By Evangelia Petsa,
We are already in the middle of December, and we have all pretty much gotten into the Christmas spirit. Everywhere the streets are decorated and the first snow on the mountain tops has made its appearance. Hats, gloves, scarves, and warm coats are essential equipment. We have combined Christmas with snow, cold, mountainous destinations, traditional architecture, fir trees, burning chimneys, smells of traditional foods, and, above all, loved relatives and friendly faces. It is that time of the year when everything seems a little bit brighter and more optimistic. And of course, after two years of quarantine, the need for an escape during the holidays, for a break from everyday life is greater than ever.
First of all, let us not forget that we live in the country with the most beautiful landscapes, in a country that has a corresponding destination for every season. Admittedly, one of the most popular winter destinations in our country is undoubtedly Arachova, or as some say, “The Mykonos of winter”. Arachova is the ideal destination for those who have their base in Athens, even for a one-day trip since it is only two hours away from it. It is built amphitheatrically and is located at an altitude of approximately 1,000 meters. As a cosmopolitan destination, it has wooden chalets, traditional stone houses, and cobbled streets, but also a famous ski resort with many activities.
Parnassos is the largest ski center in Greece where you can try skiing, mountain biking, riding a snowmobile, taking a cable car ride, playing snowball, or even enjoying a hot chocolate at the café that operates there. Even if you do not have the right equipment for these activities, there are many shops in the center of Arachova but also in the ski resort from where you can get it. In the traditional taverns and restaurants of Arachova, you can taste local meets, traditional pies and appetizers, and of course their traditional cheese “formaela”. All day café-bars, party restaurants, mountain café-bars, and nightclubs keep the fun going until morning. The options in Arachova are countless for all tastes and for all hours.
A little further from Athens, another popular winter destination, which can even be combined with a one-day trip to Ioannina or Zagorochoria, is Metsovo, or as some say, “the Switzerland of Greece”. Metsovo is in Epirus, at 1,150 meters altitude. In the heart of Metsovo, there are two spectacular museums, the Averoff Museum of Neohellenic Art and the Folk Art Museum. Both museums have been established by a prominent figure in the history and development of Metsovo, Evangelos Averoff-Tossizza, who was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1956 to 1963. A man of great wisdom and intellect he had a great passion for culture, arts, and tradition. Throughout his life, he had a special bond with his town Metsovo, and this is why many of the cultural attractions carry his name.
Thanks to the efforts and vision of Evangelos Averoff-Tossizza, wine cultivation blossomed in the region. In the late 1950s, the late visionary planted his first Cabernet Sauvignon vines in Greece on the abandoned slopes of the Epirus mountains. There are also many traditional taverns and restaurants in which you can try local products. Their cuisine entails delicious meats and plenty of dairy products. Goats and sheep cooked with wild greens are one of the staple recipes of the region of Epirus. Of course, it has one of the newest ski resorts in the country. Anilio Metsovo ski resort is less than a 20-minute drive from Metsovo. This new ski resort has pistes for all levels of difficulty. There are a total of 5 lifts and 13 pistes ideal for skiing and snowboarding.
And of course, for those who want to live the Christmas experience somewhere in Europe, one of the most popular Christmas destinations and literally identified with the magic of Christmas is Rovaniemi. Rovaniemi is located in the northern part of Finland near the Arctic. Due to the high altitude, the landscape is covered with snow most time of the year. Just 8 kilometers from Rovaniemi is the famous village and park of Santa Claus. There you will find the gift workshop, the frozen gallery with ice sculptures, and the elf school but also wooden houses to enjoy your hot chocolate. You will even have the chance to meet Santa Claus, take pictures with him and ask for whatever gift you want. Icebreaker rides and arctic diving, snowmobile safari, husky sledding, ice-shoeing on the frozen lakes, and ice fishing are only some of the things you can enjoy during your visit.
If you are lucky, you will have the unique opportunity to see the “Northern Lights” or “Aurora Borealis” up close, a phenomenon almost unreal. Reindeer meat, salmon soup, roe, roasted mushrooms, and raspberry liqueur are some of the traditional dishes of Finland. Close to the area is the Arctic Zoo also known as Ranua Zoo which was established in 1983 and is the northernmost zoo in the world. The garden is home to 50 different wild species in a total of 200 animals and includes top predators of the arctic food chain such as lynx, bear, and wolf as well as European moose and deer.
Christmas is one of the warmest and most magical times of the year and I wish we could all steal some time from our daily duties and give ourselves the gift of holidays together with our loved ones. Merry Christmas, everyone!
References
- Arachova: The Cosmopolitan Winter Destination of Greece, greekreporter.com, Available here
- Metsovo: A Gem in the Nest of Mountain Pindus, travel-zone-greece.com, Available here
- Early Winter Activities, visitrovaniemi.fi, Available here
