Vradeto

Vradeto (Βραδέτο) is a village in the Zagori region (Epirus periphery). It lies at a height of 1340m on Mt Tymphe on the Pindus mountainrange. Its location is the highest among the 44 villages of Zagori. It is the middle of the Vikos-Aoos National Park and is about 50 km away from Ioannina. It is located only a few kilometers from the Vikos Gorge and near one of the best vantage points, that at Beloe (Beloi). It is located also close to an alpine lake called Drakolimni (Dragon’s Lake), one of several such lakes. The lakes have taken their name from the amphibian tritons (Triturus Alpestris) that live in them, around which myths of dragons have been created. The myths are echoes of ancient myths about the hero Pindus, son of Macedon, who either befriended or according to another myth killed a dragon.

History
Until the close of the 20th century there was only one way to reach the village, via the Skala of Vradeto (Σκάλα Βραδέτου) a stairway of about 1000 steps built on the side of a canyon and almost impossible to discern from the distance. It started at the end of a long path from the village of Kapesovo. Almost certainly Vradeto’s location and difficult access had been the reason for its existence in the inhospitable highland near the mountaintop of Mt Tymphe. It is believed to have been settled initially by families from Skamneli at around 1616, according to Ioannis Lamprides.

The traditional stone architecture is dominant in every building, in the village paths, dwellings and churches, unfortunately many now ruined or in a state of significant disrepair. At least it can be said that the village remains relatively unspoilt. The main church, dedicated to the Birth of Mary (Ναός Γεννήσεως της Θεοτόκου) was built in 1799 with a donation from Nikolaos Tsigaras. Other churches are those of Agios Athanasios at the top of the Skala, Agios Nikolaos, Prophetes Elias and Agios Georgios with a cemetery,

Folklore
The Feast of the Birth of Mary is celebrated with a three-day festival starting on the 8th of September.