Location information

AETOS (Settlement) TRIKALA
  The elders remember it with the name Dovroi which means "fine place". The distance from the national road of Trikala - Arta until the today's village is small and its altitude reaches the 700 m. Northwards and eastwards is surrounded by tall, steep and rocky mountains.
  Westwards there is the long ridge which begins from the Stayros mountain, comes down steeply to the location of Paliokoromylia and continues downhill till the Mill of the Kokkinos torrent. Southerly of the passage the plain land of Loggas is shaped.
  Benchmark of the village's communal life is the paving, capacious, central square with the traditional cafe and the historical churches of Panagia and Agia Paraskevi. At the entrance of the village there is the stone school, which however today due to the lack of students remains closed. The few permanent residents are occupied mostly with the cattle-breeding and occasionally with the fishing and hunting. However, during the summertime everything lives up and at the revelry of Agia Paraskevi for two days the village celebrates and the celebrators revive the traditional customs of the region.

This text is cited September 2004 from the Community of Neraida URL below, which contains image

• http://www.dkneraidas.gr/aetos_en.htm

Armatoliko Community

ARMATOLIKO (Village) TRIKALA
  Just after Mesohora we find ourselves at the boundaries of the extended community of Neraida. We scramble on the slopes of the SW mountain range of Pindos form a rather good road and in an altitude of 850 m, the first village is distinguished, Armatoliko. Its old naming was Mpoukouro or Mpokori which in Turk means "beautiful place", in Rumanian "Shepherd's village" and in Slavic "vociferous place" from the din of Acheloos.
  The old village, built on the location Ampelia, was destroyed probably during the 12th century from the Crusaders. Other reasons of destruction were the raids of the Slavs or the earthquakes. During the Ottoman domination individuals or groups that were on the run by the Turks, left Thessaly - Epirus - Aitoloakarnania and found shelter in the today's village.
  Today Armatoliko, near the National road of Trikala - Arta, is a live village that is inhabited both in winter and summer and where Primary School works the whole year time. The village has respective prospects of development as through the whole length will be washed by the waters of the lake, which will be formed by the dam of the area. Among the sights of the village, besides the unique view, is the small church of Agios Athanasios.
  There are five more churches: Panagia, Agios Konstantinos, Agioi Pantes, Agios Fanourios and the big church of Agios Georgios in the square of the village. This square is spacious and with great view, cafes, playground. Near the square there is the watermill which was transferred there afterwards the construction of the pre-dam and the level rising of Acheloos.
  Every year at the village, are celebrated traditionally the standard revelries on the 15th of August, the day of the Easter and a small event on the name day of Agios Athanasios.

Koryfi Community

KORYFI (Village) TRIKALA
  Koryfi is the last village of the Prefecture of Trikala to Arta. It is surrounded by the steep, rocky mountains Kaprovouni and Katafyli and is built amphitheatrically. The lowest edge of the village is defined by Acheloos. The old denomination of the village was Kaproi and was first inhabited after the sortie of Mesologgy from the armed and thieves that were on the run. So, the first inhabitants of the village were the "Mpotsareoi", who were forced to change their name because they were wanted.
  Koryfi was the seat of the thief Thymios Tsekouras who acted there from 1895 until 1920. The village was destroyed from the earthquake and was reconstructed with new buildings, roads, squares and shops. The traditional color of the village is preserved by the "Dristella" which is found in the bed of Acheloos and the historical watermill as well as by many stone fountains in different places of the village.
  Koryfi is inhabited in the winter as well and has taken new life as the residents are occupied not only with cattle-breeding, but other works as well. The big church of the village is Agios Georgios, but Koryfi celebrates when a small country church celebrates which is devoted to the Assumption.

LAFINA (Settlement) TRIKALA
  Lafina is built in altitude of 790 metres on the verdurous side of Pindos that begins from the mountain Kanalos and ends in the heart of Aspropotamos. It is surrounded by Tzoumerka, for which numerous songs have been written and the white Kostilata. The older name of village was Siliseno, that is to say slippery place.
  Today Lafina discerns for the stone - made houses that were worked from famous craftsmen and which, even if they went through the maelstrom of wars and earthquakes (1967), have maintained their traditional colour to a large extent.
  In the central square of the village next to the church and the traditional cafes, dominates a perennial oak. In its shade the residents are gathered on daily basis and on feasts. They discuss, celebrate, but also dance in the big revelry of the village on August 6, when the historical county church of Metamorphosis of the Saviour celebrates.
  Unfortunately, in the winter the village depopulates and the recently renovated Primary school does not function. Its residents however, wherever they are, have sweet memories from their place and long for the summer months they passed in its dew.

This text is cited September 2004 from the Community of Neraida URL below, which contains images

• http://www.dkneraidas.gr/lafina_en.htm (2 img.)

