A few weeks ago we found ourselves in Trikala and Kalambaka locals are not complacent and everyone is trying for the better At every step you hear an idea; many of them have already been implemented we visited the pioneers of each of them and introduce them to you Efrosino is located in the shadow of Meteora and Mrs Eleni is the soul of the restaurant and everyone who works there does their best is in charge of the day-to-day running of the business everyone was talking about the amazing pies prepared by Mrs “Let’s make a pie” she says and invites us to join in the process “Come by in an hour to try it,” she tells us Despite the fact that Efrosino lies in the heart of tourist traffic it manages to maintain its character; aesthetically unaltered because Mrs Eleni puts everything into perspective Mr Panagiotis is responsible for the grill here we can try oven-roasted braised meatballs Mrs Eleni’s food will always come out a winner They are young and sparkling with creativity; they are not complacent and prove that teams are invincible Giorgos and Themis Tzelis at the brand new Mirtilo in Trikala a characterful and fun place that serves steaming delicious sandwiches and many more brunch options modern and bright space next to Amberg Square – opened a few weeks ago- offering something different The square owes its name to the Bavarian town of the same name in Germany with which Trikala has a twinning agreement Mirtilo serves crispy pork pancetta burger it is called il cucinotto and brings with it the authentic Italian aperitivo experience Enzo Bertocco – the restaurant’s owner- has been living in Trikala for three years now We found the restaurant somewhat accidentally illuminated two-storey neoclassical building The building is entered sideways through the courtyard an ideal spot to try genuine Italian cocktails based on Italian spirits prepared by the bar manager We accompanied our drinks with one of the authentic Neapolitan pizzas prepared by Silvio a Neapolitan pizzaiolo who prepares the pizza dough daily based on the authentic Neapolitan recipe with fresh ingredients and baked in the traditional authentic Neapolitan wood-fired oven “Zenarino” Giorgio and his team prepare daily handmade fresh pasta with the traditional Italian recipe and all the sauces meats sourced from specific and reliable micro-producers of the province many of the ingredients come straight from Italy we take a stroll around the rest of the premises The Boulogiorgos confectionery makes the most delicious halva Farsalon (traditional dessert originating from Farsala melted clarified butter and toasted almonds) in Trikala after telling us about the 42-year history of the business and the contribution of his father Ioannis showed us how they make this unique halva that is talked about all over the city grew up in the workshop where he learned the best way to make their sweets next to his father and then attended classes at a pastry school in Thessaloniki He adds water and sugar to the copper pot and as the temperature rises continues to stir and the mixture begins to thicken as it blends with the butter and takes on that ruby red colour We leave the workshop and the aromas do not fade; a warm piece of halva is waiting for us to taste it making mouth-watering syrupy deserts such as baklava Stratigou Sarafi & Amalias (Opposite the main square of Trikala) which is surrounded by rocks similar to those of Meteora Mrs Voula and Mr Stefanos have already lit the wood-fired oven We’d heard a lot about this village and about the plans to create in the near future an adventure park in the surrounding rocks as well as a 7 km trail that will lead to the settlement of Gavros One thing led to another and so we found ourselves in the kitchen of Arados restaurant watching the pie making process the dough is divided into ball-shaped pieces so that each of them can be used to make a sheet of dough The dough is allowed to rest for some time and then a delicate stick is used to roll out the dough; the sheets of dough are rolled out so thin that they appear almost transparent and then they are placed one by one on the baking tray which has been prepared with the valuable help of Mrs Stella a special tasty green that grows in the area Mr Stefanos has already lit the fire and is roasting the shop’s famous ribs meats and hot pies are already on the table The experience at Arados was unique and delightful at the same time Gousios is a very famous chop house across Thessaly and beyond They have their own stable with a rare Greek breed of lambs It is worth noting that in all of Greece there are only 5,500 animals of this breed with the University of Crete doing special research on these animals which take about 3 months to grow to 10 kilos and can survive even in conditions with 30-40 inches of snow Their meat is very special and stands out from other lambs’ We arrived in Gousios on a Thursday afternoon A huge fire was humming in the fireplace and another by the grill The table was set and apart from everything else I can’t help but mention first of all the lamb chops and sausages they produce curing in the cold air in the butcher’s area next to the tavern spetsofai (spicy Greek sausages with peppers and tomato sauce) and probably some of the most delicious fries we have ever tasted Almost twenty years have passed since Apostolos Skabardonis decided and implemented his idea to deal with the production of traditional Trikala sausages We met him at his company’s premises in Filyra Trikala and he talked to us about his vision and his need to strengthen local products so that they can come out of anonymity Among the main products produced by the company which have won international quality awards the Karamanlidika based on the classic recipe that revives memories of the Karamanlidika products of the Greeks of Cappadocia the oregano sausages and the chicken meat sausages Filyra, Trikala, +30 24340 22389, www.authentictrikalon.com the Liakos family decided to plant their first small vineyard aiming to produce quality wines based on the characteristics of the region’s microclimate who is 23 years old and shared with us his great love for wine He has studied agribusiness and food business management and has also completed the WSPC which is one of the most demanding courses in the wine industry The microclimate of the region is a catalyst for the creation of unique wines for the Greek region Low yields per acre and careful harvesting of the grapes ensure the best possible quality The vineyards are located at an altitude of 470 metres on sloping Vasilis Liakos gave us a tour of the winery and also talked to us about the combination of tourism and wine the visitor can taste the wines of the estate the varieties and about the region in general and its relationship with wine On Friday 28 February, from 16h00 to 21h00 (for exit) - Motorway A3 (Central Greece) in the direction of Kalampaka between its junctions with Motorway A1 (Athens – Thessaloniki – Evzoni motorway) and Kalampaka motorway (km 136+292) - Motorway A52 in the direction of Aktio in Aktio road connection with North-South road axis (Amvrakia Road) between km 0+001 (Aktio) and km (48+920) connection with Ionian Road/Amvrakia motorway - Motorway A3 (Central Greece) in the direction of Lamia – Athens between Kalampaka motorway (km 136+292) and its junctions with Motorway A1 (Athens – Thessaloniki – Evzoni motorway) - Motorway A52 in the direction of Ionia (Amvrakia motorway): Aktio road connection with North-South road axis (Amvrakia Road) between kn 0+001 (Aktio) and km (48+940) connection with Ionian Road/Amvrakia motorway Those were the words of Metropolitan Theoklitos of Stagoi and Meteora during yesterday’s Divine Liturgy in Kalampaka for the Feast of the Annunciation and the celebration of the Greek Revolution who once again performed the Divine Liturgy without the presence of the faithful “It is time to think about why our churches were closed and ask why God punished us in this way.” He went on to say “So our church is humiliated for a while and stops performing the Divine Liturgy in order to sacrifice herself for her children by refraining from the mass public gathering.” On the Church’s decision to comply with the government’s order and temporarily shut down the churches “If the churches were open and the people were gathered and there was an outbreak everybody would say that the church is to blame; the priests and the Christians are blameworthy for not caring.” “Every day we experience this hatred and this polemic often carried out by us and some unfledged theologians who constantly want to show off their theological knowledge by writing various things the Patriarchate of Jerusalem solemnly celebrated the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women... Archbishop Elpidophoros of America celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Monastery of the Theotokos.. it was announced that two Roman Catholic institutions in Bavaria have decided to jointly.. A car once used by Pope Francis during his 2014 visit to Bethlehem is being transformed into a mobile.. the Monastery of Saint Vlash in Albania hosted a festal Divine Liturgy on the.. Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece presided over the festal Great Vespers at the historic.. (function() { window.mc4wp = window.mc4wp || { listeners: [] cb) { window.mc4wp.listeners.push( { event : evt callback: cb } ); } } }})(); © 2023 OrthodoxTimes.com - All rights reserved Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website These cookies do not store any personal information Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website Fire broke out Monday morning at a hotel in Kalambaka from an as yet unknown cause the fire has been brought under control however the evacuation of the residents is ongoing 26 firefighters with 8 vehicles are operating on the scene while a special ladder truck has been mobilized Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr It is crucial to contain the spread of the disease which was detected yesterday in Domentiko Elassonas after initially appearing in Kalampaka has called for Thessaly to be declared in a state of emergency Serious and potentially devastating consequences for livestock could result from the plague in sheep and goats Following the confirmed cases in parts of Thessaly an alert has been raised to implement measures to control the spread of the disease The disease emerged a few days ago in Kalampaka and was confirmed yesterday in Domentiko Elassonas a significant area with many small ruminant units Immediate action is required to contain the disease to prevent a larger problem is chairing a meeting in the region of Thessaly with regional governor Dimitris Kouretas requesting that Thessaly be declared in a state of emergency to streamline the implementation of decided measures Experts explain through 12 questions and answers that it is a zoonosis not transmitted to humans They clarify that meat and milk from these animals are completely safe if processed milk is safe for human consumption after undergoing high-temperature pasteurization and meat is safe to eat only after thermal processing a picturesque town tucked away in central Greece is home to the awe-inspiring Meteora monasteries Visitors can explore the breathtaking natural scenery discover the town’s rich cultural heritage this charming town is the gateway to Meteora’s UNESCO World Heritage Site – renowned for its majestic sandstone cliffs and limestone rock formations Whether you’re looking for a spiritual experience or an outdoor adventure Kalabaka is the perfect destination for a truly memorable trip Here are some of the top things to do in Kalabaka: Meteora has some of the world’s most popular rock climbing peaks and routes giving climbers the overwhelming power of nature and the serene beauty of the region Several routes and bolts were opened and secured decades ago giving the climbers the challenge to face the haunting landscape of the site while putting their own bolts as they go Another great way to experience the challenge and beauty of Meteora is through hiking and scrambling the same path that monks took centuries ago Several tours accompanied by expert rock climbers and hikers are offered in the area The extraordinary landscape of Kalabaka offers another experience of exploring the region and indulging in some thrilling adventure Adventurers can experience the rapids of Venetikos and Aspropotamos rivers and into the heart of the thriving nature of Greece The rapids have a medium grade of difficulty during the winter and spring and a low grade of difficulty in the summer and autumn inviting beginner and seasoned rafters out in nature Accompanied by an expert truffle hunter and truffle dogs the Natural History Museum of Meteora and Mushroom Museum offers its visitors the to participate in truffle hunting in the nearby forests where they can have a taste of native mushrooms and truffle pasta After the fun hunting experience and the delightful meal prepared by the chefs the hunting participants can get a guided tour of the museum learn about Greece’s truffle industry and purchase mushroom-related products from the souvenir shop This family-owned vineyard has been planting wines since the 1960s and in the winery business since 2006 producing smooth and aromatic wines with local grape varieties Set in the village of Diava with its rich viticulture history the location of Louda’s Winehouse is one of the most historical in Greece Visitors can arrange an appointment to tour the vineyard and taste their varieties A relatively new museum that opened in 2018 the Museum of Geological Formations of Meteora is housed in a 1902 building that used to be the Kastraki Elementary School until 1985 and a local government building until 2012 The museum has a General Geology Hall and a Meteora Geological History Hall where audiovisual presentations of Meteora a detailed analysis of the formation and creation of Meteora and the surrounding mountain of Koziakas and Kalabaka’s general geology are displayed The Natural History Museum of Meteora and Mushroom Museum is a private museum established in late 2014 with over 350 species of taxidermized animals and about 250 species of mushrooms The dioramas of taxidermized animals represent the animal’s natural habitats while the mushroom collections are displayed according to the phases of their development The mammals displayed are native to Greece and its neighboring countries The bird collection is just as extensive as Greece The museum’s bird collection is also one