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 SIGHTSEEINGS -> Route No.3
Polythea (Dragovisti, Draousti)
5.5 km from Kalliroi, on the green clad slopes of Neraida, lies Polythea (1150 m). The name of the village in the dialect of the Vlachi «Dragovisti» means «beatiful view».
The locals are mostly stock-breeders (2.500 sheep, 120 cattle), an occupation forcing them to move to the plains during the winter. Thus in the winter only 10 people remain in the village of 900 in the summer.
Near Polythea is the wonderful site of «Tria Potamia», with a recreation area with stone fountains. Here, on the junction of Acheloos with Kraniotikos, the visitor can enjoy the shade of age-old plane-trees, have a pic-nic or camp in the area.
A wonderful track through the fir-tree forest leads to the spring of Goura, NW of the village. The spring of Kiari offering its refreshing waters can be reached through the forest track leading to Aghios Athanasios. The site «Fiarika» is ideal for photographers, offering a magnificent view of the area. Finally, notable is the - still unexplored - cave of Tsita Maya.
The fairly easy trekking route, through tracks in oak, fir and beech-tree forests, to the peaks of Cap Grass (1400m) and Neraida (2144m) is rewarding: the view of the mountains of Aspropotamos is exquisite. The village church, dated from 1830, is dedicated to Aghios Dimitrios. The main annual celebration takes place on the day of the Genesis of Theotokos, on September 8th. The feast starts on the eve, after the evening services, held in the church of Panaghia Faneromeni in the village square, continuing the next day with song, dance and traditional festivities.
Notable is the reunion of the descendants of Polythea, a feast with traditional folk song and dance, on the second Sunday of August, in the village square.
The day of Aghios Dimitrios (October 26th) is also celebrated with a feast where the cultural society offers «kazanies» (bean soup, or sheep meat with pasta) in the village square.
The springs of Balta, Sourva, Viga and Kotyka offer their crystal clear waters to the traveller.
TRY Kebab and kokoretsi.
VISIT Aghios Dimitrios and Kiari.
DON'T MISS The reunion on the second Sunday of August.
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