As their name suggests from “Tzoum”, which means “steep peak” in the Vlach local dialect, Tzoumerka is a place of wild beauty and steep peaks in the western mountain range of Pindos.
The villages
The traditional villages of the area, Tzoumerkohoria, show off their original Epirus heritage with their architecture, their stone-built houses, picturesque cobblestone alleys and fountains with running water, as well as with their monasteries and churches which literally hang in caves and rocks.
Scattered in the Athamanian Mountains (as Tzoumerka is also called), Tzoumerkohoria are located between the prefectures of Ioannina and Arta. Some famous and others less known, these villages remain untouched by mass tourism and constitute an ideal ‘refuge’ for nature lovers and those looking for real relaxation in nature.
Bourgareli, Theodoriana and Athamanio, bustling Pramanta, amphitheater-built Agnada, Plaka, with its famous bridge, Katarraktis, with its waterfall and the twin noble capital villages, Sirrako and Kalarrites, are some of the villages that enchant visitors with their beauty, leaving an indelible impression.
The two best-known villages and perhaps the most picturesque ones, Sirrako and Kalarrites, are connected by a beautiful path and at their intersection visitors can admire the famous, largest single-arched bridge in the Balkans, the bridge of Plaka.
These are preserved traditional settlements with a long history, especially in the art of silversmithing. Sotiris Voulgaris, the founder of Bvlgari, comes from Kalarrites. One of the most impressive monasteries in Greece, the Kipina Monastery, stands imposingly in the hollow of a vertical rock, near the village of Kalarrites. The monastery was built in 1212 and is dedicated to the Dormition of Virgin Mary.
Natural landscape
The nature surrounding Tzoumerka is literally indescribable! Rivers, gorges, lakes, caves, waterfalls make up a unique setting, exciting for mountain lovers and not only. The Kalarritikos river, the most important tributary of Arachthos, descends from a route through wild gorges, full of waterfalls and stone bridges.
For this reason, it is an ideal place for amazing descents by rafting or kayaking. The entire area is an ideal destination for outdoor activities, such as mountain biking, climbing and of course unique hikes.
Tzoumerka is a place of authentic natural beauty, endowed with unique monuments.
