The inhabitants of Palamas are almost purely Karagounides. You will find the area described as "Palamas": the center of the great phara of the Karagounides" or "The cradle of Karagounia"! But who and what are the Karagounides? Regarding the interpretation of the word Karagounis, various opinions have been expressed, such as: 
a) that it comes from the Turkish word kara (black) and from the Arvanitic gkun (sigouna – fur) 
b) from karagiounan Turkish word, which means black, enslaved, unfortunate 
c) according to V. Angelis, the name Karagounis comes from kara (head) and kino – kuno (move – shake).

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How do they self-identify? They pride themselves on being among the oldest inhabitants of Thessaly, exclusively Greek-speaking and mainly farmers. They differ from other Thessalian genera in clothing, character, manners and customs, linguistic idiom, and have nothing to do with the Karagounides - Arvanitovlachs of Epirus. They are characterized by their Thessalian dialect, the one that "eats" the endings of words for the sake of speed and which is considered the most representative of the northern Greek dialects. They are brave, hardworking, and family-oriented. They are also characterized by the richness of folk tradition, folk events, and gatherings that bring three-day revelries. 

They participated in the revolutionary movements against the Turks and offered refuge to many persecuted from various areas of Greece. They also participated in the agricultural uprisings against the large landowners, in the redistribution of agricultural plots in 1923 with the expropriation of land.

Ancient roots

In Vlochos, on the Stroggilovouni hill, the defensive perimeter of an ancient city is visible. In Ermitsi we find remnants of the Middle Bronze Age. In Palamas, one of the largest villages of the Plain, several archaeological sites confirm habitation since the Prehistoric Era. According to mythology, the Titans lived here. These are commemorated by the "Titaneia," the cultural institution of Palamas, which monopolizes the interest of residents and visitors in the first ten days of September, while "Municipality of Titans" was also the older name of the Municipality.

Palamas claims the title of the most "flat" area of the country. Few "magoules" (low, gentle hills) and some other slightly higher hills - the highest altitude is 430 meters in Lykorema - "disrupt" the straightness of the horizon. It is a "Mesopotamian" area from ancient times. Formerly determined by the ancient rivers Apidanos and Onohonos, today by Fersalitis and Kaletzis.

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Relaxed rhythms

Palamas, Itea, Vlochos, Astritsa, Sykia, Koskinas. Far from tourist development, the villages of the flat Thessaly maintain their relaxed rhythms and traditional style. As if they have found their peace in the fertile land, sown with cotton, few cereals, and even fewer vineyards. Which is embellished with noteworthy religious monuments and stone-built bridges made by Epirus masters. 

It is worth looking for the Konaki Koen in Astritsa. The chiflikospito (farmhouse) of the 19th century is made of well-worked stones, a material that was rare and expensive then for the plain. Especially if you consider where Palamas got its name: from the "palamisma" (palming) of the makeshift reed walls. When women, using their palm, spread mud and dung on the houses to protect themselves from the cold and rain.

Other important sights of the area are the Agios Athanasios Roum Palama, the largest church of the P.E. of Karditsa with its very special frescoes, the bridge of Enipeas at the crossroads of Itea and a little further the Agricultural - Folklore Museum with its 4,000 exhibits. Nowhere else was such a collection so useful. Under one roof, the quintessence of the Thessalian Plain.

Many consider that the area of Aspropotamos essentially begins from Pertouli onwards, as the inhabitants of the villages in this part of Koziakas share with the inhabitants of the "pure" Aspropotamos the Vlach origin, the livestock farming - logging tradition, and formerly the nomadic way of life! After all, a few kilometers after Pertouli, in the impressive valley that is formed, flows the Kamniaitis, one of the most important tributaries of the "Aspros" (Acheloos).

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Whatever the case may be, Pertouli is one of the oldest and most important villages of Pindos, although several times in its long history it was temporarily deserted either due to epidemics (1720 AD - plague) or due to enemy raids (it was destroyed by the Ottomans in 1823, but also by the Germans in 1943). According to one of the versions for the origin of the name, this is due to Triantafyllos Hatzis Berta ("Bertouli"), who re-inhabited the village after the plague epidemic. However, this version does not seem to hold true, as there is a reference to Pertouli as early as the 10th century. "Pertouli," therefore, according to some locals, is the "little door," the gateway to and from Aspropotamos.

Passage and Station

It has always been, along with its Livadia (meadows), a passage and a resting station for the transhumant livestock farmers, while the declaration of the "University Forest" in 1934 played an important role in the economic life of the place. The "Pertouli University Forest" occupies an area of 33,000 acres and belonged (?) to the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Students of the Department of Forestry of AUTH do their practical training in the stunningly beautiful landscape. Some of the most impressive buildings at the entrance of the village belong to the University and were designed by the famous Greek architect, Dimitris Pikionis.

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Tourist Takeoff

The tourist development took its first steps in the mid-1980s, along with the establishment of the Ski Center. In addition to skiing, around the ski center, in the magical Livadia of Pertouli there are infrastructures for all kinds of activities from Horseback Riding and archery, to rides with ATV vehicles ("quads") and snowmobiles. The forest and the slopes of Koziakas are characterized by very rich fauna, as brown bears, deer, foxes, wild boars, wild cats, and a wide variety of aromatic and medicinal herbs live here. According to the myth, Asclepius found his healing herbs here. The area is ideal for hiking, always with respect for wildlife, and there are also organized areas for camping.

The hospitality infrastructures in Pertouli are excellent, with very atmospheric hostels, among which is the "Archontiko Hatzigaki" in one of the oldest buildings in the area. The taverns of the area are also famous, among meat-eaters mainly, completing a complete "package" of escape from everyday life!

Formerly known as "Tyrna," Elati is built at an altitude of 921 meters on the slopes of Koziakas ("Kerketion"). It is a popular destination for all seasons of the year, but the truth is that it is at its best when it is dressed in white!

Until about the 1980s, Elati was known only to hunters. Then it began to timidly take its first tourist "steps," with the stunning landscapes that surround it and its excellent climate as its main advantages. The next two decades put it firmly on the tourist map, but always with careful movements, modestly and humbly. There are no mammoth units here, only atmospheric hostels. The nights are not wild, although you will be able to enjoy a drink. In the matter of food, both the "gourmet" and the "traditional" will be satisfied, while there is no shortage of shops such as "Likno" with traditional products and local herbs of the area.

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Base for explorations

Although it is not of particular architectural interest, partly because it was completely destroyed by the Germans during World War II, it remains picturesque and lends itself to walks, either in the village or in the forests that surround it. Elati is an ideal "base" for road explorations in Koziakas, but also a little further in the area of Aspropotamos. It can also be the "base" for ski lovers, as the Pertouli Ski Center is just 9 km away. For the more adventurous, there is Kokkinos Vrachos, an organized climbing field with seven routes of varying degrees of difficulty.