Perivoli has two distinct highlights: a moderately difficult, 20-kilometre forest trail and historical and cultural themes centred on the Church of Saint George and the Festival of Saint Paraskevi. The natural side is reflected both in a specific hike and in the forests’ relationship to the national park; art, architectural history and the course of the festival shape the cultural side. If you are weighing up these themes, you can plan your trip around the focus that interests you most.
Hiking to Valia Kalda
The Perivoli–Stavros (cross location)–Valia Kalda trail starts in Perivoli and leads to Valia Kalda as a moderately difficult, 20 km forest trail. It is marked with the E6; hiking is recommended from May to October. At 20 kilometres, this is a dedicated hike, not a short stroll around the village. The distance and moderate difficulty are important factors when deciding whether the route suits your travel plans. The E6 marking provides a specific route indication. Check current trail conditions before setting out.
Forests on the edge of the national park
The forests of Perivoli lie in the outer areas of the Northern Pindos National Park. This links the landscape to the protected area, while the E6 trail has its own specific route profile as an activity. When planning your trip, you can consider these separately: the park connection concerns the forests, while the trail is a moderately difficult 20 km hike to Valia Kalda. This can help you decide whether the landscape or a dedicated hike is the main draw for you.
Church of Saint George
The Church of Saint George has a richly decorated, gilded iconostasis featuring scenes from the Old Testament as well as plant and animal motifs. The combination of biblical scenes and nature motifs makes the decoration a distinctive art feature. The building’s history is also part of the story: according to a building inscription, the church was built in 1760; in 1943, it survived the destruction of the village by fire at the hands of German troops. The church thus brings together artistic design, architectural history and the history of the village.
Festival of Saint Paraskevi
At Perivoli’s three-day Festival of Saint Paraskevi, the whole village gathers in the afternoon at the KinĂk clearing for the community dance. Afterwards, participants return to MesochĂłri singing, where celebrations with traditional instruments continue until morning. The movement between KinĂk and MesochĂłri gives the festival its communal character; it is more than a single dance event.
When to travel
The hike and the festival raise different questions when planning your trip: May to October is the recommended period for hiking the trail; if you are planning your trip around the festival, check the latest dates in advance. This also lets you distinguish between the nature and cultural highlights according to the timing that matters to you.
Discover more destinations: Filippaioi, Smixi, Samarina, Dotsiko, Lipsi, Alatópetra, Grevená, Polineri.
For the broader travel overview: Grevena.
