Parts of Italy, Kosovo, Nth Macedonia, Greece, Albania, Poland and Germany.

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Back from the island

Ioannina has a long history of conflict and also boasts an impressive castle whose site has been used as a fortification dating back to the 3rd century BC (depending on what you read).

Ioannina Castle - Wikipedia

The area within the walls overlooking the lake, contains the Glikidon mosque being refurbished and a vast fortification area with the Byzantine Museum, Treasury and Silversmith museum.
Ioannina’s Silversmithery Museum: A Gem to be Admired | GTP Headlines


Vast grounds



View from the wall



Looking towards where the silversmith museum is housed

 

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Within the silversmith museum



















The exit we took enabled us to gauge the volume of the wall

 

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Day 3 Central Zagori

The Zagori is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heriitage list as a cultural landscape. The spectacular Vikos Gorge is it's heart, and today we explored the Central Zagori, it's villages of Kipoi, Koukouli, Kapesovo, Vitsa and Monodentri, perched on the mountainsides, and the stone bridges which link the villages across the gorge. There were also spectacular high viewpoints over Vikos Gorge.
We drove past Kapesovo & our first stop looked out to the Vradeto Steps walk- of course Ioannis had completed that many times, but not today!-approx 1,350 steps!



We worked our way to the Plakida -Kalogeriko Bridge & its 3 arches-bone dry below the bridge at the time of our visit. Kalogeriko bridge: The historical monument in Zagori spellbounds -
There was a nearby statue- a sad story of a lady left naked in the winter to survive after all her family were killed

 

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Ioannis then had a hidden hike for us off the main trails- a look down over Kokkorou/Noutsou stone bridge & then we drove down to the bridges.(one modern road bridge & the historic bridge).

Bridge of Noutsos or Kokkoros | Stone Bridges

Looking down on the bridges roughly centre of photo











View from the stone bridge to current traffic bridge


Ioannis had a GoPro and recordered our trip with him-photos & some videos. At the end of the trip he gave us a jump drive that also had some Greek recipees he makes

 

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Next stop was the Oxya Viewpoint for magnificent views over the gorge. Vikos Gorge | Greece Aerial 4K ���� Cinematic Drone Video - YouTube






From there it was a stop at the Stone Forest-males display their love by building highest rock collection-my excuse was all the good flat rocks had already been used
ΠΕΤΡΙΝΟ ΔΑΣΟΣ, ΜΟΝΟΔΕΝΔΡΙ, ΖΑΓΟΡΙ. STONE FOREST OF MONODENDRI, EPIRUS, GREECE. - YouTube




General village scenery from the day

 

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We next visited the Church of AyiosMinas and then had lunch at Monodendri under maple tree. We also visited a ladies craft group/education centre.





Coincidence that they were working on a koala at the time of our visit




Our last stop on the drive back to Ioannina was the Monument Zagorian Women Pindos-. It honours the enduring spirit and contributions of the region’s women throughout history. The monument features a woman carrying socks for troops in her hand & amunition & food on the her back.

The Woman of Pindus monument by Desolation Road - Desolation Road

District View from that lookout


It was a fantastic day for us

Just as a bit of background, Ioannis spent his last 7yrs of milatry service as the trainer of the Greek Presidential Guards. This was an interesting read I thought The Evzones - the elite Greek Presidential Guard | Greece Travel Secrets

 

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Ioannina to Syvota
We incorporated the transfer from Ioannina to Syvota to include the ancient Greek Temple of Necromancy, The Venetian Castle of Parga and a great coastal drive through to Syvota. We did this by using Ioannis & again his knowledge of the area was excellent.

Oracle of the Dead-Necromanteion – The Ancient Temple of the Dead | Ancient Origins

 

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Parga- obviously it was not peak time but still busy & many people were frying themselves on the beach. Apparently there are 4km traffic jams in peak times & parking is at a premuim. There are certainly plenty of stores & restaurants to cope with the hordes. We climbed to the top of the Castle, (somewhat easier than when first seen) & enjoyed the excellent views from the strategic location. Parga Castle - greeceindex.com

After a casual lunch near the beach we then had a short drive through built-up areas mixed in with olive groves. After our stay we could confidently say Syvota was a nicer/relaxed/"less packaged" style of place than Parga so that suited us for this holiday



Castle looked a bit of a slog looking from here