GET TO KNOW THE MUNICIPALITY > PYRRA Pyrra is built in 1,056m above the sea level, 7 km away from Neraidochori. It is surrounded by the tops Avgo (2,145m), Tsouma (1,700m) and Chameno (1,800m) and the landscape has plenty of mountains, streams and springs. A worth mentioning monument is the Holy Monastery of Prophet Elias and Saint Modestos (1889) and Saint Nikolaos church (17-18th century). A unique phenomenon of the area is the caves: at Kazania place with magnificent stalactites and stalagmites and an underground waterfall and Sarmanitsa cave. Such a beautiful place with endless forests of beeches and coniferous trees gathers great populations of wild fauna. On Saint Paraskevi’s fair on the 27/7, a variation of the classic custom takes place in which the celebration and the fair start on the 26th, whereas on the 27th the dances are engrossed by women with the men having a more discreet presence. On the 28th the fair keeps on mainly with the care of men and various folklore happenings take place. Try plasto and trachana (frumenty). Buy tea, salep, feta cheese and woodcraft. Visit Avgo and Tria Synora (the Three Borders). Try trout fishing and swimming at “Vathi”. Don’t miss Saint Paraskevi and Saint Modestos fair. ARCHEOLOGICAL GROUNDS – CHURCHES – MONASTERIES Archeological grounds – Findings According to tradition, Pyrra was named after king Pyrros, who became the area’s king and built the surrounded by fortress city of Pyrra, at “Foniska” place. This tradition was confirmed when, during the opening of the Pyrra-Desi road, a javelin of the Pre-Christian times was found. Tradition also mentions that in the same location (Foniska) there is the golden helmet of king Pyrros. Churches-Monasteries - Saint Nikolaos, one-aisle, slate-roofed, with a few worn-out wall-paintings on the inside walls (end of the 18th – beginning of the 19th century). - Prophet Elias and Saint Modestos (monastery). The monastery is identified with the local settlement and Saint Modestos’ Day, since the area’s inhabitants are mainly cattle-breeders. The catholic is cross-like, three-niched with a dome of Mount Athos style, a doom-roofed narthex in the west side and a slate-roof. The cells are dated back in 1864. The only parts preserved nowadays from the big, at other times, monastery are the catholic and a double-decker building where the guest quarters on the first floor and the abbot's quarters on the second floor were. - Saint Paraskevi, a three-aisle basilica (1892), in the village, with a stone-built war monument at the courtyard (made by Menelaos Katafigiotis). It is built on the ruins of an older church . Monuments of Folklore Culture Fountains: “Giondouri” (Turkish station) EDUCATIONAL AND FOLKLORE SOCIETIES - Cultural Society of Pyrra  - Free Forestry Corporation of Pyrra CULTURAL – FOLKLORE FESTIVALS - July 26th, Saint Paraskevi’s Day (in the homonymous church), Three-day fair. The first day of the celebration starts with the festive Mass, blessing of the holy bread and “raising” of the wafer. On July 27th, the second day, it is Saint Panteleimonas’ Day. The fair reaches its peak on the third day which is a very special day, especially when it is a Sunday: despite the blues and the tiredness from the previous sleepless nights, the villagers, especially the young ones show up singing, laughing and carrying a sheep on their shoulders, spits and dry woods. As they gather all together in the main square, they start the preparations: some light a fire, others slaughter animals and some others bring huge bottles with delicious retsina. They eat fast under the old plane-tree shade, young and old men together, children and visitors. The meal is accompanied with traditional bands that sing “kleftika” songs. Early in the afternoon, a very old custom revives, the satiric wedding: Young men, as soon as they finish their meal, move on to a friendly house. The captain of the group is absent. He is looking for a patient donkey. After they find it, they will surge of a paddy to its rear feet and a bell around its neck, then they will dress it with fancy clothes. The captain will be dressed up in white trousers, a white shirt, a tight vest, a wooly cap on the head, rustic shoes, a tall shepherd's crook and a chibouk smoking like “Vesuvius”. Another young man will dress up with him in a long dress, with a belt and a straw hat decorated with roses and basil. He is supposed to be playing the female role.  At about 17:00, everyone is ready for the pageant and start moving to the square in laughter, songs and yells. This is where the dance starts. Dressed up men are the first to start while other people keep coming. They take the jewelry from the animal and set it free. Then they choose some young men to dance – even by force. The women join in along with the head of the dressed up. Someone brings corn seeds to present to the young man and plane tree seeds for the young woman. The feast goes on till dawn. - On the 16th of December, when the monastery holds its fair, a great feast takes place at its yard. After the Mass, everybody sits around a table, singing and eating delicious bean soup, while remembering the wonderful moments they shared and hoping to relive such ones the following year.  ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES Hiking Excursions: - Pyrra – Avgo (2,146m) (this route borders the European Walking Path E4) - Pyrra – Avgo – Plateia – Kamnaitikos river – Korpou stream - Pyrra square – Giannaro fountain - Avgo (Pyrra – Bridge – Patrino – River – Fountain – Salisti – Stauros – spring) - Pyrra – Loutos – Monastery – Lakkos – Kanalia – Chameno - Pyrra – Drosochori – Agios Nikolaos (also by car) Places with Exceptional Natural Beauty - “Kazania” (cave) with an underground waterfall to “Kamnaitikos river” - Sarmanitsa (cave) with an underground waterfall to “Kamnaitikos river” - “Kamara” (old stone-built bridge) - “Saint Modestos Monastery” (1859) Climbing: - “Avgo” top (2,146m) Hunting: - Pyrra Forest (Koziakas reserve), (games: hare, deer, roe deer, partridge) Fishing: - To Kamnaitikos river (trout) Swimming: - At “Vathi” place in Kamnaitikos river BUY: Dairy products, tea, oregano, walnuts, salep and woodcraft (from selling points, stores, taverns-restaurants and local producers) TRY: Roast lamb, splinantero, kembap