KOZANI

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The regional unit of Kozani is located at the east part of West Macedonia. It is one of the border areas in North Greece. Mountainous and semi-mountainous areas cover a 74% of the total extent of this regional unit. Although the morphology of the area has a harsh mountainous feel, still, it is rich in natural resources.

The unexplored nature, the wild beauty of the mountainous and semi-mountainous areas, the Aliakmon river with its water-rushing tributaries -the source of life in the region since ancient times-, the artificial lake of Polifito with the impressive ecosystem and the preserved natural habitats, all, make our region an attractive destination for 12 months a year. Meanwhile, ancient Greek and Byzantine cities with impressive archaeological findings, brilliant tombs, Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches with intact murals, mansions with their distinctive architecture -these lasting witnesses of a golden age in the past-, picturesque mountainous villages, stone-built bridges crossing rivers and streams, the customs and traditions, and the authenticity of the locals who know how to organize events and maintain the tradition of showing the cultural wealth of the region, mark the wealth of the region and are waiting for the visitors to discover them.

ROUTES

Vlasti - dream or reality

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Colors and scents

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Vlasti - dream or reality

Our journey starts from the city of Kozani, within Egnatia road from Kozani to Ioannina and then, entering A2 / E90 high street towards Grevena / Siatista. Follow the exit to Siatista and drive on Bara-Siatista road in order to arrive at the beautiful town of Siatista further on.

 Stroll around the picturesque narrow streets to get a glance of the nicest mansions of North Greece built in the traditional Macedonian architecture style, the post-Byzantine churches, the Botanic and the Church Museum of the town.

If you want to stay overnight, there are hotels and traditional guesthouses.

Search for quality and traditional food such as ‘palio’ that is, grilled lamb ribs, ‘zigouri’ lamb, fried pork slices or ‘tigania’, ‘souvlaki’, goat on the casserole, and don’t forget to taste the famous local wine, which called “liasto”. Discover the secrets of wine-making and visit the local wineries and traditional cellars. Learn about the production process, taste fine and aromatic wines and do your shopping. Don’t forget though, to stop by the shops and workshops of leather and fur, the excellent quality and the great variety of which, have made the town of Siatista famous for its leather and fur production all over the world. Continue your trip on the way to the north to meet the historic village of Eratira, built on the slopes of Askio Mountain.

 Visit the traditional mansions of Eratira, remnants of the glorious past of Macedonian architecture and look for the Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches of the village. There are many restaurants in the village where you can taste different varieties of local cheese, the famous ‘kichia’ (local pies) and meat dishes cooked according to local recipes. Leaving Eratira behind, follow the way to the north, in order to arrive at the village of Sisani, famous for its beans. There, you can enjoy the view from the new artificial lake as well. Leaving the village of Sisani you will come across the village of Vlasti, a settlement of unique beauty, known for its dairy products. Walk on the cobbled paving and get a glance of its restored mansions. Visit the historic monasteries of St. Markos, St. Nicolas and the church of St. Dimitrios. In the village center, look around for coffee-bars, restaurants, traditional coffee-shops, grocery stores and many traditional guesthouses of great aesthetics.

 Our route continues to Ptolemaida, a modern industrial city with the biggest reserves of lignite in Greece. Visit the Anthropological - Folklore Museum and the old aqueduct.

Return to Kozani where you can travel back in time in the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Local History, the Museum of History and Folklore, and the preserved Lassanis and Vourkas mansions. At the Central square you can enjoy your coffee and taste local dishes like ‘giaprakia’, pies, ‘kichia’ etc. in the surrounding restaurants.

