Dilofo, Ioannina
Dilofo
Δίλοφο | |
|---|---|
 Dilofo | |
  Dilofo | |
| Coordinates: 39°51′6.8″N 20°45′51.8″E / 39.851889°N 20.764389°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Epirus |
| Regional unit | Ioannina |
| Municipality | Zagori |
| Municipal unit | Central Zagori |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Community | 13 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
Dilofo (Greek: Δίλοφο, before 1927: Σωποτσέλιον, Sopotselion,[2][3] between 1927–1928: Αμπελιές, Ampelies)[4][3] is a village in the Ioannina Regional Unit in Epirus, northwestern Greece.
Name
The placename Sopotseli stems from the Aromanian noun șoput meaning 'pipe from which the water of a spring is poured, the tap, the fountain' and derived from the Slavic word sopotъ 'pipe, water flowing with noise, spring, waterfall'.[5] The diminutive suffix is from the Aromanian (and Romanian) -el, from Latin -ellum.[5] The toponym underwent inflection where the t and e (or i) became ț and e (or i).[5] Linguist Max Vasmer derives the toponym from the Slavic words sopotъ and selo and linguist Kostas Oikonomou states the etymology is less likely for the placename.[5]
History
Dilofo is one of the 46 historic villages of Zagori, known in Greek as the Zagorochoria (Greek: Ζαγοροχώρια). It is situated at an altitude of 1,000 meters on the slopes of Mount Tymfi.
In 1870, the village had 550 inhabitants and a large school. It became part of Greece in 1913 following the First Balkan War. In 1940 it had 140 inhabitants.
Sights
Dilofo is one of the best preserved villages in Zagori. It is a typical example of Zagori architecture and has been declared a traditional settlement.[6] The multistory school was founded in 1855 when Dilofo had around 550 inhabitants. It is now used as a cultural center. [7]
Other attractions include stone fountains, cobblestone roads, small churches and several mansions. Among them is the 13.5 meter high Makropoulos mansion, which is the tallest residence in Zagori. According to tradition, the son of a wealthy local resident married a girl from the neighboring village of Koukouli. When they settled in the groom's house in Dilofo, the bride expressed a sad nostalgia for her village. As a result, the husband built the towering mansion so that his wife could see her village from its highest floors.[8]
References
- ^ "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
- ^ Institute for Neohellenic Research. "Name Changes of Settlements in Greece: Sopotselion – Ampelies". Pandektis. Archived from the original on 19 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
- ^ a b Hellenic Agency for Local Development and Local Government. "Διοικητικές Μεταβολές των Οικισμών: Σωποτσέλιον – Αμπελιές – Δίλοφον" [Administrative Changes of Settlements: Sopotselion – Ampelies – Dilofon]. EETAA (in Greek). Retrieved 30 December 2025.
- ^ Institute for Neohellenic Research. "Name Changes of Settlements in Greece: Ampeli – Dilofon". Pandektis. Archived from the original on 19 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
- ^ a b c d Oikonomou, Kostas E. (2002). Τα οικωνύμια του νομού Ιωαννίνων. Γλωσσολογική εξέταση [The oikonyms of the prefecture of Ioannina. A linguistic examination] (PDF) (in Greek). Nomarchiaki Aftodioikisi Ioanninon. p. 275. ISBN 9789608316010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 November 2024.
- ^ Διαλέξεις 2006 - "Ο οικισμός Δίλοφο στο Ζαγόρι: Άνθρωπος-Φύση-Δομημένο περιβάλλον"
- ^ Sakalis, Alex (1 September 2025). "The Lure of Stones and Silence: Hiking in Zagori, Greece". New York Times. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
- ^ "Αίθριο GuestHouse | Aithrio GuestHouse".