, decorated with fountains and flower beds, give it nobility and picturesqueness. It is 33 km away. from Trikala, 49 km. from Kalambaka and 14 km. from the Gate.
Elati provides an abundance of traditional guesthouses, luxury hotels, restaurants with local cuisine, cozy cafes and bars as well as tourist shops with local products and souvenirs. The name Elati has been used for the past decades. Based on archaeological discoveries at the site of Katofli, the ancient city of Pytnaio was located in the area of Elati.
According to Byzantine findings, the village was created after the fall of Constantinople in a different location near the river. At the beginning of the 20th century there were three older settlements which were destroyed by fire in 1943, during the Second World War.
Elati was built in its current location immediately after the final liberation of Trikala from the Turks in 1898 and until 1955 it was called Tyrna. At the entrance of the village is the Grove of the Prophet Ilias with the stone church of the same name.
Next door, in a picturesque little square with a stone fountain and traditional lampposts, the traditional market operates. The wooden houses of the producers offer a wide variety of local products and souvenirs.
High up, opposite the central square, between the fir trees, dominates the limestone Red Rock.
It is accessible, by a passable path, in 15 minutes and from its top the view of the village is panoramic. Here there is an organized climbing area with routes up to 60 meters in length.
Above the village, between the gray steep slopes of the eastern side of Koziakas, Arkudotrypa gazes at Elati from an altitude of 1,400 meters. According to tradition a big bear lived in the cave for many years.
At a distance of 9 km. from Elati is the Ski Center of Pertouli. The village of Pertouli is 15 km from Elati. and Neraidochori 19 km.
The Pertuli is built at an altitude of 1,150 meters on the slopes of Koziakas. Pertouli is administratively under the municipality of Pyli, while it is 48 km from Trikala. Many of the houses in the village are made of stone. The ski center of Pertouli is located close to the settlement.
Around Pertouli is the homonymous forest with an area of approximately 33,000 acres, which is managed by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and is used for the practice of Forestry students.
The Fairy village, which is 52 km from Trikala, is built in the shadow of the mountains Marosa and Neraida, at an altitude of 1150 meters. The village of the fairies, as it is otherwise called, owes its name to the mountain of the same name.
Its houses with red roofs are spread out amphitheatrically on the hillside gazing at the peaks of the mountains that surround the village. Old churches and stone fountains with flowing crystal water adorn its various corners.
The attractions you can visit
Hadjipetrou Bridge: The Hatzipetrou Bridge is located in an idyllic location, 2 km outside Neraidohori. It was founded in 1750 by Georgios Hatzipetros, the chief cheliga (large livestock breeder) of the area.
It bridges the banks of the Pertouliotiko stream, just before its confluence with the Korbou Stream. It is a stone single-arch bridge with a length of 30 meters, a height of 8 meters and an arch span of 17.5 meters.
Vlachostrata: Immediately after the Hatzipetro bridge, Vlachostrata stretches out. It is a stone-paved path in the mountains that in the past connected Thessaly with Epirus. It was used for many centuries by the inhabitants of the mountainous regions to transport their products and by shepherds to move their flocks.
Part of the path, approximately one kilometer long, has been preserved and offers a stunning view of the area, taking the visitor on a journey through time and local tradition. At the end of the Vlachostrata, after an hour’s walk, there is the Ftelia Fountain or the Suleiman Fountain with a designated rest area.
Folklore Museum of Pyrrha: Built at an altitude of 1050 meters, 5 kilometers after Neraidochori, Pyrra is a small and beautiful village hidden among beech and oak trees.
According to tradition, it was named after the local king Pyrrhus. Historically, it is among the Vlacho villages of the Aspropotamos region. The old village school has been renovated and turned into a folklore museum. It has unique and interesting exhibits which present and highlight the traditional way of life of the region.
Pyrrha Bridge: It is a single-arch stone bridge, with a span of 18.30, an arch span of 8.20 and a deck width of 2.65 meters. It is located at the southern entrance of the village, on the Neraidochorio – Pyrras forest road, and bridges the Kryovrysi stream which flows into the Kamnaitiko river.
In the past, it connected Pyrra with Neraidohori through a steep cobbled path (Skala Pyrra). The exact date of its foundation remains unknown. According to historical data, in 1823 the Tourkarvanites, of Dervenaga Trikala, Selichtar Boda, after burning the villages of Pertouli, Neraidochori and Pyrra, fell into an ambush by the Captain of the Khasias, Nassios Mandalos, on the narrow and steep Skala of Pyrra, above the bridge. According to tradition, Agia Paraskevi frightened the horses of the Turkarvanites and, with the panic caused, many horsemen fell into the stream and drowned.
Monastery of Agia Paraskevi: The Monastery of Agia Paraskevi is located in Tsiouka, at an altitude of 1270 meters, between the villages of Neraidochori and Pyrra. It was built in 1792 by the charioteer Gousios Hatzipetros, on the ruins of the oldest church of the Transfiguration of the Savior. Its rhythm is a basilica with a dome.
In its heyday, the monastery had a rich library, estates and flocks while it housed the relics of Saint Modestos of Jerusalem. During the Second World War it was used as a hiding place for the rebels and was severely damaged.
Chapel of Agios Nikolaos Asfakas: It is a stone temple built in the lap of a limestone rock, in the Ashfaka stream of South Pindos. On a rock there is a painted representation of Agios Nikolaos. We meet it on the route from Neraidochori to the Aspropotamos area, between the villages of Desi and Agios Nikolaos.
It is celebrated on the last Sunday of May. After the divine service follows the “blotsi”, food which is cooked, in large pots, by the housewives of the village, the night before and distributed to those present.
Chrysomilia Folklore Museum: Chrysomilia is one of the largest villages in the area, built on the northwestern slope of Koziakas. It is located at an altitude of 950 meters and is 16 km from Elati and 11 km from Pertouli.
In the village there is a folklore museum with an interesting collection of objects from previous centuries. It includes old household items and appliances, old tools, traditional cooking utensils, traditional costumes, heirlooms, old weapons and black and white photographs.
The article Christmas escape to the mountainous “diamonds” of Thessaly was published on NewsIT .