Klidonia: Village Traditions and the Voidomatis Gorge

The site of today’s Kalývia Kleidoniás was once home to storage rooms and makeshift huts used by the residents of Ano Kleidonia during agricultural work. That is why the settlement was called Kalývia on old maps. This local history connects Klidonia with the everyday lives of the people who worked here and gives the name a specific historical context.

Festivals in the Village and by the River

A highlight of the year is the traditional Panigyri on 6 August, the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Saviour. The Cultural Association and the Brotherhood of Kleidonia organise it in the village centre. Festival traditions in the surrounding area are also linked to particular places: on 1 July, the feast day of Saints Kosmas and Damianos, a church service is held. Afterwards, people traditionally celebrate on the banks of the Voidomatis beneath centuries-old plane trees. These two occasions give culture and landscape their own place in your travel plans—one in the village centre, the other by the river.

Voidomatis Gorge and Kleidoniavista Bridge

The Voidomatis Gorge begins at the stone bridge of Kleidonia and extends to the western entrance of the Vikos Gorge, between the villages of Papingo and Vikos. Ancient plane trees, alders and other trees grow in this landscape. The Kleidoniavista Bridge, also known as the Voidomatis Bridge, is a single-arch bridge built in 1853 on the riverbank, about two kilometres from Kleidonia. A path that crosses the gorge begins at the bridge. The plane-tree-lined surroundings and the course of the river make the area a destination for anyone looking to combine their stay with nature and outdoor activity.

Historic Sites and Routes Nearby

Only the main church of the Monastery of Agioi Anargyroi remains, surrounded by ruins. It features an intricately crafted iconostasis and frescoes, and the monastery is listed as a preserved historic monument. It was built in 1658 and lies near the main path through the gorge. The walk from Kleidoniavista Bridge to the monastery takes around one hour and 30 minutes. This makes it easy to plan the visit as a longer excursion. On the way from Kleidonia to Ano Kleidonia, you will also pass the Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour, which was once the main church of the monastery of the same name.

The rock shelters also tell the story of the gorge. The Boila rock shelter lies near the stone bridge of Kleidonia; two more rock shelters are located inside the gorge near its main path. Kleidi is described as the most significant of the three. A well-maintained, two-hour path runs along the riverbank, passing prehistoric rock shelters and the Chapel of Agioi Anargyroi. The estimated time helps you plan this route as a longer activity rather than a short stop. The Voidomatis Gorge has also been one of the most popular destinations for kayaking and rafting enthusiasts for years.

Choosing Klidonia for a Holiday Rental

When choosing a holiday rental in Klidonia, it is worth matching your interests with the different attractions in the village and the surrounding area. The village centre provides the setting for the Panigyri on 6 August; the gorge, riverbank, bridge and historic sites offer other options for excursions. If you would like to plan your stay around a specific date, the Feast of the Transfiguration is a useful reference point. Those who want to spend more time exploring the gorge can compare the two-hour route and the longer walk to the monastery as two different time commitments.

Klidonia is also home to a spring with sulphurous water on the northern side of Kalývia Kleidoniás. Thermal baths are said to have operated there during the Roman and Byzantine periods. Together with its festival traditions, local history and destinations along the Voidomatis, Klidonia offers a variety of ways to plan a trip around culture, landscape and your preferred pace.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Delvinaki, Fourka, Dodoni, Raiko, Ano Ravenia, Fragkades, Ano Pedina, Kalendsion.

For the main travel overview: Ioannina.