Vlasti
Encyclopedia
Vlasti is a former community
in Kozani peripheral unit, West Macedonia
, Greece
. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Eordaia
, of which it is a municipal unit. Vlasti is about 24 km from Ptolemaida
. Located at the heart of western Macedonia
, it is girdled by the massifs of Mt Mouriki
which serves as a home not only to the brown bear (Ursus arctos), but also to a large number of rare birds, including the short-toed eagle (Circaetus gallicus), the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) and the long-legged buzzard (Buteo rufinus). The first settlement was established in the 15th century and received an influx of Vlach
refugees from Grammos and Moschopoli in the 18th century. The public buildings and the houses which still today adorn Vlasti reflect the flourishing of this village in the 19th century.
The population was 645 as of 2001. Today, it has a population of about 600. However, the village bustles with life in summer as it is then that the Earth Festival is organized. It comprises a series of ecological and at the same time joyful events whose objective is to inform and sensitize people showing them the need to respect natural environment. Moreover, visitors have the chance to come into contact with the locals, experience their hospitality and participate with them in these jolly festivities. Vlasti serves a starting point for fascinating, enjoyable routes either to Mt Mouriki and its shelter or to neighbouring regions. There is good infrastructure to support the touristic development of the place with hotels, restaurants and bars.
Communities and Municipalities of Greece
For the new municipalities of Greece see the Kallikratis ProgrammeThe municipalities and communities of Greece are one of several levels of government within the organizational structure of that country. Thirteen regions called peripheries form the largest unit of government beneath the State. ...
in Kozani peripheral unit, West Macedonia
West Macedonia
West Macedonia is one of the thirteen regions of Greece, consisting of the western part of Greek Macedonia. It is divided into the regional units of Florina, Grevena, Kastoria, and Kozani.-Geography:...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Eordaia
Eordaia
Eordaia is a municipality in the Kozani peripheral unit, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Ptolemaida.-Municipality:The municipality Eordaia was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 5 former municipalities, that became municipal units:*Agia...
, of which it is a municipal unit. Vlasti is about 24 km from Ptolemaida
Ptolemaida
Ptolemaida is a town and a former municipality in Kozani peripheral unit, West Macedonia, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Eordaia, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
. Located at the heart of western Macedonia
West Macedonia
West Macedonia is one of the thirteen regions of Greece, consisting of the western part of Greek Macedonia. It is divided into the regional units of Florina, Grevena, Kastoria, and Kozani.-Geography:...
, it is girdled by the massifs of Mt Mouriki
Mouriki
Mouriki is a former municipality in Kozani peripheral unit, West Macedonia, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Eordaia, of which it is a municipal unit. The population in 2001 was 4,896. The seat of the municipality was in Emporio....
which serves as a home not only to the brown bear (Ursus arctos), but also to a large number of rare birds, including the short-toed eagle (Circaetus gallicus), the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) and the long-legged buzzard (Buteo rufinus). The first settlement was established in the 15th century and received an influx 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...
refugees from Grammos and Moschopoli in the 18th century. The public buildings and the houses which still today adorn Vlasti reflect the flourishing of this village in the 19th century.
The population was 645 as of 2001. Today, it has a population of about 600. However, the village bustles with life in summer as it is then that the Earth Festival is organized. It comprises a series of ecological and at the same time joyful events whose objective is to inform and sensitize people showing them the need to respect natural environment. Moreover, visitors have the chance to come into contact with the locals, experience their hospitality and participate with them in these jolly festivities. Vlasti serves a starting point for fascinating, enjoyable routes either to Mt Mouriki and its shelter or to neighbouring regions. There is good infrastructure to support the touristic development of the place with hotels, restaurants and bars.