Autumn destinations for nature lovers

Autumn is not only a time of harvest, but also an opportunity to open new horizons. Our country offers many picturesque places that are worth visiting at this time of year.

If you love nature and are looking for scenic hiking trails, then you should definitely choose one of the destinations below.

Karpenisi
A city in Central Greece, the capital of the prefecture of Evrytania and the municipality of Karpenisi. It is located at the foot of the southwestern part of Weluha at an altitude of 1000 meters, making it an ideal destination for tourists. The distance from Athens is approximately 285 km, from Thessaloniki – 320 km.

The landscape of Karpenisi is filled with spruce and plane trees, creating an atmosphere of peace and tranquility. Here you will find many trails for leisurely walks, where you can enjoy the beauty of nature and hear the quiet sound of springs.

When you arrive in the capital of Evrytania, be sure to visit Marcos Botsaris Square. Here you can admire the statues of Katsantonis and Markos Botsaris, as well as the ancient church of Agia Triada with its bell tower, built in 1645. In addition, in this area you can enjoy delicious dishes: sausages, pies, trout, contosouvli and game meat. These dishes go well with local wine or tsipouro.

Traditional architecture has been preserved both in the surrounding villages and in the town itself, with many well-preserved buildings. Karpenisi has the “Museum of the Mountain” and the “KIPE – Center for the Cultural History of Evrytania”, and in the surrounding villages you will find many folklore museums. The ski center of Velouhi is 11 km from the city, and the monastery of Panagia Prousiotissi is 36 km away.

Metsovo
A mountain town in the prefecture of Ioannina, located at an altitude of 1160 meters between the mountains of Pindos, the largest mountain range in Greece. Since 1955, this traditional settlement has housed the Folklore Museum of the Tosica Foundation (Tosica Estate), which offers you unique collections of traditional carved wooden furniture, textiles and embroidery, gilded costumes, decorative and applied arts, weapons, coins, crops, tools and engravings of images from the period 1650–1850.

The houses in Metsovo are built in traditional Epirus style using stone, wood and slabs, creating a cozy atmosphere on the cobbled streets. In the picturesque central square you will find plane trees and numerous taverns where you can enjoy traditional cuisine. In winter, ski centers are organized here (Karakoli and Politsies), and you have the opportunity to go hiking along the picturesque trails of the vast area.

Art gallery Πινακοθήκη Ε. Αβέρωφ has been working in Metsovo since 1988. 250 paintings by outstanding artists of the 19th and 20th centuries are exhibited here. The commissioning of the Egnatia Odos road has made access to Metsovo extremely easy and fast.

Pelion
Pelion is a mountain in the prefecture of Magnesia, near the city of Volos, with an altitude of 1624 meters. According to Greek mythology, it was summer residence of the gods and home of the centaurs.

Pelion is known for its rich vegetation. Apples, pears, peaches, lemons, almonds, chestnuts, walnuts, oil and olives, tea and thyme are grown here. Small producers and cooperatives produce products such as candies, noodles, trachanas, tsipouro, honey and royal jelly. Pelion hosts various festivals where these products are sold, and each one has its own festival, such as the Chestnut Festival (annually in October).

In the villages of Pelion you will find several cooperatives producing traditional homemade products. Makrinitsa, Portaria, Tsagarada and Vyzitsa are some of the most picturesque villages of Pelion. The local architecture and picturesque alleys will amaze you, and there are dozens of paths for leisurely strolls surrounded by lush vegetation and huge plane trees.

Kalavrita
A mountain town in the prefecture of Achaia, located at the foot of the Aroan Mountains (Helmos) at an altitude of about 735 meters. Kalavryta and its surroundings are characterized by rich natural beauty and numerous attractions.

In the area around Kalavryta you can find many interesting places worth visiting. In particular, these are the two historical monasteries of Agia Lavra and the Great Cave, the Kalavryta Holocaust Museum, located in the former primary school of the city, the Kalavryta Holocaust Memorial, dedicated to the memory of the victims of the tragedy that occurred on December 13, 1943, as well as the Hero of the Greek Revolution of 1821, who is immortalized in the form monument.

Among the natural attractions, it is worth highlighting the plane tree forest at the source of the Aroani River in Planeteros, the Waters of Stygos in Helmos, where the Kratis River originates, the Lake Cave near the village of Kastria and the gorge of the Vouraikos River, which is crossed by the famous Odontotos Sidirodrome.

During the winter season, the popularity of the area increases thanks to the local ski resort, which is considered one of the largest and most modern in Greece.

Grevena
A city in Macedonia that serves as the seat of the municipality and capital of the regional unit of Grevena in Western Macedonia. Its height is 535 meters above sea level, and the distance from Athens to Grevena via Trikala is 432 kilometers.

Grevena is home to most of the “Northern Pindos National Park”, which is famous for its mountains and valleys, such as the protected Valia Kalda with its extensive oak forests, rivers and tributaries, lakes and unique geological formations.

In local stores you can find a variety of mushroom products and all kinds of preparations – sauces, pasta, liqueurs and candies. The city also has a “Public Central Library”, founded in 1988. It was initially based on book donations from the Grevena Cultural Association (3000 volumes) and the National Library of Greece. Its collections currently include 28,000 volumes of books and a variety of audiovisual materials on local history.

The Vasilitsa National Ski Center is located in the heart of Pindos, just 42 kilometers from the town of Grevena. On its vast territory there are dozens of picturesque villages, which are located between gorges and mountain slopes, enchanting with their wild, pristine beauty.

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