A route in the heart of winter Western Macedonia
Buried in the snowy mountains of Pindos and with a huge history in recent times, Samarina is, without a doubt, one of the most picturesque villages in Greece. Quite high on the slopes of Smolikas at an altitude of 2,100 metres and having played a very important role in the history of the region between Epirus and Western Macedonia, Samarina deservedly claims the title of one of the most mountainous villages in Greece.
Despite the isolation of the area high on Pindos, Samarina today offers remarkable travel experiences for every alternative taste and preference. From the historic village churches with rare frescoes to the delicious local gastronomy with fresh game and steamed pies, it is inevitable that Samarina is more than worth a visit and will indeed claim a place in your travel memories.
Leaving behind the picturesque air of Samarina, you head further east towards Grevena. Through a relatively challenging route on the wild slopes of Pindos, you reach the town of Grevena, where you can stop for a short meze or coffee.
However, if you have an appetite for something different and want to get a taste of Greveni's gastronomy, all you have to do is try the wild mushrooms of the region, which, thanks to the prefecture's continental mountainous climate, have managed to easily claim a place on the taste map of Greece, highlighting the Grevena as a destination for mushroom lovers.
From Grevena, take the road further north and head towards Kastoria. Following the route through the Egnatia Road, you arrive at the picturesque town of Western Macedonia with its very characteristic palatial aesthetics and rare natural beauty. Certainly, more than one camera is needed to capture the beauty of the mountainous Balkan landscape.
In Kastoria, you have the opportunity to browse the traditional streets of the city, explore the legendary Dolso with its Macedonian mansions, and walk along the lakeside promenade next to the boats in the company of the white geese that go in and out of the water undisturbed.
But be careful! Don't bother them too much, because you don't want to see them angry at all.
Just before continuing your route to Florina, remember that you can also spend a night in Kastoria, so you can take some time to rest here while you have the opportunity to visit the very nearby Panagia tis Mavriotissa with the rare frescoes that date back to the 17th century, while the Dragon's Cave is definitely an exciting experience worth having once you're in Kastoria.
Of course, there is no mention of the prehistoric site of Dispilio, where you will get a rather interesting, for Greek standards, hands-on taste of life in a lakeside settlement of the Neolithic era.
Of course, suppose the steering wheel is your forte, and the good weather is your ally.
In that case, all you have to do is take the difficult road to Florina through the dreamy slopes of Vernou, which every autumn and winter turn into the ultimate winter fairy tale, offering unique photo frames and videos that travel around the world.
Leaving Kastoria, you reach the equally enchanting Florina with its urban architecture and the frozen little river Sakouleva, which, if it has not frozen over due to the low temperatures, will undoubtedly be getting ready.
In Florina, you can sit down to eat and enjoy the local gastronomy of the area with fresh meats, steaks and mouth-watering salads, while here, you can finish your excursion enjoying a pleasant warm stay before returning to base.
Yianni Koutroudi is a columnist for Travel.
READ MORE: Grevena, the authentic town with mountain beauty that fascinates.
