Program

Day 1 Holy Wednesday 16/4: Larnaca – Athens – Karpenisi
Meeting at Larnaca airport and departure for Athens. Arrival, boarding the buses and we begin our journey – with an intermediate stop – to Karpenisi, the capital of the prefecture of Evrytania. Arrival and settling into the rooms. Overnight.

Day 2 Holy Thursday 17/4: Koryschades – Holy Monastery of Panagia Prousiotissa – Megalo Chorio – Kefalovryso
After breakfast we depart for the historic village of Koryschades. It consists of stone, well-preserved houses with intact traditional architecture, paved alleys and a traditional identity that has been preserved throughout the years. In its square, in the historic school that hosted the work of the National Council of Free Greece in 1944, we will see copies of photographs from the archive of Spyros Meletzis, portraits of fighters, documents and resolutions of the resistance committee as well as the revolutionary murals preserved from that time. Our next stop is at the Monastery of Panagia Prousiotissa. Perched on the edge of a vertical rock, the most famous pilgrimage site of Roumeli, according to tradition, was founded in the years of the iconoclastic emperor Theophilos (829-842 AD) and is associated with the appearance of the icon of the Virgin Mary from Prousa in Bithynia, Asia Minor. The monastery houses a museum with ecclesiastical exhibits and not only relics, while in the catholicon and the chapel-crypt frescoes from the 13th and 18th centuries are preserved. During the Revolution of 1821, it was a center of political guidance for the liberation struggle, while it was the place where Georgios Karaiskakis went to recover from the tuberculosis that tormented him. The weapons of the fighter are still housed in the Monastery's Ark. We continue to visit one of the most picturesque villages in the area, Megalo Chorio. In its paved streets and alleys we will admire the well-preserved stone mansions. One of its most characteristic points is the central square with the plane tree and the breathtaking view of the Karpenisiotis River valley and the peaks of Mount Chelidonas. Also, a popular spot is the Historical and Folklore Museum of Megalo Chorio, a pole of attraction for visitors, with a multitude of exhibits of ecclesiastical relics, folk art, local traditional costumes and handmade embroideries, tools of traditional professions, etc. We end up in Kefalovrysos, an idyllic location with plane trees and running water, just 3 km. from Karpenisi. There is a monument in honor of Markos Botsaris (who was killed in the Battle of Kefalovrysos in August 1823). Return to the hotel in the afternoon. Time for a walk in the central square of Markos Botsaris and a pilgrimage to the Holy Metropolitan Church of Agia Triada, which has been there since the second half of the 16th century and is a listed historical monument. Overnight stay.

Day 3 Good Friday 18/4: Karpenisi – Karditsa – Pyli – Elati – Trikala
After breakfast we leave Karpenisi. Our first stop is in Karditsa with its excellent street layout, many pedestrian streets, and the first network of bicycle paths in Greece. The most immediate and vivid image that the city gives is the Pausilipo park in the heart of the city, next to its central square, Plastira. The name of the park has its roots in the words “pavs” and “lypi”, which means to soothe sadness. A walk here, in other words, drives away sadness. In the square we will see the bronze equestrian statue of the great hero of 1821, Georgios Karaiskakis, who is the largest equestrian statue in Greece, as well as the bronze equestrian statue of Nikolaos Plastiras, the "black horseman", hero of Asia Minor and leader of the 1922 revolution, who played an important role in the interwar political developments and served three times as prime minister between 1945 and 1953, located in the former anthona of Pausilypos. Near the square is the undoubtedly impressive building of the Municipal Market, perhaps the most beautiful in the city, which functions as both a cultural and entertainment space and a shopping center. Next we arrive at the beautiful town of Pyli, built in the plains of Thessaly, at the foot of the mountains Koziakas and Itamos. Between them an opening is formed, a natural gateway from the Thessalian plain to South Pindos and from there it derives its name. The famous single-arch bridge of Saint Bessarion the Wonderworker, which stands (1514 AD), was the only passage until 1936 of South Pindos to and from the Thessalian plain. We continue to Elati or Tyrna – the old name of the village until 1955 – which is built at 900m. altitude and although it is surrounded by the peaks of Psilos, Arkoudotrypa and Kokkinos Vrachos, it is accessible at all times of the year. Combining its rare beauties, the hospitable atmosphere of the village is one of the most developed holiday centers in the region. It is immersed in dense fir forests, which fully justifies its name. The old stone buildings, the cobblestone streets and the small squares, decorated with fountains and flower beds, give it nobility and picturesqueness. In the afternoon we arrive at our hotel in Trikala and settle into the rooms. Time available for a first acquaintance with the homeland of the famous physician of antiquity Asklepios, a fairly "tidy" city with excellent street layout, squares, beautiful places for a walk, such as the pedestrian center. The Litheos River, a tributary of the Pinios River, is its jewel, the banks of which are adorned with towering trees that create a unique green lung. The Central Bridge is a jewel of 19th century architecture and connects the old (northern) city with its newer (southern) side. The metal bridge connects the central square with the Asklipiou pedestrian street. The old city consists of the Varousi neighborhoods with their beautiful mansions and the old Manavika with their characteristic uniform architecture. The symbol of the city is the Byzantine Fortress located on the northeastern side of the city. In the evening, transfer to the church for the Service and the procession of the Epitaphs. Overnight stay.

