Holy Monastery of Saint Nicholas at Perivoli
Within the Pindus National Park, in the untouched landscape of Valia Kalda, stands the Holy Monastery of Saint Nicholas at Perivoli, of which only the katholikon (main church) survives today. Built in 1803, as confirmed by the carved stone cross on its eastern facade, the church is a composite cross-in-square structure with a dome of Athonite type and a roof covered in slate slabs — a blatant example of the architecture of mountain monasteries in the Pindus range. Upon entering, you will notice that the narthex is set at a higher level than the main church, while the floor is paved with large stone slabs. Although no wall paintings survive, the 19th-century carved wooden iconostasis graces the space with an austere yet imposing atmosphere. Around the church, traces of the stone enclosure and monastic cells are evident, painting the picture of what once was a vibrant monastic centre. According to tradition, Saint Kosmas of Aetolia passed through here in the 18th century, leaving his spiritual imprint on this deeply contemplative site.
