Metsovo
Encyclopedia
Metsovo is a town in Epirus
on the mountains of Pindus
in northern Greece
, between Ioannina
to the north and Meteora
to the south. The largest centre of Vlach
life in Greece, Metsovo is bypassed by GR-6
(Ioannina - Trikala) and also by Egnatia Odos
Motorway.
rule and became part of the Sanjak of Ioannina
. Throughout, the late period of Ottoman rule (18th century-1913) the Greek and Aromanian population of the region (northern pindus) suffered from Albanians raiders. Also, in one occasion in the local Greek revolt of 1854
the town was plundered by both Greek and Ottoman troops during their struggle for control of the town. During the First Balkan War
, Metsovo was burnt by Turco-Albanian bands. During the Second World War Metsovo was the capital of a puppet state, established by the Axis forces, known as Principality of Pindus.
is dedicated to Georgios Averoff. Metsovo is also a popular winter vacation destination and a ski resort
.
The Metsovo Ski Centre is situated not far from the centre of Metsovo.
In the 1980s, a tunnel was under construction and was the longest in Greece. It alleviated traffic and does not use twisting roads. In 2006, the connection with Via Egnatia has made the section of GR-6
(Ioannina - Trikala) into this superhighway and had two interchanges for Metsovo.
is called Metsovion in Greek. Another notable individual from Metsovo is the former minister and former leader of the New Democracy
party Evangelos Averoff
.
Epirus (region)
Epirus is a geographical and historical region in southeastern Europe, shared between Greece and Albania. It lies between the Pindus Mountains and the Ionian Sea, stretching from the Bay of Vlorë in the north to the Ambracian Gulf in the south...
on the mountains of Pindus
Pindus
The Pindus mountain range is located in northern Greece and southern Albania. It is roughly 160 km long, with a maximum elevation of 2637 m . Because it runs along the border of Thessaly and Epirus, the Pindus range is often called the "spine of Greece"...
in northern Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, between Ioannina
Ioannina
Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
to the north and Meteora
Meteora
The Metéora is one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece, second only to Mount Athos. The six monasteries are built on natural sandstone rock pillars, at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly near the Pineios river and Pindus Mountains, in...
to the south. The largest centre of Vlach
Aromanians
Aromanians are a Latin people native throughout the southern Balkans, especially in northern Greece, Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, and as an emigrant community in Serbia and Romania . An older term is Macedo-Romanians...
life in Greece, Metsovo is bypassed by GR-6
Greek National Road 6
Greek National Road 6 is a highway in north-central Greece. It begins at the port of Igoumenitsa and ends at Larissa. Part of the new road is run under the name Egnatia Odos from Igoumenitsa to east of the tunnel at Metsovo. It has junctions of GR-19GR-5/20/E55, GR-15, GR-30 and finally at...
(Ioannina - Trikala) and also by Egnatia Odos
Egnatia Odos (modern road)
Egnatia Odos is the Greek part of the European route. It is a motorway in Greece that extends from the western port of Igoumenitsa to the eastern Greek–Turkish border at Kipoi. It runs a total of...
Motorway.
History
In 15th century Metsovo came under the OttomanOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
rule and became part of the Sanjak of Ioannina
Sanjak of Ioannina
The Sanjak of Ioannina or Sanjak of Jannina, Sanjak of Janina, Sanjak of Yanina, was one of the sanjaks of the Ottoman Empire which county town was Ioannina in Epirus.- Administration :...
. Throughout, the late period of Ottoman rule (18th century-1913) the Greek and Aromanian population of the region (northern pindus) suffered from Albanians raiders. Also, in one occasion in the local Greek revolt of 1854
Epirus Revolt of 1854
The 1854 revolt in Epirus was one of the most important of a series of Greek uprisings that occurred in the Ottoman-occupied Greek world during that period. When the Crimean War broke out, many Epirote Greeks, with tacit support from the Greek state, revolted against the Ottoman rule...
the town was plundered by both Greek and Ottoman troops during their struggle for control of the town. During the First Balkan War
First Balkan War
The First Balkan War, which lasted from October 1912 to May 1913, pitted the Balkan League against the Ottoman Empire. The combined armies of the Balkan states overcame the numerically inferior and strategically disadvantaged Ottoman armies and achieved rapid success...
