Geography
Physical and human geography through the Helladic regions. Their natural and climatic setting.
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Deep Thessaly
In Greece, in the heights of recent years, goats have become increasingly rare, as have cattle. This is the almost new situation in Western Thessaly, on the Pindus massif as well as on the plains. And as for men… Greek land!
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Ottoman census
As good historians, we do not at all wipe the slate clean of the past. In Greece, more particularly in Thessaly for our “local” case, we hardly forget, for example, the very long and trying period of Ottoman occupation, generally between 1420 and 1881, the year in which Thessaly was attached to the contemporary Hellenic State. Just as we do not omit in this regard to mention, or even to directly question, if possible, the direct Ottoman sources.
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In the mountain of Pindos
For those in the know, Agrafa remains a mountainous territory—one that, until just a few years ago, was virtually “inaccessible” and, by all accounts, shrouded in mystery. This vast region is brimming with gems perched along its slopes, overlooking rushing waters, narrow valleys, and lakes; their very stones embody the rich regional heritage. Nestled between lakes and mountains, these villages define the unique character of mainland Greece—a blend that is, ideally, a harmonious mix of culture, history, and culinary delights, all set against an extraordinary natural backdrop.
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The Egg Monastery
Greece, like so many other countries, is dotted with unusual places that are well worth a visit. These include natural sites—often steeped in history and memory. Among the most remarkable of these is the Monastery of Saint Demetrius also known as Moní Avgoú, literally “the Monastery of the Egg”, located in the Argolis region, in the northeastern Peloponnese.
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Kalarrýtes, village in Epirus
In Greek, Epirus primarily means “mainland.” But to the Hellenes, the term more specifically evokes their vast, mountainous region—a territory that, since ancient times, has proudly occupied the western slopes of the Pindus mountain range, extending down to the Ionian Sea. Italy lies just across the way, in a sense.
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The Tile
In Greek, Keramídi means “the roof tile,” but for our family, it is the name of a small village—once considered all but lost—nestled between “its” two Thessalian rivers. If you take the road from Tríkala, in Western Thessaly, toward Palamás, you will find it just upstream from that larger town—the very place where my mother’s family hails from. For us, then, passing through is, in a sense, unavoidable.