Grevena: Monasteries, Mushroom Heritage and Mountain Nature

Grevena brings together cultural heritage, mountain landscapes and experiences in nature. Highlights include monasteries with preserved frescoes, archaeological sites, museums dedicated to natural and mushroom heritage, and Valia Kalda. You can shape your trip around historic places, regional culture or outdoor activities.

Monasteries, Archaeology and Buildings

At the Monastery of Perivoli, only the katholikon of the Church of Saint Nicholas remains today; the church was built in 1803. The Monastery of the Assumption of Mary in Spilaio was founded in 1633 and preserves frescoes dating from its foundation. Samarina has two traditional water mills used for washing carpets, clothes and blankets.

The hill of Kastri is home to the excavated acropolis of a previously unknown ancient city of the Tymphaioi. Most of the visible remains date from the late 4th to the middle of the 2nd century BC. Another historic structure is the Aziz Aga Bridge: this three-arched stone bridge crosses the Venetikos River near the village of Trikomo. Its central, slightly elliptical arch has a span of 28 metres and is described as the largest in Macedonia and one of the largest in Greece.

Museums and Local Traditions

The Natural History Museum in Mylia houses more than 2,000 fossils and finds from the Grevena area. It also displays 5.02-metre-long tusks listed in the Guinness Book of Records. The Mushroom Museum in Lavda presents the mushroom heritage of the Grevena region in a traditional stone building. Exhibits include wild, fresh and dried mushrooms, as well as replicas evocative of small forest clearings.

The Mushroom Park on the northeastern edge of Grevena offers another way to experience the region’s mushroom theme, with trails, mushroom-themed wooden carvings, and play areas for families and children. The Panhellenic Mushroom Festival is held in the park every year. The mountain region of Grevena has a vibrant cheesemaking tradition, with varieties such as Anevato, Batzos, Feta, Kasseri and Manouri made from local goat’s and sheep’s milk.

Mountain Nature and Trails

Part of the North Pindus National Park, including Valia Kalda, extends across the Grevena region. The park’s namesake valley lies at its heart, with diverse flora and abundant wildlife. Valia Kalda is home to brown bears and other species of Greek wildlife, and is well suited to hiking, photography and nature-focused stays.

The Flegga Dragon Lakes lie in the heart of Valia Kalda: two twin lakes at an elevation of about 1,950 metres. They can only be reached by mountain trails. Near Mesolouri, meanwhile, a well-maintained paved path about 600 metres long leads from the bridge to three successive waterfalls. They are 3, 2.5 and 5 metres high. Small natural pools form at the falls, and swimming is possible in their cold water.

The Vasilitsa National Ski Centre is located near Grevena. It lies at an elevation of 1,642 to 2,110 metres and has 18 runs with a total length of 22 kilometres. The area offers a range of nature and activity options, from the Flegga Dragon Lakes, accessible only by mountain trails, to the ski centre and its marked runs.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Zákas, Lipsi, Dotsiko, Aetia, Samarina, Polineri, Perivoli, Filippaioi, Aidonia, Grevená, Itea, Smixi, Alatópetra.

For the broader travel overview: Western Macedonia.