Metsovo, formerly Metsovon, is a town in Epirus on the mountains of Pindus in northern Greece, between Ioannina to the north and Meteora to the south. The largest centre of Vlach life in Greece, Metsovo is bypassed by GR-6 (Ioannina - Trikala) and will be bypassed by the modern Via Egnatia.
The town is famous for its local cheeses (Metsovone and Metsovela) and winemaking industries, including the Katogi vineyard of the Averoff family. A museum named Averoff Gallery is dedicated to Georgios Averoff. Metsovo is also a popular winter vacation destination and a ski resort.
During the Second World War Metsovo was the capital of the Principality of Pindus.
Metsovo is the home of the benefactors Nikolaos Stournaris, Eleni Tositsa, Michail Tositsas and Georgios Averoff, in whose honor the National Technical University of Athens is called Metsovion in Greek. Another notable individual from Metsovo is the former minister and former leader of the New Democracy party Evangelos Averoff.
The Metsovo Ski Centre is situated nor far from downtown.
In the 1980s, a tunnel was under construction and was the longest in Greece. It alleviated traffic and does not use curvy roads. In 2006, the connection with Via Egnatia will make the sect of GR-6 (Ioannina - Trikala) into this superhighway and will have two interchanges for Metsovo. |
