Monuments

Places of Interest

While in Zagora it really is worth visiting the Churches, the local Library and the School of Piga (Ellinomouseio).

The most important of the Churches is Aghios Yeorgios (St. George's), A Byzantine Church built in 1765.

The woodcarver goldleafed iconostases really are works of art as indeed are other parts of the Church too. The two Churches Aghia Paraskevi and Aghia Kiriaki are works of masters from Epirus in the 18 - h century. Also of interest are the marble drinking fountains "Despoti" and "Kralli" as well as the sheltered drinking fountain "Sevastous" and "Niadon Nimfon" in Aghios Yeorgios square.

 

 

The Zagora public Library was founded in 1762.

Two Zagorian men played a big part in both the setting up of the Library as well as keeping it going.

They were Ioannis Pringos (1725 - 1789) and the ecumenical patriarch Kallinikos (1713-1791)

The Library has about 18.000 books.

It also has a lending dept where newer editions can be found.
Throughout the ear the Library receives a great many visitors because of its well known History, the books and other material it houses and its Museum-like character.

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Library manuscripts

 The books in the Library are worth attention because quite a lot of the handwritten manuscripts contain unpublished material of great theological and history interest. Many have notes made in the margin of their pages which not only shed great light on the history of Zagora but also on Greek history in general during the eighteenth century (18).

 But there are many more whose value lie in the time and place of their publication. Also in the renowned publishing houses from which the come as well as the artistic form of the volumes adorned with copper plate and woodcut engravings. 

At the beginning of the 1800 in Zagora the export market was flourishing, the manufacturing of handicrafts was developing well and many residents were greatly influenced through their contact with a flourishing Europe. All these factors created a desire for a higher cultivation of the mind.

And so around the year 1702 (1712 according to others) the teaching of the reek language began. It began in a relatively small building which was constructed with the help of the wealthier residents of Zagora. And they had close ties with the Monastery of st. John Prodromou.

The fame of the school spread in the area.

The level of knowledge taught there would have been equivalent to today's secondary school up to academy level. 

The most distinguished who studied at the school were Rigas Feraios and the teachers from Milies , Anthimos Gazis and Grigorios Konstantas.

The most wellknown teachers were Konstandinos Triandafilides from Zagora who was known as "the learned one" and was "Rigas" teacher also Nikolas Kassavetis, a Zagorian who had been a student of 'the learned one' and a fellow student of Rigas.

 Today the classrooms of the school are used as an exhibition area for subject matters relating to the history of the area and other related presentations.

In the classrooms off the main hallway you will find enlarged copies handwritten manuscripts, old prints (9th century to 19th century) and books from different periods from the library in Zagora. Also on display is a copy of a map by Rigas Feraios.

 The other rooms are used for art exhibitions and for the presentation of photographs of distinguished Zagorian and others as well as for administration purposes.