Greek village
For other places with the same name, see
Dilofo.
Community in Greece
Dilofo (Greek: Δίλοφο) is a village in the Ioannina Regional Unit in Epirus, northwestern Greece.
History
Dilofo is one of the 46 historic villages of Zagori, known in Greek as the Zagorochoria (Greek: Ζαγοροχώρια). It is situated at an altitude of 1,000 meters on the slopes of Mount Tymfi. Until 1920, the village was known as Sopetseli (Greek: Σωπετσέλι) or Sopotseli (Greek: Σοποτσέλι).[2]
In 1870, the village had 550 inhabitants and a large school. It became part of Greece in 1913 following the First Balkan War. In 1940 it had 140 inhabitants.
Sights
Dilofo is one of the best preserved villages in Zagori. It is a typical example of Zagori architecture and has been declared a traditional settlement.[3]
Its attractions include stone fountains, cobblestone roads, small churches and several mansions. Among them is the 13.5 meter high Makropoulos mansion, which is the tallest residence in Zagori. According to tradition, the son of a wealthy local resident married a girl from the neighboring village of Koukouli. When they settled in the groom's house in Dilofo, the bride expressed a sad nostalgia for her village. As a result, the husband built the towering mansion so that his wife could see her village from its highest floors.[4]
References
