Tsepelovo ( el, Τσεπέλοβο) is a village in the Zagori region ( Epirus region). It stands at a height of 1,200 meters in a panoramic location on the mountain range of Tymfi. It is the biggest of the 45 villages of Zagori and it was the seat of Tymfi municipality. Its name is of Slavic origin. It lies in the middle of the Vikos–Aoös National Park, 48 km from

Ioannina Ioannina ( el, Ιωάννινα ' ), often called Yannena ( ' ) within Greece, is the capital and largest city of the Ioannina regional unit and of Epirus, an administrative region in north-western Greece. According to the 2011 census, the c ...

Nearest places

* Skamneli, east (distance: 4 km) *

Vradeto Vradeto ( el, Βραδέτο) is a village in the Greek Zagori region (Epirus region). It lies at a height of 1340m on Mt Tymphe in the Pindus mountain range. It is the highest of the 44 villages of Zagori. It is the middle of the Vikos–Ao ...

, west (distance: 7 km)

Population

History

Founded in the 16th century, Tsepelovo became from the 18th century onwards the administrative center of Zagori. It remained relatively prosperous until the end of the Ottoman occupation (1912). The village was a local trade center, and remains so especially because of the trade of timber. In 1820, before the outbreak of the Greek Revolution and the defeat of

Ali Pasha Ali Pasha was the name of numerous Ottoman pashas named Ali. It is most commonly used to refer to Ali Pasha of Ioannina. People * Çandarlı Ali Pasha (died 1406), Ottoman grand vizier (1387–1406) * Hadım Ali Pasha (died 1511), Ottoman grand v ...

, the poet Ioannis Vilaras and the famous

Epirote Epirus (; el, Ήπειρος, translit=Ípiros, ) is a traditional geographic and modern administrative region in northwestern Greece.Π.Δ. 51/87 “Καθορισμός των Περιφερειών της Χώρας για το σχεδι ...

scholar

Athanasios Psalidas Athanasios Psalidas ( el, Αθανάσιος Ψαλίδας; 1767–1829), was a Greek author, scholar and one of the most renowned figures of the modern Greek Enlightenment. Life Early years and diaspora Psalidas was born at 1767 in Ioannina, whe ...

came from

to prepare the people for the great national revolt. Psalidas also taught for 2 years at the local school. The traditional stone architecture is visible in every building, in the village paths, dwellings and churches. The historical church of Agios Nikolaos was renovated at 1753 and decorated with unique wall paintings by exceptional painters of nearby

Kapesovo Kapesovo ( el, Καπέσοβο) is a village in the Zagori region (Epirus region), it is 43 km north of Ioannina. The name Kapesovo is Slavic and means garden. The village used to be more south near Baya (Kipi), where many vegetables were g ...

. Two kilometers out of the village, in the Vikaki (Greek: small Vikos)

canyon A canyon (from ; archaic British English spelling: ''cañon''), or gorge, is a deep cleft between escarpments or cliffs resulting from weathering and the erosion, erosive activity of a river over geologic time scales. Rivers have a natural tenden ...

lies the monastery of St John Rogovou. It was founded at 1028 by the sister of Emperor Romanos III Argyros of

Byzantium Byzantium () or Byzantion ( grc, Βυζάντιον) was an ancient Greek city in classical antiquity that became known as Constantinople in late antiquity and Istanbul today. The Greek name ''Byzantion'' and its Latinization ''Byzantium'' cont ...

. It was rebuilt in 1749, possibly after it was damaged by fire, and the frescoes were painted by iconographers from

Neofytos Doukas Neophytos Doukas or Dukas ( el, Νεόφυτος Δούκας; 1760 – 1 January 1845) was a Greek priest and scholar, author of many books and translations from ancient Greek works, and one of the most important personalities of the modern Greek ...

wanted to establish there the Higher School of Epirus ( el, Ανωτέρα Σχολή), a high level educational institution. Because of the outbreak of the

Greek War of Independence The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution or the Greek Revolution of 1821, was a successful war of independence by Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman Empire between 1821 and 1829. The Greeks were later assisted by ...

and the military conflicts the idea could not become reality. The village has historically also been settled by Christian Orthodox

Albanians The Albanians (; sq, Shqiptarët ) are an ethnic group and nation native to the Balkan Peninsula who share a common Albanian ancestry, culture, history and language. They primarily live in Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Se ...

, who largely came after the 15th century, later assimilating into the local population. Sarakatsani have settled at the beginning of the 20th century. The people of Tsepelovo used to emigrate within Greece to

Macedonia Macedonia most commonly refers to: * North Macedonia, a country in southeastern Europe, known until 2019 as the Republic of Macedonia * Macedonia (ancient kingdom), a kingdom in Greek antiquity * Macedonia (Greece), a traditional geographic reg ...

, Thrace and to areas of southern Greece. Outside Greece, they mainly migrated to Asia Minor and the U.S.A.Kathareios (Inspector of the 1st educational region of Epirus) ''Report of Inspection of Zagorohoria in 1913'' Today, the village is a popular destination for tourists during the winter season.

Notable people

* Konstantinos Rados, merchant and member of Filiki Eteria. *

Dimitrios Kotopoulis Demetrius is the Latinized form of the Ancient Greek male given name ''Dēmḗtrios'' (), meaning “Demetris” - "devoted to goddess Demeter". Alternate forms include Demetrios, Dimitrios, Dimitris, Dmytro, Dimitri, Dimitrie, Dimitar, Dumit ...

, actor. * Marika Kotopouli (1887–1954), actress. *

Dimitrios Myrat Demetrius is the Latinized form of the Ancient Greek male given name ''Dēmḗtrios'' (), meaning “Demetris” - "devoted to goddess Demeter". Alternate forms include Demetrios, Dimitrios, Dimitris, Dmytro, Dimitri, Dimitrie, Dimitar, Dumit ...

, actor.

Gallery

File:Τσεπελοβο 07.jpg, Tsouflion Pharmacy and the grave of I. Villaras in the village. File:Τσεπελοβο 18.jpg, Partial view of the village. File:Τσεπελοβο 28.jpg, Stone alley in the village File:Τσεπελοβο 030.jpg, Traditional grocery in the village. File:Τσεπελοβο 33.jpg, Partial view of the village. File:Τσεπελοβο 058.jpg, Partial view of the square in the village. File:Τσεπελοβο 103.jpg, Tradiotinal house in the village. File:Τσεπελοβο 108.jpg, Chimney of a traditional house in the village. File:Τσεπελοβο 115.jpg, Partial view of the traditional houses in the village.

References

Bibliography

External links

Official website of Tsepelovo

Prefecture of Ioannina. Tourist department of Greece
{{Authority control Populated places in Ioannina (regional unit)