Pemonia lies at an altitude of 214 metres at the western end of the Almiros Valley. The village’s history includes the historic settlement of Pomogna Barozzi and the origin of its present-day name. Nearby, the church of Agios Georgios just outside the village and Korita to the north of Pemonia add to the picture of the area. Alongside local history, the focus is therefore also on a local festival custom and the landscape as distinct topics.
The village name and historic settlement
Present-day Pemonia is identified with the historic settlement of Pomogna Barozzi. Barozzi mentioned it in 1577, and Basilicata did so in 1630 under this name. The present-day name Pemonia derives from the Venetian word Pomogna, meaning “fief”. Thus, two distinct aspects come together in the village’s history: its identification with a historic settlement and the linguistic origin of its present-day name. The two dates refer to mentions of the historic settlement, while “fief” gives the meaning of the Venetian word. If you are interested in the village’s history, this distinction helps you consider the dated references and the name’s meaning side by side.
The church of Agios Georgios and a festival custom
Just outside Pemonia, on the road to Fres, stands the church of Agios Georgios. It was built in the 10th or 11th century. Locals call it Agios Georgios Methistis; its feast day is November 3. The season’s first wine tasting takes place during the celebration. This festival custom thus connects a specific date on the calendar with a local wine tradition. The church offers a different cultural focus from the history of the village name: here, the period of construction, feast day, and wine tasting come together. If you are planning a trip around this custom, check in advance whether a celebration is taking place.
Korita: spring, trees, and mountain biking
Korita lies about half a mile north of Pemonia. Korita Spring is one of the springs that irrigate the land of Apokoronas. Numerous old plane, cypress, olive, and walnut trees grow in the area. There are also shaded gravel paths suitable for mountain biking. The spring and trees give the landscape a different focus from local history, while the paths add a specific activity. For mountain biking enthusiasts, this is a particular feature of the area, while the spring and variety of tree species draw attention to Korita’s landscape. Water, trees, and cycling can be considered distinct aspects of the nearby surroundings.
A focus on history or landscape
Which focus appeals to you more depends on what you are looking for on your trip. The references to Pomogna Barozzi and the origin of the word Pomogna lead into Pemonia’s history. Agios Georgios’s feast day adds a local wine custom to this cultural perspective. Korita offers a different emphasis: its spring, old trees, and mountain biking take centre stage. This lets you distinguish between local history, a specific festival custom, and landscape with a sporting activity, without conflating the different places and topics.
Discover more destinations: KeramotĂ, Nipos, Kefalas, Polirrinia, Apokoronos, Zourva, Rodopos, Nomikiana
For the overarching travel overview: Chania.
