Armata

On the high slopes of Smolikas and at an altitude of 1,030 m lies the village of Armata with dense forests and many streams. A village with rich logging and deposits of copper and other ores which are said to remain in the bowels of the earth up to this day.

Armata (also known as Armata and Armatova) is a Vlach mountain village in the prefecture of Ioannina.

The inhabitants of the village are engaged in logging and domestic livestock, while the horticultural products produced by the few inhabitants in the gardens of the village are also famous. Many streams and torrents originate from the slopes of Armata such as Aspropotamos, Katrania, Potami, Asvestaria, Skrakas and Gabriel. Armata are also surrounded by nine peaks: Seven Fountains, Pantiafento, Smilianos, Tsiuma, Kyrgouri, Kappa Turko, Dtzilourousiou, Kiatra Beti and Panagia with an altitude of 2000-2500 m which are overgrown with forests of black pine, beech and heldreich’s pine.

In the center of the settlement (next to the stone school) is the church of Agios Nikolaos, which was built after the passage of Agios Kosmas Etolos at the end of the 18th century and was painted by Samaritan hagiographers. At the entrance of the village the cross that was placed there by the Saint is preserved on a centuries-old oak tree. The churches of Agios Dimitrios and the Assumption of the Virgin, which were destroyed by German troops in 1943, were rebuilt in the 70s. The church of Agia Paraskevi was built in 1972 on the site of a former monastery.

In Armata you will be impressed by the only hydraulic saw that operates in the area. The hydraulic saw that we see today is an original copy of the older one, which has been made in the old traditional way with wooden troughs. A little further down there is also the old stone watermill.

On the 15th of August in the central square of Armata a traditional festival takes place (with folk music, traditional dances, local delicacies and plenty of wine). In the village of Armata there is a Cultural Association which is called “O. Smilianos ” and it is very active. Also, there is a small traditional cafe that offers food for visitors.