of the largest in Greece constantly updated with new exhibits to enrich the public on the dangers that mammals and birds face nowadays and to protect them The Natural History Museum of Meteora and Mushroom Museum annually organizes a festival that promotes mushrooms’ nutritional and medicinal value The festival’s main highlight is when a dozen chefs cook different varieties of mushroom dishes for the thousands of festival participants at the Natural History Museum of Meteora and Mushroom Museum The Great Meteoron Holy Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Saviour simply known as The Monastery of Great Meteoron or “Megalo Meteoron” is the largest and oldest monastery in Meteora The Monastery of Great Meteoron was founded in the 14th century by Saint Athanasios founder of the monastery and monasticism for the region of Meteora Visitors can see historical codices and religious icons displayed inside the monastery The Holy Monastery of Saint Nicholas of Anapafsas or Agios Nikolaos is the first monastery that pilgrims will encounter the resting place before continuing to the other monasteries Saint Nicholas of Anapafsas or Agios Nikolaos Anapafsas Anthony and the crypt where historical codices and heirlooms were used to be stored can be seen from the monastery’s entrance Other sights within the monastery are 14th-century paintings was founded in the 14th century by hermit monks and suffered like the other monasteries during World War II Visitors can see paintings of the Catholicon by an unknown hagiographer or take the pathway from the monastery to an off-the-road panoramic viewpoint spot to get a different view of the cliffs The Holy Monastery of Roussanou was built at a lower elevation making it more accessible than the other monasteries The Monastery of the Holy Trinity is one of the most photographed monasteries in Meteora and the most recognizable landmark in all of Greece because it was the monastery featured in the 1981 film For Your Eyes Only The Holy Trinity Monastery sits atop a steep rock 300 meters above the town of Kalabaka it is difficult to reach in terms of its access The monastery was established in 1362 by a monk named Dometious and was abandoned in the early 20th century Archaeologists discovered artifacts in 1909 and locals constructed stairs in 1925 for safer access the monastery has been active and open for people to visit The Monastery of Agios Stefanos is connected by a walking bridge making it the most accessible monastery compared to the other monasteries at Meteora The Agios Stefanos Monastery was founded in the 12th century by the first hermit monk Hosios Antonios Hosios Philotheos is credited as its founders when they rebuilt the monastery’s foundations in the 15th century the monastery was transformed into a convent where nuns continue to live there to this day The Theopetra Cave is one of the oldest human constructions with significant remnants from the Paleolithic such as records of cultural transitions from Neanderthals to modern humans and hunting-gathering to farming Near the cave is the Theopetra Cave Museum where documentation and excavations from 1987 to 2008 are displayed The museum was built to promote the cultural wealth and unique archaeology and prehistory of the Theopetra Cave The museum has an educational trench where visitors can experience what an actual excavation is like and educational exhibitions that bring life to the prehistoric life of humans the Byzantine Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary is dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Inside the monument are 11th and 16th-century Byzantine frescos and relics from an ancient Greek temple dedicated to the god Apollo which stood on the same spot before the church was built This hidden treasure of Kalabaka stood for the past 25 centuries and stands as the only church in the world with an early Christian ambo or pulpit preserved in the center of the nave the church remains hidden behind the popular monasteries of Meteora even though the Byzantine Church of Dormition of the Virgin Mary is older than the Monastery of Great Meteoron Reaching Kalabaka and the monasteries of Meteora differs from how the first hermits arrived in the region trains that connect with the Athens-Thessaloniki line at Palaiopharsala or the local buses that run from Kalabaka to Kastraki and Trikala only run between April and October from 9AM to 5PM every 2 hours Visitors must observe the dress code and wear appropriate clothing before entering the monasteries sleeveless clothing and shorts over the knee are not allowed Women can borrow or buy shawls and skirts at the entrance of monasteries Check out our list of cheap Kalabaka, Greece hotels, and resorts via Agoda, Booking, or you may also see available Airbnb properties in the city. 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