Each Greek village has its own beauty and uniqueness.
From strange stories to tell, to how it got its name or how many years it was continuously inhabited. And mostly we're talking centuries. Some Greek villages also stand out for their local dialect. Like a village in Rhodes that has its own local dialect, a language you can't understand unless you're from there. That village is Archangelos. So there is another Greek village that has another peculiarity. Most of the residents have ancient names and it's a tradition that goes back for years. That is, it is passed down from generation to generation. Apart from this peculiarity, Kapesovo, as this village of Ioannina is called, is an area of unique natural beauty that has also become a song. Not at all accidental for such a beautiful place.
Kapesovo is a beautiful village, which is also an excellent example of traditional continental architecture that has traveled around the world through stone masons. The village has been inhabited for about 4 centuries and was founded around the 16th century. Impressive stone houses, well-preserved cobblestone streets, imposing mansions in a beautiful mountain landscape, as it is located above the gorge of Mezaria in Zagori and at an altitude of 1100 meters.
But how did most of the inhabitants come up with ancient names? If you ever find yourself in the villages of Epirus, and especially in Kapesovo, you will hear many inhabitants calling others Plato or Thucydides. This custom and naming started in the 19th century, partly because the inhabitants were classically educated, and partly because they wanted to stimulate the mentality and Greekness of the then Turkish-occupied territory.
Credit: Pvoucharas
In the 17th and 18th centuries, many people from Kapesovo distinguished themselves as artists. Namely, as woodcarvers and hagiographers. In fact, it is known that many of the churches of Zagori and Epirus in general were decorated by these great artists.
The stone Zagori
The area of Zagori in Epirus is a stone place characterized by two things. On the one hand the natural landscape and the beauty and on the other for its architecture, which stands out not only in Greece but in the whole world. There are 46 villages, called Zagorohoria, in total and each has its own beauty and grace. However, what they all have in common is their architecture and paving, which is based on stone and a traditional technique.
The name "Zagori" is Slavic and means "beyond the mountains''. And this name declares itself in your mind when you arrive in the area. All around you see mountains, rocks with strange, imposing formations and lush forests. And in between, secret trails, flowing waters, and images you'll never forget once you see them in your lifetime. What also sets the area apart is that when you take a trip there, every season is different. And this is the reason why most people visit Zagorohoria more than once in a short period of time. To see how magically nature changes every month.
