A stunning mountainous region is Greece is hailed as the country’s answer to Switzerland, and boasts quaint villages and a monastery built into a cliff face.

Agrafa, in the southern end of the Pindus mountain range in Central Greece, has long been a place of intrigue for travellers as its communities are hidden among mountain ranges.

The area was historically too remote even for reliable maps to be drawn and its mysterious past lives on in its name, which means “unwritten”.

These days far more is said about this hidden gem and its epic mountain range which occupies the entire northern part of the Evritania prefecture and the western part of the prefecture of Karditsa, according to Slow Travel Greece.

However, the area’s various colossal mountain peaks and deep ravines remain difficult to approach, with only difficult dirt roads linking communities, according to reports.

Three main rivers cut through the area, Agrafiotis, Megdovas and Acheloos as well as multiple natural and artificial lakes such as the famous artificial lakes Plastiras and lake Smokovo, according to the Hellenic Mountaineering Association of Karditsa.

The area is also known for string of beautiful monasteries amid the lush vegetation that frame the winding mountain paths. These include The Monastery of Panagia Pelekiti [the Virgin Hewn in Rock], said to be one of the rarest religious monuments of the 16th century. 

And though the skiing on offer might not quite be on the level of the Swiss alps, it has one of the best resorts in the country, according to All Over Greece.

Agrafa Ski Resort on east side of the Agrafa Mountain, in Thessaly, offers access to some 0.2 miles of slopes for skiing and snowboarding, with a platter lift to take guests up the inclines. It’s located at an altitude of 1,530 meters and is said to be ideal for beginners.

There are some 125 villages dotted around the area with inhabitants and you’re unlikely to find a spacious hotel to rest after a long walk.

Greek outlet Greece Is visited the region back in 2019 and said: “There are no luxury guesthouses here, only a few rooms equipped with the bare necessities.

“Most often they have wooden beds, dating back to before the war, a sheet and a blanket, and still you feel grateful that you did not end up with nowhere to sleep.”

But the reporter was taken by the extraordinary beauty of the region, with “towering mountains” as well as incredible forests, alpine landscapes and cliffs.