In the northwest of the city of Konitsa and along the Sarantapora valley you will find the Mastorohoria villages. Villages whose inhabitants were specialized in the art of building and other similar professions. Technical expertise in these places was the result of the demographic and economic tightness of the villages when they overcame the self-sustaining economy based on small-scale agro-livestock farming. Some of the villages have been collectively engaged in some activities with such success that eventually they are historically identified with them. Organized in groups, the so-called bulls, most of the men of these villages traveled throughout the present Greece and the surrounding regions or states, reaching to America, the Congo, Abyssinia, Sudan and Persia. Some of them, especially those who came from the villages of Gorgopotamos and Chionades, were specialized in the art of woodcarving and painting respectively, completing the works of their masseur colleagues, decorating churches with iconostasis and hagiographies and carvings and mansions with woodcuts and elaborate frescoes.

All the villages are settlements embedded in a beautiful natural landscape, with few inhabitants in the winter. But they come alive in the summer with the immigrants, visitors and local festivals. The broader area of ​​Konitsa consists of four distinct human-geographic units with particular characteristics, each with a dominant role playing – as in the past – the city of Konitsa itself. These are the following: To the south, the town of Konitsa and its surrounding villages, to the east the villages of Lakka Aoos, to the northwest the Mastorohoria and to the high altitudes of the mountains the villages of the half-breeders of the breeders. The inhabitants are engaged in agriculture, livestock, forestry, trade and tourism.

The unparalleled and rich natural environment, the picturesque settlements, the scattered monuments, the open-minded people and the rich tradition with all its features make the region of Konitsa one of the most popular destinations of Greek and foreign travelers. In recent years, an attempt has been made to develop tourism in the context of the mild exploitation of natural resources and alternative tourism (athletic, environmental, natural, religious, cultural).

The villages of Petra are 27: Pyrsogianni, Vourbiani, Kastaniani, Zintaki, Chioniades, Asimohori (Liskaksi), Gorgopotamos (Turnovo), Oxya (Seltsi), Lykorachi (Loutsiko) ), Drosopigi (Kantchiko), Lagada (Blazgiani), Plagia (Zerma), Pyrgos (Stratsiani), Agia Paraskevi (Kerasovo), Amaranthos (Isvoros), Pournia (Staritsani), Ganadi, Molista (Botsifari), Agia Varvara (Plaavali), Countryside (Zellista), Pyxaria (Blithouki), Bank (Vranista), Nikanoras (Kortinista), Pigi (Pekliari) Leftheris (Gkrizmpani). We also add the village of Fourka, a village of vlachohori and, in particular, a livestock village, but also a limited number of craftsmen. The 12 of these villages constituted the Municipality of Mastorohoria from 1999-2010, with N. Kapodistrias and based in Pyrsogianni.

Why is it worth it?

… to see Drakolimnes, a unique natural phenomenon, since they are high in alpine scenery. Especially Lake Gistova is the highest lake in Greece (2350 meters). Access via Aetomillas.

… to see the Assumption of the Virgin Mary of Zerma, built in 1625 and an important religious center. Although it was destroyed much of it by fire in 1947, it deserves the visit.

… to enjoy the view of the mountain and the ravine of Sarantaporos river, the bridge of Zerma or Kansitsa, the only surviving stone bridge today and of course to taste a traditional area!