GET TO KNOW THE MUNICIPALITY > GARDIKI We have already crossed the bridge of Alexiou, on the main course of Acheloos, on our way up the treeless slopes of the Tzoumerka mountains, on our left flows Moutsiaritis river, a tributary of Acheloos springing from Tzoumerka. At an altitude of 1040 m, 10 km from Dessi, we reach Gardiki. The village of Paleochori (Kerasovo) belongs to the same community. Both villages have a population of 200 in the winter, mostly stock-breeders and loggers, rising to 5,000 in the summer. Gardiki is built on the slopes of Mt. Kakarditsa, at a distance of 82 km from Trikala, with a dry and healthy climate. It is surrounded by a 47 million sq.m. fir, ceddar and oak-tree forest, belonging to the community, and watered by the spring of Goura (=Great mouth) in the west.  Kamnaitikos river flows among the peaks of Neraida, Cap Grass (1930m), Kokkinos Vrachos (1407m) and Makria Rachi (1702m) towering above the village. Mt. Kakarditsa (2450m) forms the natural boundary between Thessalia and Epirus. From its peak one can see the lake of Ioannina, the mountains of Agrafa and Farsala and Mt. Olympus. Gardiki, Giourgia and Paleochori were parts of the kingdom of Athamas in ancient times, the capital being Paleochori, according to tradition. At Rounes there are traces of an ancient settlement, a site where many interesting archeological findings have been excavated in the past. From Gardiki descended the father of the poet Spiros Matsoukas (1870-1928). In the area between Gardiki and Athamania were once the headquarters of Meidanis, the «Kleftis» killed in Gardiki in March of 1700, his head sent to the Sultan as a present. On the right of Toubana fountain, 300 m over Prophet Elias, lies the ruined chapel of Aghion Anargiron. According to local tradition, every year on the day the chapel celebrated, a dragon snatched a young girl from the feast. The dragon continued to plague the village for years until Panaghia (the Virgin Mary) herself put an end to it, killing the dragon with a huge rock, that can still be seen at the site Tziani. The dragon, trying to escape, pierced the mountain of Pertousa all the way to Armatoliko thus forming Drakotrypa ( =dragon' s hole). 5 km from Gardiki, near Alexiou bridge, lies the monastery of Antapodosis Kimiseos tis Theotokon (Assumption of the Virgin) built in 1830 by the Chita brothers, local «Kleftes», and reconstructed in 1842 and 1892. In 1964 it was renovated by the monk loasaf Tsougianis, but today it is unfortunately deserted. It celebrates on August 23rd, with a feast including folk song and dance and "kazanies" offered by the church council. Notable are the churches of Kimisi tis Theotokou (1700), Aghios Athanasios (1893), Prophet Elias (1913) and the ruined monastery of Aghia Triada (1750) in which some murals are still preserved. The main event in the village is the four-day feast on August 14-17th in the village square. On August 17th the chorus of the elders, holding candles, sings local folk songs, followed by the re-enactment of a battle, in which the locals who have fought in recent wars partake, holding «glitses» (prodding sticks) and singing the song of the «Eagle's son». The village council offers roast, wine and tsipouro to the elders and the feast, accompanied by a folk music band, goes on till late at night in the village taverns. ARCHEOLOGICAL GROUNDS – CHURCHES – MONASTERIES Archeological grounds – Findings - Traces of an archeological settlement were found at “Vryses” place at Palaiochori Gardikiou. Churches – Monasteries - Virgin Mary, three-aisle, domed, basilica (built around 1700); it is the main church in the village - Saint Athanasios - Prophet Ilias - Saints Anargiroi - Agia Triada, monastery, (1750), built by Ioannis Gardikiotis and still preserved in a quite good condition - Antapodoseos of Virgin Mary, a monastery, 4-5 Km away from Gardiki, near Alexiou bridge (it is believed to have been built around 1830). Nowadays the monastery is not inhabited. MONUMENTS OF FOLKLORE CULTURE - Batatolis family house (1866) - Karathanos family mansion (1866) Stone-built fountains: - In the main square (1832) - “Goura” fountain Bridges: - Papachristos - Karathanos (modern name “Alexiou”) (1866). Nowadays, the bridge has been renamed to Gardiki bridge. CULTURAL – FOLKLORE FESTIVALS - July 20th, Prophet Ilias Day (in the homonymous church). - August 6th, Transfiguration of the Saviour (Agia Triada monastery) - August 15th, Virgin Mary (three-day celebration): The fair starts with the Mass in the homonymous church. After the Mass. the “raising” of the wafer takes place at the court yard, underneath the old plane-tree, where Virgin Mary’s icon is set. In the same afternoon, the “lord’s dance” and the “women’s dance” are held at the tunes of local folklore bands. The fair continues on the second day with the same intensity and ends on August 17th with the “old men’s dance”, a custom very important to the locals and the visitors even nowadays. The old men hold candles alight and have their shepherd's crooks hanging from their vests. They sing and dance without any musical instruments and end their dance with a war-theme “the Son of the Eagle” where they reenact fighting scenes. - August 23rd, 9th Day after the death of Virgin Mary, celebrated at the monastery of Antapodoseos of Virgin Mary: according to the custom, the pilgrims spend the previous night in the forest next to the church. They make huts from fir branches and ferns, light fires and enjoy their time while food is cooked in pots to be served to the pilgrims after next day’s Mass. ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES Hiking Excursions: - Gardiki – Palaiochori – Mesochora Dam (also by car) - Gardiki – Kakarditsa (2,469m above the sea level) – Mandria (also by car) - Gardiki – Ploun – Kondostyli – Evdokiki - Gardiki – Stroggylo – Goura Fountain - Gardiki – Kalarytes – Agia Kyriaki - Gardiki – Athamania Places of exceptional natural beauty: - “Kakarditsa”, “Ploun”, “Spanoura” tops Climbing: To Kakarditsa top Canoe – Kayak – Rafting: Water sports are available in the whole area extending from the Three Rivers to Alexiou (Gardiki) bridge, especially during the season when Acheloos bed fills with melted snow. Two rafting routes are available: a. Aspropotamos rafting (route B), (level of difficulty: 2), the way down extends from Alexiou (Gardiki) bridge to Mesochora b. Aspropotamos rafting (route A), (level of difficulty: 2-3), the way down extends from the Three Rivers to Alexiou (Gardiki) bridge BUY Honey, cheese, mountain tea, salep, oregano and hand-made shepherd's crooks (at selling points, stores, taverns, cafes and also from individual producers). TRY Plasto, kokoretsi, onion stew, codfish with vegetables, liqueur made of crana.