Administrative Region : Thessaly
Regional unit : Trikala
Polythea (Πολυθέα) Trikala
Polythea is a mountainous village in the prefecture of Trikala. It is built at an altitude of 1,150 meters on the slopes of southern Pindos and is one of the most mountainous settlements in Thessaly. Polythea belongs to the Municipality of Meteora, while it previously belonged to the Community of Aspropotamos and its population according to the 2001 census is 158 inhabitants. It is located at the foot of Mount Neraida (2144 m.), near the confluence of the Acheloos with the Kraniotikos River (3 rivers area), embraced by high mountains, ancient fir trees and centuries-old plane trees (1150 m.).
Its old Vlach name was Dragovisti (beautiful view). The inhabitants, enchanted by the landscape, had only one choice for the name of their village, Polythea. The unique, floating beauty changes face depending on the seasons. In winter, in white, it reminds you that nature is still dominant here, but has the will to host you, to reward your love for the place, generously giving you enchanted images. In summer, in the greenery, warm and gentle, it mixes with voices, chirping and rivers. The first destination for those who want a place, cool, virgin, full of sweet adventures for their summer excursions. The village was almost completely burned down in 1943, which is why traditional settlements are few. Nevertheless, the love and stubbornness of its inhabitants literally reborn it from its ashes. In the center, the square dominates, hosting, along with the lovers of the area, 7 huge plane trees, which decorate it uniquely. The village church is dedicated to Panagia Faneromeni and specifically to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, and dates back to 1748.
Polythea is an ideal destination for a nature lover or hiker. Routes such as those leading to the source of Goura (NW of the settlement) or to the clearing of Kiari, introduce the traveler to the beauties of the place. Relaxing routes, passing through dense fir and beech forests, encounter streams and small waterfalls, giving the visitor everything that city life has deprived him of. For the most daring, the peaks of Cap Grass and Neraida (2144m.) are a challenge. The trophy of conquering the peak is the view of the entire mountain complex of Aspropotamos. Also, the location "Fiarika" is suitable for photographing the area, due to its panoramic position.
Important cultural events of the village are the festival of Kassaria (in Vlach it means cheese factory), which takes place on the last weekend of July in the village square with the accompaniment of traditional music, and the participants taste delicacies and pies from the women of the village and learn about the rich tradition of the village in the production and marketing of dairy products, the "meeting" of the expatriate Polytheates, who gather in the village square every second Saturday of August and party until the morning with traditional songs and dances as well as the central annual festival, which takes place on September 8, on the Nativity of the Virgin Mary
Historical Retrospect
Excerpt from the "CHRONICLES OF THESSALY"
COMMUNITY OF POLYTHEA (DRAGOVISTIOU)
This consists of the village of Polythea, southwest of Krania and N. and opposite Kalliroi, at a distance of ¾ of it and 9.30 hours from Kalambaka. The village of Polythea is the name and thing of POLYTHEA. From here one can see four Municipalities (Athamanos, Kothonia, Lakmonas and Chalkidas) and the entire valley of the Aspropotamos, from its sources to Gardiki. The view from here in general is a delight to behold, a truly beautiful view with the surrounding natural beauties and the beautiful and large buildings, because Polythea is also a proper mansion village. Sarachoutis was accused, who became the Sultan's secret advisor, providing many services to our homeland. His son was a member of the Friendly Society. In 1790-1791, the Dragovisti people, avenging the honor of a nymph of theirs, dishonored by the Turks, burned two Koniaro villages of Larissa. In 1809, August 6, he came to Dragovisti with 80 young men and G. Karaiskakis, who had not yet become an angel, but was still a devil, before the Revolution, burned half the village and half the church (the women's church) of the village. The Adelphi Tsakalos, generals of Dervenagades in Thessaly in 1821, were also from Dragovisti. They liberated a Greek slave girl in the prison (tabour) of Fanari, whom Skontra Pasha sent to his harem, who, learning of this, sent an entire army battalion to Dragovisti to arrest them. Surrounded inside a house, the Tsakalos fought bravely, but after D. Tsakalos was killed and their ammunition ran out, the rest were arrested and taken to Larissa and killed near the bridge of the Pinios. The Tsakalos had friendly relations with Katsantonis and Karaiskakis. Dragovistinoi also took part in the battle near Kalambaka in 1854, on the side of Chrys. Hadjipetros. The inhabitants of Polythea leave in the winter, except for a few families, and therefore according to the last census it numbers only 51 inhabitants (33 men and 18 women), although they exceed a thousand. The income of the Community is 50,307 drachmas. The entire area of Polythea reaches 60 thousand acres, of which about 20 acres are fir forests, completely unexploited unfortunately, due to the lack of transportation. Its meadows are exploited by its own inhabitants. In the past, its livestock amounted to 40 thousand sheep. Now, its livestock amounts to only about 5 thousand, due to the expropriation of the lowland estates. During the Turkish occupation, the only merchants were the Dragovistini, who introduced cheesemaking to our region, bringing cheesemakers from Andrianoupolis for the cheeses, kefalotyri, etc., types of cheesemaking. Until 1912, there were 12 cheese factories in Dragovistion. Also, in the past, the Dragovistinians were also engaged in textile manufacturing, weaving velours, capes, doublets and various types of skoutia, and until 1830, exporting to Vienna and competing in textile manufacturing with Krania, Skliniasan, etc. But Dragovistion did not lag behind in letters either. It is the only village that had a scientist during the Turkish occupation. Today it has quite a few scientists. Polythea also has a telephone during the summer. It also constitutes its own parish, of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary with 14,364 dr. income annually.
Excerpt from the "THESSALIC CHRONICLES". Special edition of the Historical and Folklore Society of Thessaly, for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Thessaly, years 1881-1931. Athens 1935
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