Mansion houses of Siatista. (Photo: Apostolos Tsolakis) The rich heritage of Siatista is mirrored in its mansion houses which have survived during the ages, and most of them have been under protection. All of these mansions were built by expert craftsmen coming from Epirus and West Macedonia, preserving the same architectural style and the same arrangement of the internal spaces, which resembles the architectural designs that prevailed during the Byzantine era.
Mansion houses of Siatista. (Photo: Apostolos Tsolakis) The rich heritage of Siatista is mirrored in its mansion houses which have survived during the ages, and most of them have been under protection. All of these mansions were built by expert craftsmen coming from Epirus and West Macedonia, preserving the same architectural style and the same arrangement of the internal spaces, which resembles the architectural designs that prevailed during the Byzantine era.
The wine of Siatista. The wine-making tradition of Siatista boomed in the past and established the town of Siatista as one of the most important wine centers of all Greece. The grapes growing in the vineyards of Siatista and especially, the variety of the local Black Muscat grapes (‘Moschomavro’), having undergone the right process of fermentation, give the wine of Siatista a sundried flavor and texture which is why it is known as ‘Liastos’ Red Wine. It has been awarded in many exhibitions, having retained its fame up to the present time.
The wine of Siatista. The wine-making tradition of Siatista boomed in the past and established the town of Siatista as one of the most important wine centers of all Greece. The grapes growing in the vineyards of Siatista and especially, the variety of the local Black Muscat grapes (‘Moschomavro’), having undergone the right process of fermentation, give the wine of Siatista a sundried flavor and texture which is why it is known as ‘Liastos’ Red Wine. It has been awarded in many exhibitions, having retained its fame up to the present time.
Krokos Kozanis (saffron). (Photo: Apostolos Tsolakis) According to the Greek mythology, as God Hermes was practicing in discus, he fatally wounded his mortal friend Krokos. Woe was to him! How could he, a God indeed, have killed a human! Hermes was devastated. So, he decided to offer the gift of immortality to Krokos by transforming his lifeless body into a wonderful indigo flower and putting three red spots in the heart of the flower as a symbol of Krokos’ blood. From then on, every autumn, Krokos/ flowers cover the land of Kozani like a purple carpet filling the atmosphere with their delicate aroma.
Krokos Kozanis (saffron). (Photo: Apostolos Tsolakis) According to the Greek mythology, as God Hermes was practicing in discus, he fatally wounded his mortal friend Krokos. Woe was to him! How could he, a God indeed, have killed a human! Hermes was devastated. So, he decided to offer the gift of immortality to Krokos by transforming his lifeless body into a wonderful indigo flower and putting three red spots in the heart of the flower as a symbol of Krokos’ blood. From then on, every autumn, Krokos/ flowers cover the land of Kozani like a purple carpet filling the atmosphere with their delicate aroma.

Colors and scents

The itinerary starts from the city of Kozani. Follow the Ionia and Ioakim Lioulia street to arrive at the village of Krokos, also famous for the krokos (saffron) flower that is produced since the 17th century retaining its particular flavor, pigment and medicinal properties.

Visit the Forced Cooperative of Krokos Producers where you will be informed about the production process of krokos and you will be provided with a few grams of the krokos ‘gold’ from the soil of Kozani.

Our route continues southwest.

Go through the villages of Ano and Kato Komi, Kipos and Kesaria in order to meet the village of Aiani, one of the most important Byzantine and post-Byzantine settlements in the region. Don’t forget to visit the Archaeological Museum of Aiani. Aiani is well known in the region for its grills and local food. It is a meeting place for food-lovers.

 Leaving the village of Aiani behind, we go east. Our next stop is the village of Mikrovalto, where, on the east part of the village you will come across ‘Boucharia’, an impressive geological phenomenon unique in Greece revealing the artistic brushstrokes of nature. After Mikrovalto, we arrive at Servia, a town between the river Aliakmon and the foothills of the Pierian Mountains. Climb to the Castle of Servia where apart from the ruins of the Byzantine church and the stone-built arch bridge that connects the Byzantine hill with the contemporary town, you can enjoy a walk on the stone path and get a magnificent view of the fertile valley up to the lake of Polifito.

 If you like adventure and hiking, cross both the big and the small gorges of Servia and admire the ‘sculptures’ of the nature.

Starting from Servia, take the country road to ‘Velventos’. Having traveled about 15km you will meet the beautiful town of Velventos featuring lots of canals and parks, numbering more than 50 churches and chapels and many magnificent peach-tree fields.

Visit the folklore museum and admire the Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches.

