Metsovo

Metsovo Μέτσοβο
Panorama of Metsovo.
Metsovo
Location within the region
Coordinates: 39°46′N 21°11′E / 39.767°N 21.183°E / 39.767; 21.183Coordinates: 39°46′N 21°11′E / 39.767°N 21.183°E / 39.767; 21.183
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Epirus
Regional unit	Ioannina
Area
• Municipality	363.7 km2 (140.4 sq mi)
• Municipal unit	177.7 km2 (68.6 sq mi)
Elevation	1,160 m (3,810 ft)
Population (2011)
• Municipality	6,196
• Municipality density	17/km2 (44/sq mi)
• Municipal unit	3,469
• Municipal unit density	20/km2 (51/sq mi)
Community
• Population	2,503 (2011)
• Area (km2)	101.9
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code	442 00
Area code(s)	26560
Vehicle registration	ΙΝ
Website	metsovo.gr

Metsovo (Greek: Μέτσοβο) is a town in Epirus on the mountains of Pindus in northern Greece, between Ioannina to the north and Meteora to the south.

The largest centre of Aromanian life in Greece, Metsovo is a large regional hub for several small villages and settlements in the region of Pindus, and features many shops, schools, offices, services, museums and galleries. Primary aspects of the economy of Metsovo are agriculture and tourism and is a popular tourist destination, particularly during the winter.

Metsovo is bypassed by Greek National Road 6 (Ioannina - Trikala) and also by Egnatia Odos Motorway.

From medieval times till well into the 19th century, Metsovo is referred to in the various sources with the word Metzovo. From the end of the 18th century on, the literary form Messovon starts appearing in the sources. The town it is known as Aminciu in Aromanian and as Miçova in Ottoman Turkish.

In the Ottoman census records we see the word form Mcwh which is usually pronounced as Miçova. In the Vlach language Metsovo is called Aminʤu, a word formed by the preposition "a", meaning “to, into” and the word Minʤu.

From the word Minʤu derive the terms of ethnic origin Miʤanu-Miʤanə, meaning “Man from Metsovo – woman from Metsovo” as well as the adjectives miʤənescu - miʤəneascə, meaning “Metsovite – of Metsovo”, which are used today by the residents of Metsovo. Furthermore, the Vlach speaking part of the population, that does not know the word form Aminʤu, uses the name Meʤova.

The etymology of the name “Metsovo” from the words Mitsous, Mesovounon or from the unattested Slav word *Mẹčovo, meaning bear-place, which have been proposed at times by academics and historians, are not accepted by linguistic research. On the contrary, there appears to be an etymological relation between the Vlach form Minʤu and the Greek form Metsovo, which is formed by the theme Mets and the Slav ending ovo.

In 15th century Metsovo came under the Ottoman rule and became part of the Sanjak of Ioannina. Throughout the late period of Ottoman rule (18th century-1913) the Greek and Aromanian population of the region (Northern Pindus) suffered from Albanian raiders. Also, in one occasion in the local Greek revolt of 1854 the town was plundered by Ottoman troops and the men of Theodoros Grivas, former general of the Greek military, during their struggle for control of the town. During the First Balkan War, Metsovo was burnt by bands. In the last 10 days of October 1912, troops of volunteers from Crete together with about 340 soldiers of the tactical Greek Army under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Mitsas advance through Thessaly to the then Greek-Turkish border on the peaks east of Metsovo.