Agios Athanasios

By car

From Vora Kaimakchalan, 17.5 km (26 minutes)

From Thessaloniki, 126 km (1 hour and 55 minutes)

From Athens, 577 km (6 hours)

From Edessa, 32.8 km (36 minutes)

From Florina, 50.5 km (54 minutes)

From Ioannina, 220 km (2 hours and 23 minutes)

The official name of the village was “Tsegani” until 1926, when the committee, that was set up by the Greek state and its purpose was the Hellenization of toponyms, visited the village and considering the mountainous location and the steep ground at the eastern entrance of the village, at first they named it “Meteora”.The local community protested that they did not like the name and after consultations, it was decided to name the village after Agios Athanasios chapel, which is located on a hill south of the village.

Source: www.palios.gr

The village was built in the late 16th century, probably by farmers and builders and formed the eastern boundary of the area that was under control of Ali Pasha of Ioannina.

The village was built in that specific location for protection from robbers, which it was easy to control because if someone wanted to approach had to go through an alleyway, while the south-eastern orientation was selected so the people can make use of the sunny winter days in the best possible way.

Source: www.palios.gr