Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sta Riza
GREEK $$$
( 26530 71550; Elati village; mains €9-13; 12.30-11pm daily 15 Jul-15 Aug, Fri-Tue, 15 Aug-15
Jul)
It's hard to disagree with the locals - Sta Riza, overlooking rolling hills, is the place
for hearty country cooking with a gourmet flair. Friendly owners Dionyssos 'Saki'
Kevasso and his wife, Vassiliki prepare excellent specials such as
manitaria fournitsa
(baked mushrooms in red wine, tomato, feta and herbs) and
arnakia vlahika
(soft baked
lamb with yoghurt).
Elati is in the southernmost Zagorohoria; from Ioannina, turn right for Metamorphosi,
and at the crossroads where multiple villages are signposted, follow the signs to Elati; it's
a very narrow village, so park 30m before the restaurant.
Getting There & Away
To really see Zagorohoria, drive. Otherwise, (limited) bus services from Ioannina oper-
ate.
For Dilofo (€3.80, 40 minutes)
buses
go at 6am and 1.30pm on Monday, Wednesday
and Friday, continuing to Tsepelovo (€4.40, 1½ hours). Other buses leave for Megalo
Papingo and Mikro Papingo (€5.10, two hours) at 5am and 3pm on Monday, Wednesday
and Friday; the Wednesday bus hits Vikos (€4.80, 1¾ hours) in summer. Buses to Mono-
dendri (€4.30, one hour) leave at 5.30am and 1pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
All buses return to Ioannina immediately.
Taxis
from Ioannina to various villages cost from €20 to €55; try negotiating.
TOP OF CHAPTER
KonitsaΚόνιτσα
POP 2942
Carved into a hillside under blue skies 64km north of Ioannina, Konitsa (
ko
-nit-sah) is
where kayakers, hikers and river explorers circle their wagons at night. Greek hunters
also use Konitsa as a sort of cowboy depot. It's near the Mertziani border crossing with
Albania.
Beyond Konitsa, the old road arcs northeast magnificently between the Grammas and
Smolikas Mountains to Kastoria. While still passable, this road can be dangerous, espe-
cially at night, since it suffers from a lack of upkeep.
Activities
