Images of Zagori
Zagori (or Zagoria) is a remote, mountainous region of North West Greece, to the West of the Pindos mountains and near the Albanian border. It is the western part of Zagori that is normally visited by tourists, notable for its domestic architecture and the outstanding geological feature, the Vikos Gorge.
Vikos Gorge
Herdsman's Hut
Voidomatis River
Bridge of Zagoria
The view of the Vikos Gorge shown here was taken from a vantage point called Biloi. Not a great picture in itself, but it does give an indication of the breathtaking scale of the gorge, about 1000m deep!
The herdsman's hut is somewhat unusual in being an isolated building - for defensive reasons in the past the population was confined to the network of villages which cling picturequely to the hillsides. Beyond the hut a subsidiary valley leads through to the Vikos Gorge itself.
In spring, when the Voidomatis River is in spate from the melting mountain snows, it follows a path through the gorge. At other times it disappears underground, rising again at the lower end of the gorge. The view here was taken a few km beyond the end of the gorge - in the distance can be seen the 'Papingo Towers', great rock formations at the end of the gorge below which the villages of Megalo Papingo and Mikro Papingo nestle.
The Bridge of Zagoria is above the upper end of the gorge. When the river is in spate, the waters reach almost to the top of the bridge!
The herdsman's hut is somewhat unusual in being an isolated building - for defensive reasons in the past the population was confined to the network of villages which cling picturequely to the hillsides. Beyond the hut a subsidiary valley leads through to the Vikos Gorge itself.
In spring, when the Voidomatis River is in spate from the melting mountain snows, it follows a path through the gorge. At other times it disappears underground, rising again at the lower end of the gorge. The view here was taken a few km beyond the end of the gorge - in the distance can be seen the 'Papingo Towers', great rock formations at the end of the gorge below which the villages of Megalo Papingo and Mikro Papingo nestle.
The Bridge of Zagoria is above the upper end of the gorge. When the river is in spate, the waters reach almost to the top of the bridge!
Rooftops of Delofo
Barred Window
Roof and Chimneys, Vitsa
Konitsa Valley
The first three images here show typical village architecture. The first two were taken in Delofo, the third in Vitsa. The stone roofs are a particular feature or Zagori. They do need to be regularly maintained, and sadly there are a number of examples where the roofs are starting to fall in, or have already done so, due to neglect.
The view of Konitsa Valley shows clouds of steam rising in the sunshine following a violent thunderstorm.
The view of Konitsa Valley shows clouds of steam rising in the sunshine following a violent thunderstorm.