Pindos - Cosy villages and exciting bridge constructions

Wednesday, 24 August 2016 12:12
Written by Portal Editor

Our tour through the Pindos National Park had first led us to the villages of Kapesovo and Koukouli, both of them, so at least local documents, were founded in the 13th century.

Under the occupation by the Ottomans, a peace and cooperation agreement between the villages of Zagori region (at the time there were 14 villages) and the Ottomans was signed in 1430. The villages of Zagori are described as a kind of autonomous federation, which included several liberties, a contract lasting for the next few centuries. The privileges granted to the federal government of Zagori could be, for the most biggest part, maintained till 1868. The influence of the wealthy family Zagorian against the Sublime Porte was quite important in this relation. According to these privileges, the Confederation of Zagori was autonomous and self-governing, but under the control of a Vekili which had his seat in Zagori. A similar structure of a certain independence from the Ottoman occupation we had discovered in the valleys near Omis in Croatia.

Many of the residents in the local area were merchants and traders, until some of them were traveling abroad within the 18th century and made huge profits. The Plakidas family was one of those who even made an asset. Alexios Plakidas, a benefactor and patron of his home region, donated large amounts of money for the village and the Zagori region.

The inhabitants of the wider area traditionally used a complex and functional network of paths through the mountains for their daily activities. At the same time the residents have been forced, due to the special morphology of the soil, the climate with its frequent rain and snowfall, as well as from the many swift streams and rivers, to build paths and bridges made of stone (particularly for bridges),which connected the paths and created a better usage for the settlements.

The construction of bridges required great skills, therefore the bridges were the work of specially trained masters who in the majority originated from the villages of Konitsa and Voios. All bridges have been built in the period of 18th and 19th century with financial help by richer inhabitants or Turkish governors, which then gave their name to the bridge.

Today about 80 stone bridges have been preserved in the whole region of the park, which have, depending on width of the river in its majority one arch, two or three arches. There are works of art in bridge construction, which are already worth the visit to the Pindos National Park in itself. In conjunction with inns, watermills and shrines, you will often encounter, the bridges are unique structural incentives for hiking in the Pindos area.

In the area of Zagori are the following bridges:

Bridge of Saint Minas (Dilofos)
Bridge Noutsos or Kokori at the entrance of the gorge Vikos (Koukouli, 1750)
Bridge Missios in Vikos (Κoukouli - Vitsa, 1748)
three-arched bridge of Plakida or Kalogeriko above Bagiotiko current (Kipi - Κoukouli, 1814)
Bridge Kontodimos or Lazaridis at the end of the canyon Vikaki (Kipi, 1753)
double arched bridge of Milos above Bagiotiko river (Κipi, 1748)
Bridge Petsioni above Bagiotiko river (Κipi, 1830)
Bridge in "Agios" position above the river Bagiotiko (Κipi)
three-arched bridge Petsioni above the river Zagoritiko (Fraggades, 1818)
three-arched bridge over the river Kaloutas Zagoritiko (Kaloutas)
Bridge in Negades over a tributary of the river Mpagiotiko
Bridge in scale of Vradeto above the gorge of Mezaria
Bridge of Tsepelovos (of Hatsio, Anthio or Palaiogefuro 1804)
Bridge of Kir Aleksis above Skamneliotiko river (Skamneli, 1812)
Bridge over a Kouitsas tributary of the river Aoos (Vrisochori)
Bridge of Stathis over a tributary of the river Zagoritiko (Dikorfo)
Bridge over the river Anthrakiti Zagoritiko (position Dardakali - Κakavakia - Κoutsoliakos)
Bridge over the river Kavallari Zagoritik
Bridge over the river Kamper Aga Zagoritiko (Μiliotades)
Bridge over the river Tsipianis Varda (Greveniti - Tristeno, 1875)
Bridge over the river Kourtias Varda (Doliani, 1828)
Bridge over Drogari, tributary of the river Vardas (Κastanonas)
Bridge over the river Aoos Vovousa (1748)
Bridge over a Vovousa tributary of the river Aoos
Bridge over a Papigkos tributary of the river Voidomatis (1854)

Area of Konitsa

26. Bridge of Voidomatis in Kleidoniá (1853)
27. Bridge of Konitsa over the river Aoos (1850)
28. Bridge Mpousi across the creek from Aoos, in Topolitsa (Κonitsa, 1904)
29. Bridge Pournias across the creek from Sarantaporo (1853)
30. Bridge of Pigi

Area of Grevena

31. three-arched bridge over the river Aziz Aga Venetikos (Τrikomo, Κosmati, Κipourio 1727)
32. Bridge over the river Kagkelia Venetikos (Τrikomo, Monahiti)
33. Bridge of Portitsa over a tributary of the River Venetikos (Spilaio, 1793)
34. Bridge of Ziakas over the river Venetikos (Ζiakas, 19th century)
35. Bridge over the river Katsogiannis Venetikos (Spilaio, 1800)
36. Bridge over the river Liatissa Venetikos (Spilaio)
37. Bridge of Stampeki over a tributary of the River Venetikos (Κrania, 1850)
38. Bridge of Matsagkani over a tributary of the River Venetikos (Κrania 1850)

Today the villages are increasingly popular tourist destinations, especially during the winter season. The buildings of traditional architecture, as well as two schools and the historic restaurant serve as accommodation for tourists. The potential for walks along the ancient paths are just a bit discovered and used until now, what means a huge potential for the region.

Please read as well:

Exploring Pindos Mountains - Hiking Vikos Gorge

Routes to South - even for long term stay

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://www.alaturka.info/en/greece/epirus/3412-pindos-cosy-villages-and-exciting-bridge-constructions?tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default#sigProIdac2a81a912