It is the only Greek village that is divided in two by a river… The village belongs to Zagorochoria, but although it is not among the popular ones in the complex, it should be on your travel list because it is a village unlike any other!
The reason for I screamed its most secluded village Burn up which has a peculiarity… It is the only settlement in Greece that is divided into two by one a river. The image of the village being cut in two by Aoos is something that if you see it, you will remember it for a long time.
It owes its name to the raging waters of the Aos River. It probably comes from the noise they make when it passes, which sonically “clothes” all the activities of its inhabitants, and its Vlach name is “Bayasa”.
The magnificent arched bridge
Arriving in the village, one is greeted by a large stone archway bridge standing above the rapid Aoos of 1748, connecting the two mahaladas on either side of the river. It is the oldest bridge in use in Zagori and is one of the few of its kind in all of Greece still standing in the heart of a settlement. It was built in 1748 by Alexios Mesios and is recognized as a recent archaeological monument.
A small dam has been built under the bridge, which forms a spacious natural pool suitable for swimming, of course only in the summer months.
It is a fairy tale setting with the bubbling river, located in a valley at 1000 m above sea level, surrounded by dense impenetrable forests of beech, fir and black pine. All around are some meadows and some pointed mountain peaks.
The villagers
The people of Vovusa have always been lumberjacks, sawyers, pipers and merchants. Several of them were also engaged in animal husbandry. At the beginning of the century, about 120 families lived here and over 90 children attended primary school. Today, permanent residents do not exceed 100, and most of them are engaged in logging and woodworking.
It is worth noting that Vovusa is one of the entrances of Valia Calda National Park on the Ioannina side, an ideal place for walks and nature lovers.
