Epirus Region

Epirus lies in northwestern Greece and extends from the Pindos mountain range to the Ionian coastline. The area includes deep gorges such as Vikos Gorge, extensive forests of oak and beech, and many stone-built mountain villages.

Ancient Epirus was home to the oracle of Dodona, which provided guidance for centuries before the oracle at Delphi. Ottoman rule shaped the architecture of many towns until union with Greece in 1913.

Local festivals often feature men wearing fustanella costumes while women display elaborately embroidered headscarves and vests. In many villages, residents still bake pita bread in stone wood-fired ovens that stand outside their homes.

Visitors should prepare for winding mountain roads that often require longer travel times between towns. Many villages sit away from main routes and are reached via narrow access roads that can be challenging in bad weather.

Vikos Gorge holds a record from the 1990s as the deepest gorge in the world relative to its width. Hikers can cross the Voidomatis River along the gorge floor trail, where the water often runs so clear that you can see gravel on the bottom.

Location: Greece

Capital city: Ioannina

Part of: Epiros

Website: https://php.gov.gr

GPS coordinates: 39.50000,20.83333

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:13