MASTOROHORIA

The Speliotopoulos bridge runs over the Sarandaporos river, just after the turn off to the village Kastanea (or Kastaniani as the local still call it). The Para-Egnantia Avenue continues north and the turn  to Pyrgogianni is signposted  but the bus stop in the cross road, built in the traditional way using the local stone and slate is a clear indication that you are in the area of the Mastotohoria (the stone masons villages) and the most important of these is the village you are heading to, Pyrsogianni.

Mastorohoria

Mastorohoria is a group of village in the northern part of the province of Konitsa. They are spread along the  the Sarantaporos  river and they were home to the most famous builders in the Balcans. Pyrsogianni, Vourbiani, Kastaniani, Stratsani and other village in the region became famous as early as the 16th century for the artistic tradition of their inhabitants in processing the local stone, wood, colour and building. The mountainous region could not support agriculture or extensive animal husbantry and this pushed  the people to the building industry. They travel in the region (Greece, Serbia, Albania) and they were contracted to build or decorate houses, schools, bridges and churches.

They moved as groups (bouloukia) and they took with them apprentices so very soon the menfolk of a particular village specialised in one aspect of the building industry. Pyrsogianni was and still  is famous for its builders and stone masons, Gorgopotamos had the best wood carvers known as "Taliadoroi" and the village of Hionades was famous for its icons and the "Hionades artists"were famous for their folk icon art. These builders and  artists had a significant impact upon the architecture and art in Greece and the other countries they had been visiting from the 16th century till the end of World War II.
 

Pyrsogianni is recognised as the leading village in the Mastorohoria region. It is built in 840 metres altitude and by now you ve travelled 95 kms from Yiannena. This the place of origin of the famous "mastoroi" - builders and stone masons who built houses, mansions, bridges, schools, lighthouses not only in Greece but also in the Balcan peninsula, in far away place like Persia and at the end of the 19th century even further away in America.

 One of the most famous folc architect was Ziogas Frontzos, the builder of the Konitsa bridge. Other well known builders were Yiannis Nitsos and George Vatskalis or Batskalis.

The village of Pyrsogianni lies in the eastern side of the mountain of Krapa, built  amphitheatrically with  focal points the village square and the church of Saint George. Pyrsogianni has 2 museums, the museum of the stone masons, with information, photographs, tools and equipment of the old builders, housed in the old school and the Ecclesiastical Museum housed in the church of Saint Nicolaos (built in the 16th century).

The population of the village is approxiamtely 200 people, mainly old people who have retired in the village however a large number of people whose origin is from Pyrsogianni visit the village regularly, those living in Yiannena nearly every weekend and the others who live in Athens or other cities in Greece during the holidays.
People who were born in Pyrsogianni or have their roots in the village maintain strong links with Pyrsogianni and despite the fact that the village has very few inhabitants a number of old houses have been restored and new houses have been built.

The most important holiday for the village of Pyrsogianni is the celebration of the Assumption of Our Lady on 15 August. Hundreds of Pyrsogianni people come to the village on the 15 August each year as a pilgrimage. Some of them travel from Europe (Germany), America and as far as from Australia to be there in their maternal land and celebrate the big celebration in a traditional way, the way the Pyrsogianni people have celebrated it since time immemorial.

Despite the fact that Pyrsogianni has a small population it is not about to die yet. In past few year a renassaince of the art of stone masons have occured and young people from all over Europe and Greece visit Pyrsogianni to see and learn the art of the stone. This has been achiveved mainly through the work of the Pyrsogianni Progresive Association.