About Maria (@travelstoriesofmyworld)
“I'm Maria! I love traveling; I love waking up in an unknown country and having all day ahead of me to discover it, and I like to write about everything I see, discover, and feel while traveling. I choose to travel mostly on my own, and my goal is to inspire other women to do the same!
I love the globes and maps! I can look at them for hours and make plans in the hope that I will see all 197 countries on our planet!”
Find Maria on Instagram, TikTok, and on her blog.
About the Pindus Mountains
The Pindus mountains cover a large portion of North and Central Greece. There are many popular Greek mountain towns in the Pindus range, and some of the best-known are Metsovo and Karpenisi.
Metsovo
Metsovo is a large traditional village in the Epirus region, at an elevation of 1200 meters in the Pindus mountains. The architecture in Metsovo goes back centuries, and there are many cafes and restaurants to enjoy the view of the mountains. For winter sport lovers, Metsovo has a ski center and there are many trails for snowshoeing. For foodies, Metsovo is also known for its famous local cheese.
Karpenisi
This winter destination, despite its name ending in “nisi”, which means “island” in Greek, is found in central Greece. The surrounding valleys are full of fir trees. Karpenisi is a place to explore the natural environment at the Panta Vrehi Canyon, the Prousos Monastery, and the Velouchi Ski Center. The town of Karpenisi is full of cozy restaurants and cafes with hearty local Greek dishes.
Zagori
Zagori is a town of mountain magic. It is right next to dense forest, deep gorges, lovely rivers, waterfalls, and caves. Nearby are 46 stone villages, known as the Zagorachoria, which create a mountain paradise. There are hundreds of kilometers of marked trails to explore in the area, which pass by breathtaking views, monasteries, and old stone bridges. The area of Zagori is also popular for backcountry skiing and organized hikes. Zagori is also famous for its savory pies, which were a main food source for the inhabitants of the area.
Zagorochoria
The “Zagorochoria” are also known as the “Zagori villages” or “the place beyond the mountains.” For centuries, because these villages were hidden in the mountains, they kept a unique character compared to the rest of Greece and were protected naturally by the mountains from many intruders. This is why you will find local food and customs found only in this area. Some of the most popular Zagorochoria villages are Ano Pedina, Papigo, Vitsa, Monodendri, Asprageli, Aristi, and Greveniti.