Karpenisi Evritanias

Day 2,790, 14:00 • Published in Greece Greece • by Aneta Ilieva

Karpenisi is a town in central Greece. It is the capital of the regional unit of Evrytania. Karpenisi is situated in the valley of the river Karpenisiotis, a tributary of the Megdovas, in the southern part of the Pindus Mountains. Mount Tymfristos (2,315 m elevation) lies directly to the north of the town, and the foothills of mount Kaliakouda are in the south. Karpenisi has a ski resort and is a popular destination, especially during winter. It is called Switzerland of Greece for the resemblance with the mountainous country and its beauty, atypical for a Mediterranean place.
According to Homer, the first known inhabitants of northern Evrytania -Karpenisi- were the Dolopes, who took part in the campaign against Troy around 1100 BC. The ancient capital of the area was Oihalia, situated close to the city of Karpenisi. Ancient Evritanians especially honored Diana, the goddess of hunting and Ulysses for his ability to be cunning and inventive.There are two possible explanations for the origin of the name "Evrytania". The first is that is formed from the Greek word "ev" for "well" and the verb "hreo", for "flow" so that altogether the word "Evrytania" means the place where there is plenty of fresh and "well flown" water. The second explanation for the names origins, comes from the verb "evrio", meaning "stretching the cord of the bow", hence the name of the first king of the area, Evritos, who was an excellent archer.
This in an unremarkable market town in the middle of Roumeli, notable less for its own merits than for what's around it. The chief attraction, in fact, is the Karpenisi Ski Centre eight miles out of town on Mount Velouhi, perched nearly 6,000 feet above sea level at a spot called Diavolotopos – literally, Devil's place. This centre has ten pistes, seven ski lifts, the requisite number of restaurants and first aid facilities, and a stunning view of a good part of the central Greek mountain tops that has been compared to the view from near the top of Mont Blanc.Most of Greece is arid and dry but in Karpenisi there is much greenery and forestation. While far away from the sea and the world renowned islands of the Aegean and Ionian, Karpenisi has become an important ski center and an outdoors person's play ground. In fact during the summer it is a great place to escape the heat.










https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhjqIcSmi2M