Some of the loveliest two-story mansions are found in Papingo and Monodendri, entire villages that have been declared national historical monuments. Also of interest are the 18th and 19th Century folk paintings that decorate some of the houses in Skamneli. The villages of the northern mountains of Greece were largely responsible for maintaining the Greek heritage during centuries of foreign occupation. The prosperity of Zagoria under the Turks allowed the culture to flourish and found its expression in the numerous churches and monasteries of the region. Churches were built in the style of basilicas and are characterized by low colonnaded arcades on the sides as well as beautiful frescoes and intricately carved wooden altar screens.
Many villages have a church and usually a nearby monastery.
One of the most delightful churches is found in Tsepelovo. Some years ago, a wealthy patron provided the funds to have the three hundred year old frescoes cleaned of candle smoke and grime. To everyone's surprise, they remain rich and vibrant in color and are considered to be among the best preserved in all of Greece. The Gamila Massif Resembling the Alps rather than other Greek mountains, the Gamila massif towers over the Aoos ravine to its north and the Vikos Gorge to its west. To the south, the Gamila Mountains descend more gradually to a large tableland that ends abruptly as it plunges down into deep ravines.