Neraida Community

NERAIDA (Village) TRIKALA
  Neraida (1.050 m. altitude) is the most border village of the Prefecture of Trikala westwards, scrambled on a side of the Eastern Tzoumerka above the Grevenitis river with unique view to Aspros (Acheloos). Its tallest crown, Kriakouras (2.100 m. alt.), separates Thessaly from Epirus.
  In the old days it was called Grevenoseli. With this name it is reported in a gold bull of the emperor Andronicus Palaiologos the 3rd in 1336, which was found in the temple of the Assumption in Kalampaka and reports that the Bishopric of Stagon had as limit of its jurisdiction westwards, Grevenoseli.
  Part of the residents is natives. Most descendants of Sygizis from Goustri Xiromerou, who pogrommed by the Turks, came and lived in this place in the location Kalyvia. The village was transferred in the place that is today before 1850 and its name was taken by the homonym mountain.
  Neraida is a village with tourist interest. Places with historical and archaeological importance that someone can visit are: the Monastery of Agia Kyriaki, the stone church of Agios Georgios in the square with the traditional flooring and the ecclesiastical museum in the loft, work of the folkloric architect from Pramanta, Georgios Dafnis, the ruins of the old church of "Theotokos", which no one knows when it has been built. (The elders of the village, who were asked, said that it was a church very old, of immemorial years, monument already from the Ottoman domination, as the embrasures testify).
  Interest also present the platan of Glava, in the shadow of which sat and spoke to the Grevenoselites, the big teacher of the Gender Kosmas the Aitolos, Ai Lias that the Germans considered as the base of operations of the fighters against regime and bombard it without however causing damage, the source of Glavas with its abundant waters that supplies the village with water and irrigates the fields, the old - more than two hundred years of life - mill of the church that still works and the bridge of Grevenitis that was built in the beginning of the century. Top cultural event of the residents constitutes the two-day revelry of Agia Paraskevi (26-27 July). For years the Neraidiotes in their majority, try in every way to be in the village for those days, in order to be present at the revelry. Because this revelry that withstanded the passing of the time and the devastating society we live in, has something particular to give them: the genuine way of expression of the sentiments and the experiences of our ancestors, who in difficult years accomplished to turn their thorns into dance, song and creation.
  Impressive are the natural beauties of the village. From the top of Kriakouras one can see in the background Ioannina, the lake and Arta. There is a cavern over there that keeps snow in winter and summertime from which, according to the tradition, the Neraidiotes were passing on the sly to Epirus at the period of the Ottoman domination. The plateau Lakkes offers unexpected joy to the wayfarer that heads among the imposing, rocky mountains. It is worthwhile pointing out that in Neraida two magazines are published: The "Grevenoseli" by Kostas Christakis, a clearly cultural magazine for the history, the folklore and the culture of Tzoumerka and the "Glavas", body of Cultural Association of Neraidiotes from where were also drawn most of the elements of this presentation.
  The residents of Neraida are neither Vlahoi, nor Sarakatsanaioi; They are locals and speak Greek with tzoumerkan idioms and accent. Neraida was recognized as Community of Grevenoseli in 1912, emanating from the former Municipality of Kothonia. Initially it was consisted of the settlements Grevenoseli (seat), Koryfi or Kaproi, Sklyveno and Abbey of Agia Kyriaki. The settlement of Kaproi was then extracted. In March of 1928 it was renamed into Community of Chlorou and on September of the same year from Chlorou into Community of Neraida.
  The village was burned by the Germans in 31/10/1943, fortunately without victims because from the previous day the anabasis of the conquerors became known and the residents left. Five people that did not leave in time fell from the bullets of the enemies. Afterwards a horrible bad weather in 1963 when the village was in danger from landslips and the disastrous earthquake in 1967, a great number of residents abandoned the village and many settled in Volos, Trikala and Arta. The last 15 - 20 years a current of return in the village is observed, particularly during the summer months and so Neraida takes life. Neraida is where many famous stone craftsmen come from. Also, from there many Neraidiotes started who shine in the political, military and social life of the country.
  Today Neraida, as Municipal Apartment belongs to the Extended Community of Neraida and constitutes its seat.

Pachtouri Community

PACHTOURI (Village) TRIKALA
  Pachtouri, one of the most beautiful and developed villages of the mountainous Trikala. It is built in an altitude of approximately 950 m and is surrounded by tall, imposing mountains, Tsigori, Tsiardaki, Soufli, Tsiouma, Katafyli, Zygo. The south side of the village, which is impeded between the mountain range of Zygos and the torrent Palaiohoritis, has a beautiful and consecutive fir forest, which is one of the best fir forests in the whole Prefecture of Trikala.
  That is why, the village's name P a h t o u r i, for many comes from the Turkish word "mpahtour" which means "stand and take a look" (the beautiful environment), while for others it comes from the Arabian Turkish word "Mpahtiar" which means fortunate - happy. At the most central place of the village, there is the church of Agios Nikolaos with the tall and impetus steeple and with view to the fir forest.
  Next to the church, stretches the spacious central square with the big platens, the wooden benches and the traditional cafe.
  The residents' love for progress endowed Pahtouri with rich library and sports fields. Furthermore, the traditional and well maintained communal hostel can offer a cozy accommodation for the traveller. Studded in the most beautiful places of the area are five historical country churches which the residents cherish and visit often.
  The great revelry of the village though, is on August 15 and those who come from Pahtouri from all over Greece gather there in order to participate in that.