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Melissourgoi – Tribute to the beautiful mountain village of Tzoumerka

Melissourgoi

Melissourgoi is one of the villages of Tzoumerka that enchants you from the first moment.

High and inaccessible mountain ranges with deep folds in which basins are formed, wild and at the same time beautiful mountains, snow-capped and lost peaks, rushing rivers, impressive waterfalls, seasons with color changes. It is the Athamanian Mountains or Tzoumerka that are a mountain range whose main trunk forms a horseshoe that in its unique opening to the N.D. rolls the impetuous Arachthos that flows into the Amvrakikos gulf.

The village of Melissourgoi is built on this passage at 1100m height and in the basin that is formed between the volume of Kakarditsa and Stroggoula.

“… and I climbed the mountain peaks gazing at the sun and the fir trees smiled at me and the fragrant cedars softened my aching body…”

Κώστας Στάμου (Τζουμερκιώτικα Χρονικά 2014 σελ. 193)

History and Information of Melissourgoi

The exact date of creation of the settlement is unknown. There is a view that the settlement of Melissourgoi were created by the contraction of micro-settlements during the Turkish occupation. It is very likely that the attack and the destruction caused by the Mani pirate Lyberios Gerakaris, who had joined the service of the Venetians, contributed to this, and we invaded Arta and its villages, looting and killing.

In general, the area of ​​Athamania is an area in which extensive and systematic excavations have not been carried out, with the result that the history and culture that concerns the very old times remain in the dark.

The archeological findings (looted tombs, charcoal remains, etc.) found at Melissourgoi at the sites of Kastania, Dovru, Gritsana, Skripta, Zizina and Zileousi prove an organized society.

Other historical sources useful for the study of the creation and evolution of the settlement are drawn from the written traditions which are dates in buildings of temples and monasteries that have been renovated or rebuilt as well as inscriptions on the lintels, hagiographies and church bells.

Melissourgoi
Melissourgoi

However, a Golden Bull of the Emperor of Constantinople (1321) who abolishes an arbitrary act (1272) of the military commander Kavasilas with which the latter had given the settlement of Melissourgoi to the Diocese of Dryinoupolis, , restoring the village to the Diocese of Ioannina, is an indisputable testimony of the existence of the village from that time.

Melissourgoi
Melissourgoi

What to see in and around Melissourgoi

The waterfall of Kefalovryso

One of the most beautiful places in the area is the waterfall of Kefalovrysos that springs from the north side of Strongoula having a length of 350m. and continuous flow all seasons. The waterfall in its course forms the stream of Koferita which flows into the stream of Melissourgoi.

The route is easy and marked and starts either from the Pramanta Refuge or from the Melissourgoi Refuge. We walk in a fir forest for about half an hour until we get out. Following the course and having visual contact with the waterfall we walk for about forty minutes. Leaving the gaze to wander from right to left we see the northern part of Strongoula, Gerakovouni and the peak Agathi, the Neck of the Ear and finally the impressive mountain range of Kakarditsa.

The bridge of Koferita

(Σπύρος Ι. Μαντάς, ΓΕΦΥΡΟΓΡΑΦΙΑ ΤΗΣ ΠΙΝΔΟΥ, ΤΟΜΟΣ Β΄, ΤΟ ΓΕΦΥΡΙ ΤΗΣ ΚΟΦΕΡΙΤΑΣ σελ. 324)

It is located outside the village south of Koferita location and bridges the homonymous river. It is single-arched and its semicircular arch has an opening of 10.60 m and a height of 5.80 m. The passage corridor is flat and with a crown outside having a length of 21 m. and useful width 1.75 m. It is one of the last stone bridges in the area since it was built during the German occupation of 1942-43. The bridge was gradually built by local craftsmen and was completed with the help of craftsmen from Raftanei village. The inhabitants paid in kind, mainly corn. It was used for the first time by ELAS guerrillas and then by the village cattle breeders.

Churches and Monasteries

It is a three-aisled vaulted basilica without a dome. It was built in 1778 but because it was set on fire by the Turks in 1821, it was rebuilt for the most part with a stone roof and a shed supported by columns. During the earthquake of 1967 it was severely damaged and was poorly renovated.

Today only its katholikon survives and is located directly opposite the Melissourgoi on the mountain slope above the stream and a little below the chapel of Agia Paraskevi. The katholikon of the monastery is in good condition outside and the surviving frescoes are very few.

The monastery was built on the site, where today the homonymous church of the village in the NW of Melissourgoi is, and which, according to its founding inscription, was completely renovated in 1843. According to tradition, the church was built before the church of Agios Nikolaos around 1747 and had two cells which were demolished in 1843 when its katholikon was renovated.

The chapel of Agia Paraskevi
The chapel of Agia Paraskevi

Above the katholikon of the Monastery of the Entrances of the Virgin there is the chapel of Agia Paraskevi which is not hagiographed and, according to the marble slab on the west wall, the date of its initial construction is unknown

It is a small wooden-roofed basilica without a dome. It was founded in 1770 on the site of an oldest – probably Byzantine – church, which was destroyed in 1696 by Maniatis Gerakaris Lymperakis and in 1870 it was completely renovated. The interior has magnificent frescoes from 1877 that are preserved in relatively good condition. It is located in the village and has access from paved paths

The chapel of Agios Kosmas
The chapel of Agios Kosmas

In a place with an amazing view.

Activities in and around Melissourgoi

The village Melissourgoi belongs to the area of ​​Tzoumerka, one of the most impressive areas of Greece and is offered for all kinds of activities. Canyoning and rappel in the gorges, mountain biking and riding motorcycles and 4X4. Hiking trails on easy and difficult routes. Visit to the surrounding villages, bridges and monasteries that are architectural treasures.

A short distance from the village is the Mountain Refuge of Melissourgoi. Built in the forest with a wonderful view of the mountain peaks, it is offered not only for accommodation and food but also for activities of small and high difficulty in the surrounding mountains.

Information: http://katafigiomelissourgwn.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_40.html and https://www.facebook.com/Katafigiomelissourgwn/

Accommodation and dining in the area meets all the specifications for a comfortable and interesting vacation. The area of ​​Tzoumerka has been used for tourism in recent years and the proof is that the traffic remains high during the winter.

In the Mountain Refuge of Melissourgoi

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