Vovousa


Vovousa is a village and a former community in the Ioannina regional unit, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Zagori, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an area of 51.029 km2. It is one of the original Zagori villages. Population 115. The name possibly derives from "Voiousa" or "Vovousa" related to the Greek word "vous" for "bull". Vovousa is a traditional Aromanian-speaking settlement.

Geography

Vovousa is located on the river Aoos and is one of the easternmost villages of Zagori. It is also located near the National Park of Valia Kalda. The single-arched stone bridge of Misios was built in 1748 with a donation by Alexis Mitsios from Vitsa.

History

Vovousa was considered among the largest villages in Zagori. After the submission of Zagori to the Turks in 1821, following the fall of Ali Pasha and the Greek War of Independence Vovousa became impoverished due to Albanian raids and was nearly deserted. Most of its inhabitants moved in the 19th century to the vicinity of Serres in Macedonia. The village was burnt by the Germans on 23 October 1943.