Day 4 Holy Saturday 19/4: Holy Monastery of Koroni – Tour of Lake Plastira
Breakfast to depart for our excursion. First stop at the Holy Monastery of Koroni, the so-called “balcony of Agrafa”. It probably owes its name to the location where it is built, as it resembles a crown of the plain. Its history begins in the 12th century, and specifically in 1123, when the miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary of Koroni was found. It was founded as a patriarchal and stauropegic during the reign of Emperor John II Komnenos. During the Ottoman occupation, it was the religious and spiritual center of Agrafa, as well as the base of the Struggle. We continue our journey to the magnificent landscapes of Lake Plastira, the Thessalian jewel of nature. It is also known as “Little Switzerland”, due to its idyllic beauty. Lake Plastiras is one of the largest artificial lakes in our country. It was created at the location where in ancient times the Tavropos River met the Acheloos River to the south. It was named after General Nikolaos Plastiras, who is credited with the construction of the impressive dam that breathed new life into the area with the creation of the lake. The alpine mountain peaks of Agrafa, the torrents, a verdant island and the lush green shores of the lake give us unique images! The lacy fjords play with the trees that are reflected in the waters of the lake and the villages around, each different and unique, complement the alpine landscape. Starting from the north side, we will see Morfovouni (hometown of the black horseman, General Nikolaos Plastiras), the beautiful Kryoneri, Kalyvia Pezoulas (which is considered the most touristic village on the lake), Neochori with the fantastic view of the lake and Belokomitis with the old stone houses and wooden carved balconies and doors, examples of the architecture of the region. Through dense vegetation and lush meadows we will reach the southern end of the lake, to cross the dam and find ourselves in the eastern part, at Lampero with the homonymous beach. In the afternoon we return to Trikala. In the evening we will go to the church for the Easter Liturgy. This will be followed by the Easter dinner with the traditional magieritsa, red eggs and other delicacies. Overnight stay.

Day 5 Easter Sunday 20/4: Kalambaka – Meteora
Happy Birthday – Christ is Risen!
Breakfast and we depart for Kalambaka, which is built right under the imposing rocks of Meteora. It is the largest city in the region, the capital of the homonymous province and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, with over 2.5 million tourists visiting it annually. We will pass through the old picturesque district of the city, with its narrow cobblestone streets and traditional houses, some of them built right next to the rocks! From there we will climb to the immense rocks of Meteora that dominate between the mountains of Koziaka and Antichasion. This masterpiece of nature has been revealing all its grandeur for centuries, as it is a unique geological phenomenon in beauty and an important monument of Orthodoxy. Meteora, which has been characterized as the second Mount Athos, has continued the monastic tradition for about six centuries. We will visit the monastery of St. Stephen, which is built on the top of the rock that has an area of ​​7,500 sq. meters and another monastery, if time permits. Then we will visit a workshop of Byzantine icons. Our festive Easter meal follows. In the afternoon we return to Trikala and free time. Overnight.

Day 6 Easter Monday 21/4: Trikala – Gorgopotamos – Livadia – Athens Airport – Larnaca
Breakfast and we leave Trikala. Our first stop is at Gorgopotamos, whose river and bridge are a point of great historical importance for the epic of 1940. It was there that the bridge was blown up by resistance fighters, who collaborated under the coordination of British agents. Gorgopotamos is not only its heavy historical heritage, but also its beauty, its picturesque village and its river. We continue our journey to the city of Livadia. At the springs of Krya, time stops and you are automatically transported to another era. Where everything looks as if it were taken from a painting or a fairy tale. Watermills, small waterfalls, centuries-old plane trees, running waters and stone bridges. Those who know about the existence of this magical place will know that the waterfalls, watermills and running waters that supply the city with water are the legendary river with the feminine name, Erkyna. In the afternoon, boarding the bus towards the "Eleftherios Venizelos" airport and the return trip to Cyprus with our suitcases full of beautiful memories from our six-day stay in Greece.