EXPLORE
Meteora
Meteora means ‘suspended in space’. These tall, vertical rocks will have you gasping in disbelief. But it’s not just the incredible geology that stretches your imagination. It’s the monasteries balanced on these pinnacles.
The monks who built them were the original rock climbers, lifting the materials up with pulleys, nets and their bare hands. Today climbers from all over the world come to Meteora, to compete with the gigantic rocks.
Unesco has declared Meteora a World Heritage Site and the Greek state calls it a sacred spot, inviolate and immutable. Add your own adjectives to the “guestbook” of Meteora, which reaches 2 million visitors each year.
Pertouli
At 54km from the city of Trikala and 1.090m high on the slopes of Mt Koziakas, Pertouli is a fascinating village built in an amphitheatre shape among dense forests, lush meadows and running waters. Once a meeting point for the farmers of the area, it is now a winter destination that stands out for its scenic houses with the red-tiled or stone roofs, its ski resort, and its excellent tourist infrastructure.
Elati
Elati (fir tree) is the largest mountainous village of the district of Trikala and the most touristic of them all. If you are into winter sports or relaxation in the midst of the mountain, Elati is the place for you. At a distance of only 34km from the city of Trikala and perched on the slopes of Mt Koziakas at an altitude of 950m, the village offers all the joys and benefits of a mountain holiday.
The gorgeousness of the landscapes all around the village, the scrumptious traditional cuisine of its tavernas, combined with loads of snow in the winter and freshness in the summer, makes Elati a place no less attractive than any famous destination in the Alps.
Pyli
A natural gate is formed between the mountains Koziakas and Itamos, uniting the vast thessalic plain and the mountain range of Pindos, eighteen kilometres southwest of Trikala. The small river Portaikos flows between the rocky sides of the narrow canyon watering the surrounding lowlands with the water that transports from the melting of the snow of the surrounding mountains. Here is Pyli (which means gate), a small picturesque town of 2,500 inhabitants, built at the foot of the two mountains around the banks of the river. It has become known because it is a passage to the mountainous tourist resorts of Pindos offering a satisfactory number of restaurants, cafes and bars.
Plastira Lake
A miracle of both man and nature, Lake Plastira is one of the biggest artificial lakes in Greece and, framed by the fir-tree peaks of the Agrafa mountains, one of the most beautiful. You’ll enjoy biking around the lake, kayaking, rock climbing and hiking, horseback riding and 4×4 adventures, providing the very best of the region of Thessaly. The visitor can also enjoy authentic local flavours and wines and explore old monasteries and historic villages. Lake Plastira is not just a winter destination. There are plenty of reasons to visit, any season of the year.