TRAVEL
KONITSA
Wendy HOLBOROW
I
f I had to sum up Konitsa in one sentence it would be ‘the
place of smiling people’. Even the woman in the post office
smiled at us! A straight easy road North from Ioannina (E90)
together with the new road between Igoumenitsa and Ioan-
nina means you can leave Corfu by ferry in the morning and be
picnicking by the side of the River Aoos in Konitsa at lunchtime.
THE TOWN
This historic market town sprawls up the hillside, amphi-theatre
shaped, beneath the great Trapezita mountain, which is part of
the Pindos mountain range. The town is the regional centre for
the surrounding Pindos villages, having schools, a hospital and
many shops, mostly small, locally owned traditional shops. The
several flower shops leave their produce outside on the pavements
at night, highlighting the honesty and trust that still abounds in
this charming town. A walk around its cobbled streets, a coffee at dous scenery to the Stomio Monastery. Even in early May, the
one of its many cafes, taking in the view, is a pleasant way to spend highest mountain ridges were still clad in snow, while below, kay-
a morning. akers waved to us from the turbulence of the river.
Konitsa is particularly famous for its stone-masons and its build-
ings are a testimony to their skills, having been harmoniously in-
corporated into the morphology of the region. Many beautiful villas
OUTSIDE KONITSA
and palaces were built during the Ottoman occupation including
the house of Khamco, mother of the notorious Ali Pasha, and the
Konitsa is the perfect centre from which to explore the north-
Mosque of Sultan Sulemein. A few metres away from the central
ern Zagoria region. 12 kms to the west is Bourazani which has an
square sits the impressive church of St Kosmos the Aitolos.
Environmental Park and a lovely old restored water mill. Having
called in at Bourazani, drive on a little further to the breathtaking
observation point on the pathways of the Greek-Albanian border at
THE BRIDGE AND THE RIVER AOOS Molyvdoskepasti where you will also find the Tsipouro Distillery.
Drivers beware. Do not partake of the beverage and then drive
Another feature of the incredible building that took place in the back! Further afield and to the north east, a leisurely afternoon
region are the stone-made bridges which blossomed in the 18
th
can be spent near the Alpine lakes of Smolikas, Drakolimni and
and 19
th
centuries and were the only means of passage for the in- Timphy.
habitants and their livestock at that time. At the entrance of the
Aoos gorge is the biggest surviving single-arch bridge in the Bal-
kans, which was built between 1823 and 1871. For the safety of the
ACTIVITIES
people who used the bridge, a little bell hangs below its arch and if
it is windy, the bell rings to warn people not to cross.
Konitsa is a well-known centre for many outdoor activities, such
The bridge spans the beguiling and untamed Aoos River, which
as kayaking, white-water rafting, mountain-biking, horse-riding,
puts its own indelible mark on the Konitsa valley. Next to the
rock-climbing and walking. The Evathlos Konitsa is held every
bridge a path begins a one and a half hour walk through stupen-
May and is a festival of canyoning, kayaking, mountain-biking,
slope-gliding and rock-climbing. All these activities are available
all year round depending on the weather. Your hotel will have in-
formation on all these sports. Skiing is also a popular pastime in
the winter months.
For the less energetic, in October and throughout November,
Christos and Eleni Nicolopoulos, the owners of Villa Rustica, a
luxurious farm in Konitsa, make the Greek distilled spirit, tsipouro.
With the same love and care as their ancestors, they carry on the
age-old custom and visitors can stay at the villa and partake in the
distilling process.
Tel: 26550 24910 – 11
email:
info@villarustica.gr
EATING OUT
Do not go to Konitsa if you are fond of gourmet cuisine. We found
the food disappointing on the whole, but being vegetarians we
were particularly limited to salads and chips with the odd starter
El Patio
thrown in for good measure. It would appear that most restaurants
6 ISLAND ISSUE 9
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