The beautiful and famous area of Zagori is a network of 46 villages spread all over the mountains on the north east of the city of Ioannina. The word Zagori first appeared in a document of 1321 and it means “behind the mountains”. It is one of the many toponyms that come from the Slavic language (from the proposition Za, which means “behind” and the noun gora that means “mountain”). The villages of Zagori are famous for their unbelievable natural beauty, their unique architecture and their long history. Not without a reason of course, since the smashing natural landscape, the picturesqueness of every single village and the unlimited opportunities for sallies and every kind of activities really charm and impress the visitor. There are so many things that one can admire that we cannot say for sure which is more impressive. Zagohoria is an area of about 1.000 sq. m and it is divided into three geographical sections: West, East and Central Zagori. Each section has its own special beauty and history.
West Zagori
It lies on the north west of Ioannina and it includes the great famous villages of the Voidomatis valley, which are Megalo and Mikro Papigo, Aristi, Vikos, St. Minas and Mesovouni.
East Zagori
It lies on the north east of Ioannina and it includes beautiful villages such as: the villages of Vardas valley (Greveniti, Elatochori, Makrino, Flabourari, Tristeno), the villages of Zagoritikos (Anthrakitis, Karies, Doliani, Kavallari), the beautiful Vovousa, the villages Demati, Itea, Petra, Kastanona and the settlements of St. Paraskevi and Potamia.
Central Zagori
It lies on the north of Ioannina and it includes special villages such as Vitsa, Monodendri, the well-known Vlachohoria (Vrisochori, Iliochori, Laista), Kipoi, Dilofo, Asprangeloi and Koukouli, Kapesovo, Tsepelovo, Skamneli and Negades and the villages of Ano Vikos valley (Vradeto, Elati, Ano and Kato Pedina). It also includes the villages Dikorpho,Manassi, Kalouta, Dipotano, Fragades and Leptokaria.