, Metsovo was burnt by Turco-Albanian bands. During the Second World War Metsovo was the capital of a puppet state, established by the Axis forces, known as Principality of Pindus.
Municipality
The present municipality Metsovo was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 3 former municipalities, that became municipal units:- Metsovo
- EgnatiaEgnatia, IoanninaEgnatia is a former municipality in the Ioannina peripheral unit, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Metsovo, of which it is a municipal unit. Its 2001 population was 2,800. The seat of the municipality was in Mikro Peristeri...
- MileaMilea, IoanninaMilea is an Aromanian village and a former community in the Ioannina peripheral unit, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Metsovo, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 618 . Milea is 15 km away from Metsovo. During the World War II many...
Attractions
The town is famous for its local cheeses (Metsovone and Metsovela) and winemaking industries, including the Katogi vineyard of the Averoff family. A museum named Averoff GalleryAveroff Gallery
The Averoff Gallery, also known as the Averof Art Gallery of Metsovo, is an Art museum in Metsovo, Greece. It was built in 1985 and inaugurated in 1988. In 1994 the building was extended to include a new wing and its faciliteies were updated...
is dedicated to Georgios Averoff. Metsovo is also a popular winter vacation destination and a ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
.
The Metsovo Ski Centre is situated not far from the centre of Metsovo.
In the 1980s, a tunnel was under construction and was the longest in Greece. It alleviated traffic and does not use twisting roads. In 2006, the connection with Via Egnatia has made the section of GR-6
Greek National Road 6
Greek National Road 6 is a highway in north-central Greece. It begins at the port of Igoumenitsa and ends at Larissa. Part of the new road is run under the name Egnatia Odos from Igoumenitsa to east of the tunnel at Metsovo. It has junctions of GR-19GR-5/20/E55, GR-15, GR-30 and finally at...
(Ioannina - Trikala) into this superhighway and had two interchanges for Metsovo.
Demographics
| Year | Municipal district | Municipality |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 2,705 | - |
| 1991 | 2,917 | 4,125 |
| 2001 | 3,195 | 4,417 |
Notable people
Metsovo is the home of the benefactors Nikolaos Stournaris, Eleni Tositsa, Michail Tositsas and Georgios Averoff, in whose honour the National Technical University of AthensNational Technical University of Athens
The National Technical University of Athens , sometimes simply known as Athens Polytechnic, is among the oldest and most prestigious higher education institutions of Greece....
is called Metsovion in Greek. Another notable individual from Metsovo is the former minister and former leader of the New Democracy
New Democracy (Greece)
New Democracy is the main centre-right political party and one of the two major parties in Greece. It was founded in 1974 by Konstantinos Karamanlis and formed the first cabinet of the Third Hellenic Republic...
party Evangelos Averoff
Evangelos Averoff
Evangelos Averoff-Tositsas was a distinguished right-wing Greek politician of Aromanian origin and author of several books on political and historical topics....
.
- Georgios AveroffGeorge AveroffGeorge M. Averoff , alternately Georgios Averof , was a Greek businessman and philanthropist of Aromanian origin....
(1815–1899), businessman and philanthropist - Evangelos AveroffEvangelos AveroffEvangelos Averoff-Tositsas was a distinguished right-wing Greek politician of Aromanian origin and author of several books on political and historical topics....
(1910–1990), politician - Nikolaos Stournaris, national benefactor
- Michael Tositsas, national benefactor
- Adam Tsapekos, scholar
- Nikolaos Zerzoulis (1766-1722), scholar and director of several Greek schools