Syrrako, Ioannina

The history of Syrrako and its geographical location

A glorious and historical village located 52 km southeast of Ioannina(the capital of Epirus), at an altitude of 1200m.

It is built on a steep slope, where the location offers natural shelter and security on the mountain Peristeri (Lakmos), which belongs to the mountain range of Pindos.

Pindos, the mythological son of Macedonia’s King, was hated by his brothers but loved by the natives. It was there, where he left his last breath together with his name, after his brothers got his blood on themselves.

Syrrako is divided from its twin village Kalarrytes by a deep ravine of unique beauty, where the river Chroussias, a tributary river of Arachthos, flows through. Tradition says that the river’s name derives from Achilleas’ son, Chroussios, who drowned there, not being aware of the fact that water rises fast during bad weather conditions.

Syrrako was inhabited before the 15^th century (possibly in the 11^th century after Christ) by Vlachospeaking Greeks. Different aspects lead to this like the age of the plane trees in the village square.

During the Turkish invasion, after 1480, it was the capital of the self-governed federation of Malakasio, consisting of 42 villages and belonging to Queen Mother (Valide Sultana).

Because of this it enjoyed a privileged treatment. During that time the village developed immensely. Firstly, the inhabitants were involved in cattle breeding and afterwards they developed trade, industrial production of wool textiles and cattle products.

The expanse of pasture land (nearly 75000 hectares) enabled the inhabitants to raise the number of sheep and goats to thousands (50000 and according to others 75000) and bring the big quantity of their products, in connection with the Syrrakiotes’ trade genius, to the biggest trade centers in the Mediterranean and Black Sea (Italy, France, Spain, Odessa, Moscow, Bucharest, Belgrade, Constantinople and others).

Running waters
all around the village

Traditional house
- architecture

K. Krystalli's house

"Chorostasi" - and
plane trees

The Syrrakiotes’ cape was in great demand and it is said that even Napoleon’s army was supplied with a large number of capes. The foreign travellers Leake and Pouqueville report in the years 1815 and 1818 that they found in Syrrako “a trade cycle comparable to the best European cities”. Furthermore, they mention the existence of significant libraries and the circulation of European newspapers, evidence that intellectual development co-existed with trade.

Syrrako and Kalarrytes were the only villages in Epirus that took part in the first year of the 1821 revolution with 720 families and 3500 inhabitants. The Turks destroyed and burnt down the whole village, whereas the inhabitants abandonned it trying to save their lives (10 July 1821). Only five buildings remained untouched and among them Panagia’s church. The inhabitants returned in the year 1825 (according to others in 1827-28), rebuilt the village and between 1860-70 the village became again as imposing as in the previous years. A second revolution had taken place in 1854 which was of no consequence.

The decline of wool trade and its replacement by synthetic (1908-10) turned the inhabitants’ trade activities down and forced them to change profession. At that time 530 houses and nearly 5000 inhabitants existed in the village.

The independence came on November 23^rd 1919. In the national census of 1913, Ioannina counts 17000 inhabitants, Konitsa 2000 and Syrrako 3500.

Syrrako gave Greece important men, who distinguished in different fields and left their name in history. The author and poet Kostas Krystallis (1868-1894) has an important position among them; he wrote “Mountain and Stable”, “Stavraetos”, “Shades of Hades” and “Vlachoi of Pindos” and many others. Ioannis Kolettis (1774-1847) the first Constitutive Prime Minister of Greece (1844-1847), member of “Filiki Eteria”, Ali-Pasha’s private doctor, minister of the Interior Affairs, of the Navy and Military, member of the “ Three member Committee” after Kapodistria’s death, ambassador in Paris (1844-1847). Georgios Zalokostas (1805-1858) poet and fighter during 1821. The army leaders Katsikogiannis, Lepeniotis and others, the benefactors G. Gianniotis, Sp. Baltatzis, G. Ikkos and many other men of literature, arts and trade.