Rizovouni is a village and a community of
Epirus
Epirus () is a Region#Geographical regions, geographical and historical region, historical region in southeastern Europe, now shared between Greece and Albania. It lies between the Pindus Mountains and the Ionian Sea, stretching from the Bay ...
in the municipality of
Ziros in the
Preveza
Preveza (, ) is a city in the region of Epirus (region), Epirus, northwestern Greece, located on the northern peninsula of the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf. It is the capital of the Preveza (regional unit), regional unit of Preveza, which is the s ...
regional unit. Its former name, ''Podogora'' (until 1927), is of
Slavic
Slavic, Slav or Slavonic may refer to:
Peoples
* Slavic peoples, an ethno-linguistic group living in Europe and Asia
** East Slavic peoples, eastern group of Slavic peoples
** South Slavic peoples, southern group of Slavic peoples
** West Slav ...
origin and means at the foot (or root) of the mountain. The late modern "Rizovouni" attributes to the Greek content of the Slavic word.
The community, which consists of the villages Rizovouni and Ziropoli, has a population of 614 (2021).
Its area is .
The area is characterized as semi-mountainous. The climate is generally
Mediterranean type.
Geography
Rizovouni was an independent community until 1997, when it was absorbed into the municipality of
Thesprotiko
Thesprotiko (, "Thesprotian") is a village and a former municipality in the Preveza (regional unit), Preveza regional unit, Epirus (region), Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Ziros, Preveza, Ziros ...
with the homonymous village.
Ριζοβούνιον (Πρεβέζης)
EETAA local government changes Thesprotiko consists of the following municipal districts and villages: Thesprotiko (Lelova), Rizovouni (Podogora), Galatas (Boulimeti) and Zervo, Papadates, Meliana, Assos (Nasari), Nikolitsi, Elia (Dara) and Platania, Polystafylo (Rousiatsa). Geographically, the municipality is located in a valley called "Little Lakka Souliou", where the amphitheatricality of the villages, the olive groves, the orange groves and generally the rich vegetation are combined. The valley is formed between the Thesprotian Mountains (Baldenesi) to the west at an altitude of 1250 meters and Tsuka Podogora-Zarkorachi to the east at an altitude of 1270 meters. It also includes Lake Mavri, which was dried up around 1960 and part of Lake Ziros. The valley is crossed by a river, called "Ampoulas" (water source).
Rizovouni extends to the east up to Ziros Lake. Part of the lake area belongs to Rizovouni as well as agricultural land in the surrounding area of Tseropolis.
Similarly, in the eastern part of the village lies Kastri, a hill about 180 m high with archaeological and historical interest: there lie the ruins of the ancient city of Vatia or Vaties, a colony of the Ilians from the 8th century BC., as well as the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, formerly a cathedral of the Kastri Monastery of Rizovouni (today's metochi of prophet Elias). The present church was built and decorated in 670
__NOTOC__
Year 670 ( DCLXX) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar, the 670th year of the Common Era (CE) and ''Anno Domini'' (AD) designations, the 670th year of the 1st millennium, the 70th year of the 7th century, and ...
but is based on the central aisle of an Early Christian
Early Christianity, otherwise called the Early Church or Paleo-Christianity, describes the historical era of the Christian religion up to the First Council of Nicaea in 325. Christianity spread from the Levant, across the Roman Empire, and be ...
basilica, from which several parts are preserved.
Rizovouni today
There is a day nursery, a kindergarten and an elementary school in Rizovouni. There is also an Education Club, a Women's Club, and in the past there was a former Sports Club (XAER and DOXA Rizovouniou). Residents' occupations are split between micro-farming and livestock
Livestock are the Domestication, domesticated animals that are raised in an Agriculture, agricultural setting to provide labour and produce diversified products for consumption such as meat, Egg as food, eggs, milk, fur, leather, and wool. The t ...
, technical occupations and few services.
Sights
In Rizovouni there are many churches and picturesque chapels, natural springs, orchards with oranges, small olive groves, flower gardens. Rizovouni offers beautiful mountain tours along the amphitheatrical village, at Kastri and Ziros Lake. Winter is rarely snowy, but rainfall is very common.
Churches
* Agios Nikolaos (central church of Rizovouni) and old Agios Nikolaos
* Ascension (in the spring there is a festival)
* Agia Paraskevi (Old Monastery. Located in Meiraki)
* Little Agia Paraskevi (above Agios Ioannis. Located in Mahala)
* Agia Sophia
* Prophet Elias (Ai-Lias)
* Agios Ioannis (Ai-Giannis)
* Agia Marina
* Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary (Panagia-Kastri)
* Agia Eleousa
References
External links
Zirou Municipality
Preveza Regional Unit
rizovouni.gr
{{Authority control
Populated places in Preveza (regional unit)
Ziros, Preveza