Papigo is one of the 46 villages in the cultural and historical region of Zagori. It is located northeast of Ioannina, 59 kilometers away, and is one of the most famous Zagorochoria.
Mikro Papigo is one of the most beautiful and well-preserved settlements in Zagori. It is not only the architecture but also the stunning location within the Vikos – Aoos National Park, under the imposing formation of Astraka and other peaks, a unique picture of natural beauty.
It consists of two neighborhoods, Megalo Papigo and Mikro Papigo, which, despite being about 15 minutes apart by car, form one community. Megalo Papigo is located at an altitude of 900 meters, and Mikro Papigo at an altitude of 980 meters.
To reach Megalo Papigo, follow the road from Aristi, cross the bridge over the Voidomatis River, and drive approximately 7.5 km along the “kagkelia,” the winding road with 14 sharp turns and stunning views. Continuing from Megalo Papigo, you reach Mikro Papigo, where the road ends.
Historical Information About Papigo
General Historical Information
Archaeological findings suggest habitation in the area since prehistoric times. According to historian I. Lampridis (Chapter 8, page 25), the village was founded immediately after the first church of Saint Vlasios was established in 912 “under Emperor Constantine.” Roman spears and Byzantine coins were found at that time.
I. Lampridis, in his work Zagoriaka (page 24), mentions that in the past, the word Papigo referred to a province consisting of many villages. However, in his time, it was a small town divided into two sections (neighborhoods) and separated by a stream, over which a stone bridge was built in 1854 at the expense of Anastasios Lolis. The larger section was built in a smooth, water-rich valley. It had about 700 inhabitants, 100 houses, and was the capital of the province, housing courts and workshops. The smaller section, located at the foot of Radovoli and about 20 minutes away from the larger one, had 400 inhabitants and 47 houses.
Etymology
According to Kostas Ev. Oikonomou (The Toponyms of the Ioannina Region), the place name is considered an Albanian formation and is attributed to the combination of the Albanian prefix “pa” (meaning without) and the noun “peng” (meaning pledge or hostage). It is difficult to determine the historical conditions that contributed to the creation of the toponym. The same etymology should apply to the name of the mountain in Albania, Maja e Papingut (“the peak of Papingo”), located about 31 kilometers northwest of Papigo.
Papigo is mentioned for the first time in 1321 in the second gold seal of Andronikos II Palaiologos. Zagori and Papigo are frequently mentioned in the “Chronicle of Ioannina” as well as in the “Chronicle of the Tocco,” two works by anonymous authors covering the period of the last two despots of Ioannina who ruled the Despotate of Ioannina in the late 14th to early 15th century. In another military conflict in 1399, Papigo and Zagori are mentioned separately, indicating that they were distinct regions. The two areas are also separately mentioned in the call for military assistance by the new ruler, Carlo Tocco. (Source: Papigo and Zagori in the Late Byzantine Period, Stefanos Kordosis)
According to P. Aravantinos (Chronography of Epirus, page 124): “The inhabitants of Papigo are people residing in the westernmost part of the Zagori region, which belonged to the town of Papigo in the 15th century, as a regional part including Ano and Kato Soudena, Ano and Kato Ravenia, Doliana, Mavrovouni, Mesovouni, Arpsista (Aristi), Agios Minas, Veitzikon (Vitsa), Alizot Tsefliki (now Geroplatanos), and others, some of which were abandoned and others incorporated into the administration of Konitsa.”
Until the capture of Ioannina in 1430, Papigo played a significant role in repelling Ottoman invasions. Near the village of Agios Minas, on the hill of Grambala, is the medieval castle “Kastraki,” as it is known today. This castle is identified with Revnikos and must have played an important role due to its location as a link between the areas of Konitsa, Pogoni, and Papigo, while also protecting the inhabitants from the east.
After 1430, the granting of privileges by the Turks to communities or groups of communities in Zagori helped these communities achieve self-governance and complete freedom in practicing their religious duties. The abolition of privileges in 1868 had an impact on the economic life and human resources. At the same time, the gangs of bandits plundering the area, mainly targeting wealthy families, resulted in most aristocratic families leaving Zagori. In 1913, Papigo, like all the villages of Zagori, was liberated from Turkish rule.
The war of 1940 led to the complete disorganization of the area. After the war, migration and depopulation of the region began. In the 1980s, the recognition of the ecological value of the area led to the recovery of some villages and the initial attraction of mountaineering tourism. Subsequently, the development of tourist infrastructure attracted a broader tourist audience.
