Mountain House By The Forest In Greece

Property Description

Mountain House by the forest
prefecture of Arta, western Greece

This charming detached house is located in the mountainous Greek village of Gianniotion. Actually Gianniotion is considered to be a settlement of the nearby village of Skoulikaria in western Greece (prefecture of Arta) at a height of approximately 950m above sea level. A mountainous landscape with the shape of a turtle (its Greek name is helona=turtle) dominates the area. The village is surrounded by a splendid dense and untouched spruce forest.

The house lies on the outskirts of the forest, and is constructed within a 500 m2 tree-lined land. It was built in 1980, and is completely renovated since 2015.
Its living space is 75 m2, and consists of an open concept living room, two bedrooms, a bathroom and a kitchen. One of the bedrooms has its own exit to a side balcony which faces down a sloping side of the land towards a small stream where water flows during winter months marking one of the property ground limits.

The living room, with a splendid picture window and a fireplace made of stone, faces towards the 500 square meters private yard which comprises many huge spruce and other trees such as an old walnut tree, a relatively younger cherry tree etc. within the well protected (wall and iron fenced) property.
The kitchen is an extension of the living room.
All windows are double layer glass for insulation.
A tool storage room is located under the front veranda. The surroundings are very quiet with wildlife diversity.

The predominant species of vegetation in the area and the nearby forest is spruce and fir, but also beech, plane trees, oak and chestnut trees. It is actually a densely forested region which hosts a significant ecosystem and serves as a repository of terrestrial biodiversity. ?any other species of plants and wild flowers are abundant all over the area. The fresh air and good climate, as a result of this rare forest at high altitude, is traditionally known for their benefits to people with respiratory and other health problems.
Just a few kilometers from the village, the Gavrogo plateau, at heights of 1100 meters, is sprouted with fir and cedar forests and serves as summer pasture (grassland) of 7,000-10,000 sheep and goats. Wild animals also live in Gavrogo. Parts of the broader region belong to the Natura 2000 network.
The small population (100 people, even fewer during winter times) of locals at Gianniotion is living out of agriculture and livestock farming which provides them with meat, dairy, eggs and vegetable.
A small local cheese factory at Skoulikaria, which was founded through EU funding, produces an excellent quality feta cheese (ISO certificate). This is because the flocks feed on many different types of flora including aromatic herbs, since they graze freely in the mountain slopes and at the Garvrogo plateau. For the same reason sheep and goat meat is very tasty too. Eggs from free range chicken also make a special source of good quality protein.
There is no decline in the population of bees and the honey produced is of excellent quality and taste with mild spruce flavor.
Walnuts and chestnuts are also among local products.
Tap water comes directly from the mountain tops, bringing its freshness and chill to each house.
Winter vegetables are often locally affected by low temperatures and snow but the summer brings a lot of fresh legumes, potatoes, onions, cucumber and the most tasty tomatoes. All these products are available from individuals for sale, by word of mouth, provided there is a quantity surplus at home. Households preserve lots of these goodies for winter use.
But one can make short day trips to the nearby city of Arta (35 km from the village) to buy and store as much fresh vegetables as they wish. The open market at Arta offers daily a wide variety of vegetables produced in the low lying parts of the region, delicious oranges and other citrus fruit of all kinds.
Tourism in this small village is very rare unlike other mountainous areas in Greece. Only hikers and mountaineers occasionally visit to explore the woods and the slopes, reaching as high up as the level of the Gavrogo plateau where they might camp. The view from this top is spectacular.

Leisure pursuits engaged in the outdoors of Gianniotion can include romantic strolls and picnics by the forest springs, collection of rare plants, exercising, mountaineering, etc. Everything with lots of deep breaths of clean air and oxygen in a natural environment away from city traffic, pollution and stress..
.. or use a car to explore neighboring areas, so gorgeous and so historically important. Or take the car and reach the nearest (40 km) sea side, taste the most delicious king prawns in the Amvrakikos Gulf, at a special local price, and watch the bottlenose dolphins flying in the coastal sea. The nutrient-rich waters of this gulf sustain a rich biodiversity where charismatic animals, including sea turtles and a variety of seabirds, can be easily encountered.

Overall the quest for a healthy life and the desire for better nutritional value and sensory properties in this area are definitely fulfilled.

You can contact the property owner (English speaking lady) via email fimaltezou@gmail.com or by phone: +30- 6977 999479