Athanasios Diakos: The amazing village of the mountain Fokida in the heart of Rumeli

For lovers of exploring the natural landscapes of our country who want to spend moments of relaxation and carelessness away from the bustling of the big cities, there is an amazing village in the mountain that impresses on its lush slopes of pine trees, fir trees, plane trees, chestnut trees, walnut trees, oak trees and cedar. The reason for the village of Athanasios Diakos that belongs to the Municipality of Delphi, from which, according to some sources, the father of the hero of the Greek Revolution of 1821, as well as the hero himself (Athanasios Diakos – Massavettas). The settlement is built at an altitude of 1,050 meters on the eastern slopes of Vardosia, while its population, according to the 2011 census, is 518 inhabitants. The village was renamed from Upper Mousunitsa to Athanasios Diakos, as it is considered the birthplace of the hero, in 1959 according to a newspaper sheet of the government of the time. The village has about 600 stone-built houses on the upper and lower mahala (neighbourhood). During the summer months the village is full of life by local and summer vacationers who wish to enjoy the virgin landscape, walking through the dense marsh forest and listening to the calm waters of the tributary of Mornos, passing through the settlement and hiking. Moreover, the distance of the famous village of Central Greece from Athens is approximately 255 km, i.e. 3.30 hours by car. Also, through the village passes the European Trail E4, while from this start hiking routes for the peaks of Vardousia (Korakas – altitude 2.495 meters) and two mountaineering shelters at 1.750 and 2,014 meters respectively. In winter, when the herds leave for safety in winters (the lowlands where their sheep shepherds go) the permanent residents are reduced to about fifteen people, but with many visitors on weekends, since the village has accommodation infrastructure, a hotel and three hostels. After all, in winter the landscape dresses in white, creating a fairytale setting. In the paved square of the village, between two centuries-old platans, there is the statue of the great hero who settled there by Plastera in 1922 in honor of the 100-year anniversary of the Revolution of 1821, to commemorate on the one hand the place of origin of the hero and on the other hand part of the inhabitants who participated in the 5/42 constitution of the well-being of the Plastera or “setan ascetic” (the devil’s ascetic), as called by the Turks. At the same time, each year, in the last weekend of July, they receive a place of celebrations, called the “Diakia”, in memory of the battle of Alamana and the martyr death that the iconic militant of the 1821 National Uprising found. In the bust of the hero there is a memorial prayer and a testimony of wreaths follows, in the presence of local and political factors. Since 2009 the Historical Museum of Athanasios Diakou (near the place where the hero’s house was located) housed in the renovated village building has begun operation. The project began when the heirs Mastronikola and Georgia Bekiotis offered parts of a plot, the rest of which was bought by the “Sister Athanasios Diakou” in 2002 with the aim of establishing the Museum. Since then, the insistence of Mayor Kallies, Leonidas Karagiannis and the close cooperation of the inhabitants contributed to the fulfillment of the coveted goal. In 2005 thanks to the 3rd C.P. and the operational program “P.E.P. The building was constructed and the museum study was submitted (2007). In the following years an attempt was made to acquire relics and on 2 August 2009 the opening of the Museum was held, which is a worthy example of the historical and cultural tradition of the place. In addition to information about the hero’s action, visitors can see original costumes of 1821, cariofilas, copies of letters by Diakou and other objects of that era. In the village, there are historical churches, with a greater one dedicated to the Transfiguration of the Saviour (1872). When you tour the village, you will find eleven taps with springs, bridges, trails, and traditional taverns, where you can enjoy local dishes, mainly with meats (arni, goat) -and depending on the season from local hunting-, handmade pies, while you can taste sheep ice cream.