ATTRACTIONS > PERTOULI GRASSLANDS When describing Pertouli, you wouldn’t exaggerate if you spoke about an earthy paradise, since it is surrounded from the well-known mountains Neraida, Koziakas, Loupata and Avgo, dense forests, green grasslands and wild flowers which grow next to tall fir-trees and the flowing waters of streams that are full of aquatic plants. Among the Pertouli flora lives a beautifying bush which is very rare in Greece but frequently met in western European paths, in Jugoslavia and Livorno. Nature’s exaggeration peaks at Pertouli grasslands where animals graze carefree and all green twinkles under the shiny sun or the dense snow. Pertouli grasslands are related to the annual meeting of Sarakatsanaioi that takes place at the end of May and is the meeting point for Sarakatsanaioi of the Balkans. Various biotopes are real environmental monuments like “Mana” (mother) forest where deer and roe-deer accompany their visitors. Well-organized places with fountains and benches among the forests are suitable for excursions and picnics. Visitors can spend their day walking in the grasslands, climbing, going horse-ridding, cycling, activities that take place in a clean-air environment. Due to the unbounded forest area and the rare tree species found in Pertouli, the University of Thessaloniki has designated an area as University Forest, where students of the Forestry and Natural Environment Department can practice their knowledge in wooden constructions used as accommodation and laboratories at the same time. As you continue your drive, you will be left speechless with Pertouli grasslands. An all green area and wherever you look you see tall fir-trees and running water. Acheloos’ tributary Valorema or Xerias or Pertouliotikos springs here and there is also a natural path leading to “Chatzipetros” shelter (1,738m altitude), created by EMOT. The climber that manages to reach his point, starting from Pertouli grasslands and specifically from the picturesque church of Saint Apostles Peter and Paul will meet Bakola fountain, will reach Fourka or Chatzipetros or Astrapi (1,901m) top, Koziakas’ higher top in half an hour and following a natural path will reach the homonymous shelter, EMOT’s construction, 1,738m above the sea level, in an hour and a half. From this place, the visitor will gaze at the Plains of Thessaly, the Chasia-Antichasia mountain range, Meteora and other tops of Pindos. Pertouli grasslands are related to the mountain range of Koziakas which lies at the west of Trikala, with a length of 24 Km. In the ancient times it was known as Kerketio mountain. It looks like a divine wall and according to researchers it was made of deposits 160 million years ago. Tops that look like sharp swords, slopes with plenty of caves, canyons, basins and currents tempt the most daring and those who follow the unbeaten track to test their limits.  As you follow the crooked line of the mountain range of Koziakas, your eye will stop in a rocky steep cone, which is the highest top, the well-known Marosa or Ornio (2,020m), will see Loupata top (2,066m) and later on the highest point, at 2,148m above the sea level, Avgo top. Climbers, who want to reach Marosa first and Avgo top later, should start from the nearby village Neraidochori and then move down to Pyra. But even from this point, through natural paths, you can reach Avgo where from you can see all Pindos tops, Koziakas, Tzoumerka, Agrafa and finally, at a distance, the snakelike foamed Acheloos stream. Another mountain range, which is worth meeting, is Kakarditsa, the highest mountain in South Pindos, linked to Peristeri (Lakmos), near Chaliki in the north and Tzoumerka in the south. Kakarditsa, 2,429m above the sea level, recompenses the visitor since on the west side you are taken to Epirus where the traditional and famous villages Kalarrytes, Syrako, Matsouki and Melissourgoi are located, whereas on the east side one feels like home with the view of Gardiki, Athamania, Agia Paraskevi, Milia, Palaiochori Gardikiou and Armatoliko. Many routes lead to Kakarditsa, the closest is the one from Gardiki, just 4 hours long, whereas more easily accessible but of longer duration is the one that starts from Neraida village. Climbing to Kakarditsa during the night seems like an visionary scene, you can see the lake of Ioannina with the city lights sparkling and make the water look like an endless red, whereas pleasure peaks when the sun raises with its light reflecting to the other Pindos tops.