When you think of Greece, I bet you imagine your vacation on one of its hundreds of islands. Mykonos, Santorini or Paros in the Cyclades; Zante, Korfou or Kefalonia in the Ionian Sea, or even Crete or Rhodes. All these islands are amazingly beautiful. In fact, Greece has more than 9,000 islands (and islets) of which about 200 are inhabited. But islands represent only 1/5 of the total area of the country and yet they attract most visitors. So clearly, the majority of the country is unexplored by foreigners.
Données cartographiques © Google, 2015
My paradise lies off the beaten track, far from the tourist areas, in that Greece that very few people know. It is a small piece of the Northern Peloponnese, 200 km West of Athens. The Peloponnese is that huge peninsula connected to mainland Greece by the beautiful Corinth canal.
Ziria is located between the towns of Aigio and Patras, in the region called Achaïa. This is where my mother was born and where I spent every summer of my life.
Between sea and mountains, turquoise waters and verdant forests, pebbly beaches and hundred-year-old olive trees, wild creeks and fields of vines…
Ziria has approximately 600 inhabitants, most of whom are farmers and produce mainly wine and olive oil. Therefore, the life of the village is punctuated by the harvest of the grapes in September, then the olives’ in November. There are also a few beekeepers who have installed their hives in the surrounding pine forests.
Ziria is very peaceful. Still, it has a school and a few shops, including 3 restaurants and a small supermarket. In the summer afternoons, the life of the village is suspended. The only sound you can hear is the song of the cicadas, because for all villagers the nap is a sacred moment. However, by nightfall, the streets come alive and children gather to play on the village square, in front of the beautiful Orthodox Church.
Ziria is secret because it is very little known. Only a small sign indicates the way to access it from the old road linking Aigio and Patras. However, this village hides so many treasures to offer to visitors looking for authenticity, tranquility and nature…
HOW TO GET THERE ?
Flight to Athens: website of Athens airport – Flights to Araxos: website of Araxos airport
You can get to Ziria by bus from Aigio and from Patras.
WHERE TO GO OUT? Read my article on my favorite beach bars
Photos & contents @ The Tropical Dog 2015-2017.
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ειμαι απο τη Ζήρια και μου αρέσει πολύ αυτή η παρουσίαση για το χωριό μου.
μπράβο!!
Sas euxaristw! Xairomai poly pou sas aresei! I mitera mou einai apo thn Ziria, erxomai kathe kalokairi giati eimai eroteumeni me to xorio mas. Tha grapsw k alla arthra gia ta meroi mas 🙂 Elpizw na sas aresoun k ta epomena. Kali sas mera!
Thank you so much for this article, it is also my little paradise in Greece as my father is from this village too and I look forward to my summers there. We have a holiday house in Ano Ziria in front of the vine yards and near the cliff you can see the see. Love love this place and my family which still resides there. You did the village justice.
Kindly Vicki Dimitropoulos
Kalimera Vicky!
I am so glad that you found my article about our wonderful village! It’s really a piece of heaven. I am currently in Ziria so let me know if you come back this summer! I would be happy to meet you 🙂
Maria
Hi Maria,
How lucky you are. I am coming next year, hopefully you will be there.
My uncle was the mayor of Ziria ( George Dimitrakopoulos) for awhile and is quite well known. I always talk up (my village) and tell my friends that this is where God lives on the mountain near the sea and was so excited to find your article with my friends. Xx
Enjoy