Eleven km southern from
Pyli,
in an altitude of 750 metres, Ropoto is stretched out that is consisted of seven
settlements: central,
Tsekouras,
Panagia,
Polythea
(Mousia),
Agios Ioannis,
Agjos Dimitrios and
Loggjes. Its residents
mainly, who work on arboriculture but also are farmer-breeders, reach the number
of 850 in the winter and 1300 during summertime.
Right and left the central settlement unfold 3.500 acres of chest
nut wood, where wild boars, wolves, foxes and jackals live, as well as partridges
and woodcocks while all the region round the village is literally drowned in fir
(15.000 acres.). The really picturesque scene of the village, supplement the 15
sources that refresh it - among them those of Goura, Mourtzies, Jtia, Sgourolivado
and Koromilia - and the tributaries of Portaikos river, Ropotianos and Palikarias.
Going up in the famous top of Karavas (1618 m.) one can enjoy an amazing view
of the Thessalian plain. Beginning from there the path leads, through a most beautiful
way on foot, up to Panagia the Spilia of
Argithea
Karditsa.
In the village are saved and function watermill, dristella (that belongs
in the church of Agios Ioannis) and four traditionally distilleries with cauldrons.
There is also a craftsman that manufactures ftseles, spindles and other wooden
vessels and tools.
From Easter up to September in Ropoto traditional feasts live up.
In the third day of Easter in the church of Saint Trinity of the Central settlement,
phonetic group consisted of small children, sings songs that are being danced
by all the members of the community with the priests and the chairman being the
leaders. In 7th and 8th of May, the church of Agios Ioannis celebrates with splendour
and folk revelry following the events of worship.
Every two years, in the second fortnight of July, the meeting of the
old is being done in the Central settlement: the ancient of the old invites the
rest, mentioning those who are absent, and all together nominate the chairman
of the meeting, who regulates the order with which the elders recite extemporary
poems that they have made for the circumstance. The meeting ends with songs that
the elders themselves sing and dance.
On July 20 the memory of Prophet Helia is being celebrated in the
county church of the Saint. In the eve tripe is being served and on the day of
the celebration, food from cauldron and the revelry in the Central settlement
lasts two days. In the last Sunday of July is being done, in the location of "Mandri"
with the stone shelter (where also the shear in the first week of June) in an
altitude of 1300 metres, the meeting of all the residents Ropoto with resurgence
of old traditional games, dance, roasting of lambs and offering of boiled milk
with salt and bread (trjpsana) from the cattle-breeders. On the 15th of August
a two-day festival is being done and on September 20 the residents of the village
who follow the old calendar, celebrate the memory of Agios Eustathios in the settlement
of Panagia. Familiar in the neighbors is the history of the murder of the Turk
tax collector Katsimpas in the dues of 18th century, in the location - that since
then brings his name - in the district of Agios Konstantinos.
