(302 km from Athens)

Setting out for the Meteora from Athens, one eventually comes to Karditsa, the capital of the homonymous prefecture, built on the banks of a tributary of the Pinios. With its three main squares and lovely Pafsilipo Park, this new town is a model of town-planning. It has three museums - the Christian Museum, devoted to religious art, and two exhibiting folk art.

It is worth taking the trip to N. Plastira, an artificial lake 800 metres above sea level, set amidst the spectacular Agrafa mountains, the unspoiled villages of Mesenikolas, Bezoula, Neohori and Kastania (where rooms can be rented for the night); as well as the summer resort of Neraida where there is an inn.

In the vicinity of the Megdova (Tavropos) dam, four parks have been created, and the whole region will be developed for tourism. Other poles of attraction for the visitor are the Smokovo and Kaitsa spas, Filia with its sanctuary to Athena Itonia, the Mycenean beehive tomb (1500 B.C.) outside Georgiko and the many other ancient and Byzantine monuments scattered throughout the prefecture.