Agia Vlacherna Karpenisi brings together several traces of local history: changing village names, two castle sites, old mansions in all three districts and the sanctuary of the first church. These topics offer different clues. Names show a chronological sequence, while location and state of preservation distinguish the architectural remains. To understand the area’s cultural history, it is worth considering these aspects separately: what remains of the old village, which buildings are found in several districts, and how the two castle ruins are situated in relation to each other are different questions.

The village’s changing names

In the early Byzantine period, the village was called Chrysoupoli, and later Erkista. In 1930, it was renamed Agia Vlacherna. The year marks the change to the present name; all three names refer to the same village in different historical periods. The history of its names is therefore a distinct chronological thread alongside the individual architectural remains. It helps place the historical names in sequence, rather than reading them as names for different places.

Two castle sites in different locations

The precise locations of the castle remains help distinguish Paliokastro from Kastri. Paliokastro is the name of the castle whose remains lie near Khouni, south of the Vamvakies district. It is dated as Byzantine or ancient, so its historical attribution remains open. Another castle site lies at Kastri, east of Paliokastro and beyond the Arvanitis stream. Its remains are faintly discernible. The two sites thus differ both in their locations and in how they are described: the period of Paliokastro remains uncertain, while the remains at Kastri are notable for being difficult to make out. The names refer to two different castles, not two names for the same structure.

Mansions in all three districts

Old mansions can still be found in all three districts of Agia Vlacherna. Unlike the two castle sites, each associated with a specific location, the mansions are a feature found across several districts. This offers a different perspective on historic architecture: rather than focusing on a single castle site, it considers old mansions throughout every district. Visitors interested in architectural history can thus distinguish between individual named sites and older residential architecture, which is present across all three districts.

The sanctuary of the first church

Only the sanctuary of the first church remains from the old village; this church was dedicated to Saint Vlacherna. What survives is a specific part of the first church, not the entire church. This detail differs from the mansions and castles: it connects a church sanctuary with the old village and also identifies the dedication of the first church. Both aspects should be considered separately in the history of the village—the state of preservation concerns the sanctuary, while the dedication concerns the church. This places the religious connection alongside the other architectural remains.

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For the main travel overview: Evritania.