WOX TRAVEL CONTEST | WEEK 8 | Mushroom town
Today, together with you, we're heading to a small town that could be a hero in a children's book - the little mushroom town. 🍄 We're used to associating Greece with a little sea, some wine, and ouzo, but where we're going, there's no sea, however, there's coziness and lots of mushrooms.
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Grevena - the epitome of authentic Greek hospitality, incredible nature, and, of course, delicious food. In the region, there are two national parks - one in the Grevena area and one in Prespa. Expect to find rafting, walks, bike rides, birds and canoeing awaiting you. 🏞️ 💥
Venetikos River
Prespa Lake
Since 2007, Grevena has been known as the world's only "Mushroom City." Here, everything revolves around mushrooms, with monuments throughout the town taking on various mushroom forms. Even if you're not a mushroom enthusiast, the locals have put in a lot of effort, and you can feel a touch of magic in the town.
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It's peaceful, and that's its beauty. Unlike the bustling atmosphere one might have experienced in Rome, Paris, or Barcelona, for example, here, there is tranquility and many friendly people.
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The owner of the tavern where we sat told us that in the Grevena region, there are nearly 2,500 types of mushrooms out of a total of 7,000 known in Greece, with over 150 of them being edible. The livelihood of the Grevena residents is closely tied to mushrooms, and thanks to them, they have survived difficult years.
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In the local restaurants, you can savor an enormous variety of mushrooms. The locals have become absolute masters and prepare salads, roasted mushrooms, fried with vegetables, braised, stuffed mushrooms, mushroom pies, bread with mushrooms, and even mushroom desserts. You'll truly be amazed by the diversity. 🥘
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And believe me, even if you're not a fan of mushrooms, you must try them - you'll be pleasantly surprised. In my perspective, the prices are fairly reasonable, with each dish typically running at about 5-6 euros. This setup allows for ordering and sharing a range of dishes when you're with friends or family. 🍲☺️
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In the shops, you can literally buy everything related to mushrooms - dried ones, pasta, truffles, risotto, canned in jars, and even mushroom sweets.
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Every year in August, the town hosts a mushroom festival. So, treat yourself to a few days in this region of Greece , you'll leave happy, relaxed, in awe of the region's natural beauty, and with a bit of a mushroom obsession. 😃💗
about the Veneticos River and Prespa you can read in my previous posts)))
TEAM 1
Congratulations! This comment has been upvoted through steemcurator04. We support quality posts , good comments anywhere and any tags.Thanks!)))
Well, I know this is definitely not a place my son will be visiting any time soon - he absolutely loathes mushrooms lol!!! - I, on the other hand, LOVE mushrooms of all kinds!
This people living in this town must be some of the worlds most intelligent I reckon because they say that mushrooms are actually "brain food", with several studies showing that regular consumption of mushrooms actually improves brain function :)
I had no idea that such a place existed, but I think it would absolutely make a wonderful addition to any trip in that vicinity! Really intriguing how many quint and quirky little gems this world holds.
Were you there at the time of the festival?
What a wonderful gem this post was to find too! And nice to "meet you" @kozanozdra! Thanks goes to @o1eh for featuring your post!
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Unfortunately, I wasn't there at the time. But one more thing I understood is that every night during the festival the locals prepare different specialties and everyone can try them completely for free. The region is definitely worth it because of Prespa and Venetikos. You can read in my previous posts. You can also combine Grevena with wine tourism in Amyntaio. As well as the village of Spileo and the canyon Portica))))
aaah ok! Regardless, it really sounds like a "not to be missed" kind of travel experience!
Thank you for taking me on this virtual journey to Grevena, the Mushroom City of Greece! It sounds like a charming and unique destination, with its focus on mushrooms and the tranquility of the town. The variety of mushroom dishes and products you mentioned are intriguing, even for non-mushroom enthusiasts.
I can almost imagine the cozy atmosphere and the friendly people you’ve described. It’s amazing how a town can thrive and build its identity around something as specific as mushrooms. If I were there, I’d definitely try some mushroom dishes and explore the natural beauty of the national parks. What a wonderful place to visit!
thanks)))