The region of Zagori is mountainous, and the barren land pushed people towards migration. The inhabitants of Papigo emigrated mainly to Romania, Serbia, and America, helping the village financially. During this time, rich houses and public buildings were built in Papigo. Those who remained in the village engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry. Many residents were involved in business, and many became teachers and scientists. Since 1780, there has been a Greek school with scientists practicing as doctors. (Lampridis, Z/8/52,55)
With the mass naturalization after the liberation of Epirus, the registration of male Sarakatsani in the Male Registers drawn up for the liberated areas occurred. Thus, in the lists of the villages of Zagori, Sarakatsani born before 1900 were recorded. Fewer than 30 were in Papigo. “The gradual assimilation of different cultural customs, Sarakatsani and Zagorian, led to the removal of cultural boundaries to some extent, resulting in the Sarakatsani settled there declaring and feeling equally, if not more, ‘local’ rather than Sarakatsani.” (Source: The Social Transformation of the Sarakatsani of Epirus)
Today, most villagers are engaged in tourism, with only a small portion involved in animal husbandry. Papigo is one of the few places in our country that began to increase its population in the 1980s. One of the main reasons is that in 1980, the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) undertook the restoration of some mansions and operated them as guesthouses. This marked the beginning of Papigo’s appeal to visitors. Simultaneously, some mansion owners restored them, promoting the area’s tourism development.
In 1988, the European Union Ministers’ Summit was held in Papigo, bringing the first spotlight to the village. Until then, visitors were mainly mountaineers attempting ascents to the surrounding impressive peaks.
Source: http://www.papigo.gr/el/istoria/evergetes_01.php
The villages of Ottoman-occupied Greece owe their prosperity and progress to benefactors. Zagori has a large number of people who migrated to distant lands, became wealthy, and contributed to their homeland’s economic and intellectual development. Papigo’s benefactors exceed 73.
Michael Anagnostopoulos, a great benefactor of Papigo, known internationally as Michael Anagnos, was born in Papigo on November 7, 1837, to very poor parents, Dimitrios and Kalina Anagnostopoulou. He completed elementary school in Papigo and continued his studies in Ioannina, at the Zosimaia School and the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Athens. In 1861, he received a doctorate in philosophy with honors. He worked as a journalist and editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Ethnofylakas,” fervently supporting the Cretan Revolution.
In 1866, he met the philhellene Dr. Samuel Howe, director of the Boston Institute for the Blind, and in 1867 followed him to America, where he taught Latin at the Institute as his assistant. In 1876, he became the Institute’s director and distinguished himself as a specialized educator, creating the embossed alphabet for the blind and founding the model kindergarten and special printing house.
In his hometown, Papigo, he oversaw the construction of the Kalineia School (named after his mother, Kalina), providing 5,000 sterling pounds, while he also donated another 40,000 dollars for the establishment of a library.
George Anagnostopoulos (1884–1936), a linguist, was also born here. He graduated from the Zosimaia School in Ioannina, the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Athens, the Sorbonne’s Department of Linguistics, and the Ecole des Hautes Etudes in Paris. He was elected as a full professor of linguistics at the University of Athens in 1927. He published many treatises and significant articles.
Zacharias Sardelis (1830–1913), a philologist, journalist, and publisher of the newspaper “IRIS” in Bucharest, and George Anagnostopoulos (1867–1952) are also notable figures.
Schools
Source: https://web.archive.org/web/20100909151559/http://www.papigo.gr/el/politismos/architectoniki_03.php
In Megalo Papigo, next to the church of Agios Vlasios, stands the school building of Megalo Papigo, erected in 1897 with funding from Michael Polychroniou, as stated on an inscription in the courtyard.
Previously, two schools operated in Mikro and Megalo Papigo until 1971. Today, an elementary school functions in Megalo Papigo.
The greatest contribution to its operation and financial survival came from Papigo’s benefactor, Michael Anagnostopoulos, who in 1888 established the “Kallineia” Schools in Papigo— a middle school, two elementary schools (one in Megalo and one in Mikro Papigo), and a kindergarten in memory of his mother, Kalina. The school also houses a valuable library of 1,200 volumes, donated by Michael Anagnostopoulos and transported from Boston to Papigo. Although many volumes were lost during the war, several remain today.
Architecture
Papigo (Mikro and Megalo) is built like all villages in Zagori. Between 1750 and 1850, houses were taller, more spacious, with wooden rooms, and most featured beautiful ceiling and wall decorations.
The craftsmen who constructed the houses were mainly from the villages of Konitsa and Tzoumerka, organized into guilds (called “bouloukia”). The painters who decorated the walls were mostly from the village of Chionades in Konitsa.
