We recommend the following sites to visit.
Town
Square
Before you go running outside of Karpenisi, start with a relaxing frape or
coffee at the town's marble floored square which is refreshed by shadow
of the old plane-tree and fresh mountain water spring. The square's
marbled floor forms letters that read out the names of the old municipalities
of the area.
Saloon -
Dude Ranch
The Saloon
is a year-round dude ranch just one
mile south of Karpenisi, that offers all the activities you will need to make
this an unforgettable visit. There is horse back
riding, a new train ride (coming in the fall), shooting gallery, archery, scaling wall,
mountain biking, trekking, canyoning, playgrounds, shopping, country
music concerts and of course a great bar to boot!
Skiing
Take a trip
up to the ski center (sorry no snow will be left by the end of June).
You will get a breathtaking view of Evritania from here. If you have
time we recommend you hike to the top of this mountain which is called
Velouchi. Altitude is 2135m (6620 feet). There is also a
lake up here, but make sure to have a 4x4 vehicle to access it.
Village of Fidakia
One day
should be spend touring the area around the village of Fidakia. You will need to travel about 12 kilometers (on the road towards
Agrinio) and once approaching the western ridge of Karpenisi
(you
know you have passed it when you start down a massive spiral of twisting road). 
The photo on the right shows the intersection at the ridge you will make a
left turn. The photo on the left shows you the sign saying
"Fidakia". You will then travel 17 kilometers on what is now a
paved road. When you arrive in
Fidakia take the time to tour this tiny coble lined village. On
the spot of this village numerous ancient findings have been made.
Head towards the Church and try to go
inside.
Visit the town square and the local tavern. Head to the hill top to see the sunset. From this hill top, if you
look all the way down towards the bottom, you will see the area called Kastri
-- this is where additional ancient findings have been made (pre-Christian
burial sites, Roman-Greek battleground, fortifications, etc.). When you
get finished with the hilltop go below the Church (left side when facing it),
there are two water fountains.
Refresh
yourself with this cold spring water.
Thereafter, we insist you drive about 2 kilometers,
after the village, to the ridge over looking the lake.
This is an incredible view. If you like
you can go another 2 kilometers and overlook from the ridge above the
village Ag.
Vlacherna.
Pikrouvouni
If you love to hike and mountain climb we recommend you leave Karpenisi
around 7am and go to Fidakia. Immediately after Fidakia, about 200 meters, park your car near the
mountain stream. Head straight up the stream to the top of the round bald mountain.
From there walk over the ridge and up to the tall peak
Pikrouvouni. This
is a great area bear pack. Be warned that its tougher to come down than go up. For your
safety, return the way you came up but if you are an experienced climber, come down
the right face (when facing from Fidakia) of Pikrouvouni.
When you are finished with this area we are sure you will be amazed at its beauty, yet
just 50 years ago it was an area plagued with famine, disease and civil war.
We hope
no area in the world has to know such strife and that in the end we all live with such
peace and beauty as found here in Fidakia.
Megalo Xorio and Mikro
Xorio.
10 miles
south of Karpenisi are also the beautiful villages of
Megalo Xorio and
Mikro
Xorio. You must visit these beautiful towns. Mikro Xorio is divided
into two parts, the old and the new (both are very picturesque). Half
of "old Mikro Xorio"
was wiped out in a mud slide, there after a "new Mikro Xorio" was constructed. Once you
have toured these two you should go about 1.5 kilometer past them to the village of Gavros
and have lunch at the Petalo +30 (22370) 41487 -- you will find it on
the left side of road. Make sure to order "xoriatika loukanika" (village
sausages) and lamb chops.
Prouso
After
you have stuffed yourself, drive on to Prouso.
While going there do notice how the terrain switches back to the what is
typical in the rest of Greece.
Prouso is a historic monastery and as long as you are properly attired, you
must go see the small Church built into the mountain. This scared site
contains the Holy Icon Proussiotissa, the Virgin Mary painted by the Apostle
and Evangelist Luke. It has been protected here since the 9th century. The monastery's church was built in 1754 and contains
remarkable icons, woodcarvings, sacred treasures and silver utensils. There is
also a small museum in the monastery containing several personal things of Karaiskakis, general during the Revolution of Independence in 1821.
Xeilidona
On
the way back, go by the Old Mikro Xorio. Ask for directions from the locals
for the "raxi Xeilidona". In our opinion this is
probably the most breath taking scene of all of Evritania. To get there
you will need an off road vehicle, that is a 4x4. There are numerous mountain roads intersecting each other as you ascend,
don't despair keep heading up and towards the ridge. Once there, stay to see
the sunset over the lake. This is the ridge of
Xeilidona
mountain. It is also the grazing grounds for the villages of Ag.
Vlaxerna, Fidakia and Mikro Xorio so please do not disturb the sheep or
shepherds.
Agrafa.
Evritania has historically been an inaccessible area. In fact so rugged was this
area it was one of the few areas of Greece that the Ottoman Turks could not enslave.
It was to this area, particularly the extremely remote and beautiful area of
Agrafa, that Hellenic culture and religion for four centuries was preserved until its
emancipation from the Turks in 1821. If you decide to go here, make sure to have a
4x4. Also make sure to go to the villages of Agrafa and Trobato. Access to
this region starts about 3 kilometers after the village Kerasshori.