 Hike to find the waterfalls of ‘Skepasmeno’, 3km northeast of Velventos. Of course, you cannot leave Velventos without visiting the cellars and wineries that are open to visitors.

 In case all the above has made you feel hungry, the local taverns will satisfy every single whim and appetite of yours as you can buy a variety of homemade jams and candied fruits from the local women producers’ association units.

 Our next stop is the village of Neraida, a tourist destination with spectacular view, built on the top of the hill, exactly above the High Bridge of Servia. Its privileged location attracts many visitors 12 months a year.

 Our journey ends in Kozani, where you can travel back in time in the Archaeological Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Local History, the Museum of History and Folklore, and the preserved Lassanis and Vourkas mansions. In the city square you can enjoy your coffee and taste local dishes like ‘giaprakia’, pies, ‘kichia’ etc. in the surrounding restaurants.

The gorge of the Nine Muses of the Pierian Mountains or ‘Skepasmeno’. (Photo: Apostolos Tsolakis) The area took its name from the spot where the stream is covered by the soil. ‘Skepasmeno’ is a landscape of great natural beauty where from the wooden watchtower one can enjoy the view of the first triple waterfall (25-meter height).
The gorge of the Nine Muses of the Pierian Mountains or ‘Skepasmeno’. (Photo: Apostolos Tsolakis) The area took its name from the spot where the stream is covered by the soil. ‘Skepasmeno’ is a landscape of great natural beauty where from the wooden watchtower one can enjoy the view of the first triple waterfall (25-meter height).
Velventos Peaches. The peaches from Velventos are widely known for the finesse, aroma and flavor. In the area surrounding Velventos, 800 hectares of peach trees are being farmed. The amount of production reaches 19.000 tons per year.
Velventos Peaches. The peaches from Velventos are widely known for the finesse, aroma and flavor. In the area surrounding Velventos, 800 hectares of peach trees are being farmed. The amount of production reaches 19.000 tons per year.
The High Bridge of Servia (Photo: Apostolos Tsolakis) The High Bridge of Servia is one of the longest bridges in Greece (1.372-meter length). Its construction was a side-effect of the construction of the dam of Polifito which resulted in the creation of one of the biggest artificial lakes in Greece. The construction of the bridge started in 1972 and was completed 3 years later, forming a part of the Kozani-Larisa highway.
The High Bridge of Servia (Photo: Apostolos Tsolakis) The High Bridge of Servia is one of the longest bridges in Greece (1.372-meter length). Its construction was a side-effect of the construction of the dam of Polifito which resulted in the creation of one of the biggest artificial lakes in Greece. The construction of the bridge started in 1972 and was completed 3 years later, forming a part of the Kozani-Larisa highway.
Boucharia. (Photo: Apostolos Tsolakis) Just 1 km southeast away from the village of Mikrovalto, there are some impressive formations of nature which are the result of ground erosion that began 70.000 years ago. They look like a vertical dirt piles, which consist of sand, gravels, loam, clay and some kind of adhesive materials. The top of these piles is covered by a slate rock, which functioned as a protection umbrella in the evolution of the formation.
Boucharia. (Photo: Apostolos Tsolakis) Just 1 km southeast away from the village of Mikrovalto, there are some impressive formations of nature which are the result of ground erosion that began 70.000 years ago. They look like a vertical dirt piles, which consist of sand, gravels, loam, clay and some kind of adhesive materials. The top of these piles is covered by a slate rock, which functioned as a protection umbrella in the evolution of the formation.
The Byzantine ‘Castle of Servia’. (Photo: Apostolos Tsolakis) “The Byzantine Castle of Servia, which possibly built in the 6th or 7th century ad, lies at the western extremities of Pieria. It is built on a high location, on the eastern one of the twin hills that rise above the present day town, leaving a small pass for the stream that runs amongst them.”
The Byzantine ‘Castle of Servia’. (Photo: Apostolos Tsolakis) “The Byzantine Castle of Servia, which possibly built in the 6th or 7th century ad, lies at the western extremities of Pieria. It is built on a high location, on the eastern one of the twin hills that rise above the present day town, leaving a small pass for the stream that runs amongst them.”
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