In most villages of Zagori, as well as in several houses in Papigo, a significant number of houses with folk wall paintings survive today.
What to see in and around Megalo and Mikro Papigo
The Rogovos Pools
When leaving Megalo Papigo and heading towards Mikro Papigo, just 1 km away, you will notice a small bridge and a sign. Park there and follow the path to admire the Rogovo Pools, also known as the “Kolymbithres.” These are natural pools formed in the limestone rocks by the movement of the Rogovo stream.
Hiking Routes
Papigo is located in an area that uniquely combines the beauty of natural and man-made landscapes, offering many different destinations and routes. The area is ideal for hiking, mountaineering, climbing, rafting, mountain biking, and walking tours in the surrounding traditional settlements. It is an ideal place for all seasons.
However, the heavy visitor traffic, especially in Megalo Papigo, the abundance of cafes and restaurants, and car parking detract from the village’s authenticity, yet it still manages to captivate visitors.
One of the most popular hiking routes leads from Mikro Papigo to Drakolimni of Tymfi, at an altitude of 2,050 meters, northwest of Ploskos peak.
Drakolimni of Tymfi
One of the most popular hiking routes leads from Mikro Papigo to Drakolimni of Tymfi. According to myth, a dragon living there was constantly in conflict with another dragon residing in Lake Smolikas. It is said that Ali Pasha attempted to ascend to the lake, but a summer storm thwarted his plan. Detailed information about the Drakolimni Tymfi route can be found here.
Churches
Agios Vlasios
Located in Mesochori, it was built in 1852 on the site of an older church from 912. A few meters from the church stands its imposing and majestic bell tower (1887), which is 15 meters high, hexagonal, and resembles a tower.
Agia Paraskevi
The date of construction is unknown. On the eastern side, a carved stone with the date 1898 is preserved.
Agios Georgios
Located in Megalo Papigo, Zagori, it was built in 1774 as a three-aisled basilica and renovated in 1880. The bell tower of Agios Georgios is rectangular, reaching ten meters in height and decorated with carved black plates depicting various Saints. It was built around 1830, as stated on an inscribed plaque.
Church of Virgin Mary
Located southeast of the Siopoto neighborhood, it is decorated with exceptional frescoes. On the eastern side, the date 1774 is inscribed.
Taxiarches
The only church in Mikro Papigo, it has been designated a protected monument by the Ministry of Culture. The construction date is unknown, but it is estimated that it was built in its current form in the 18th century.
Chapels
Panagia Paliouri – A small and simple church dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. Agios Athanasios. Ai–Lias, 15 minutes away from the village, on a green hill. Agia Kyriaki and the Holy Apostles.
Bridges
Lakkos Bridge
Source: Bridgeography of Pindos, Spiros I. Mantas, Volume B, Page 517
It is located between Mikro and Megalo Papigo, in the Lakkos area. It is a single-arched bridge built on two perpendicular rocks, connecting the two settlements with the old path. It was built in 1854 by Anastasios Lolis. Anastasios Zordovoulis, or Lolis, from Mikro Papigo, practicing as a healer, became a great benefactor of both his village and the surrounding area. It is said that there was once an inscribed plaque that testified to the year of construction and the benefactor, but it was destroyed.
Boulougounsa Bridge
Source: Bridgeography of Pindos, Spiros I. Mantas, Volume B, Page 518
It is a small single-arched bridge located next to the main road before the turn to Megalo Papigo. It bridges the Boulougounsa stream, where the gardens of Papigo’s residents used to be. A fountain is nearby. According to I. Lampridis, Protosyngellos Matthaios Papathanasios paid 6,000 groschen for the construction of the bridge and the fountain (1871).
The Arched Cement Bridge
This bridge over the Voidomatis River was built with funds from Papigo residents in 1923 and connects Aristi with Papigo.
Where to stay if you visit Papigo
Recommended Accommodations:
- Avragonio: A warm and welcoming guesthouse with views of Central Zagori. Κλείστε τη διαμονή σας εδώ.
- Pantheon: A wonderful accommodation with views of the Astraka Towers and very hospitable owners. Κλείστε τη διαμονή σας εδώ.
- Mikro Papigo 1700 Hotel & Spa: A 5-star hotel complex in a beautiful location on the left slope of Mikro Papigo. Κλείστε τη διαμονή σας εδώ.
Dining in Papigo
Recommended Restaurants:
- Konaki in Megalo Papigo
- Veranda 1700 in Mikro Papigo
