The Neck of Baros is the passage that connects Thessaly by road with Epirus and is one of the few accessible mountain passes from Thessaly to Epirus, from the Vlach villages of Trikala to the villages of Tzoumerka. It is one of the most beautiful and special routes you can do in Thessaly and not only. Two landscapes completely different from the green of Aspropotamos in the wild and stony side of the Epirus side. Vast forests (32,000 acres of firs, pines, skulls, beeches, oranges, maples, and in the springs plane trees and willows) host various wildlife, including a rare species of wild goat, while in the alpine highlands lives the famous sturgeon. The road throughout the network of Aspropotamos is comfortable wherever you decide to start. The route to Kalarrytes can be done either you are in nearby villages or in more distant, water and snacks for the route and you are ready.
The ascent to Baros from the crossroads that you will find as you go to Haliki is at about 45 minutes road, of course the landscape is so beautiful that you will stop at several places to take pictures but the only sure thing is that the landscape will be captured for many years in your memories. The signs at this point inform you that Kalarrytes is at a distance of 24 km (Baros at 12 km), Syrrako at 44 km, Matsouki at 24 km. Just a few minutes from this intersection there is the Holy Monastery of Panagia Galaktotrofousa on the left side of the road which is definitely worth making your first stop. Just before the Holy Monastery there is a small sign that informs you about the stone bridge of Michos which is located low on the river. It is a two-arched stone bridge with an arch opening of about 16 meters, it is said that it was built together with the Holy Monastery in 1799. As you continue the road that constantly ascends after the Vaika fountain, in the location of Goupi, the landscape is slowly stripped. The altitude is getting bigger and rocks, cliffs and dozens of windswept peaks that exceed 2,000 meters appear in front of you after each turn, the landscape enchants you.
Arriving at the neck of Baros make sure to stop and admire the vew. You will understand it because you will see the signs that direct you right to Kalarrytes, Syrrako and other villages and left to Matsouki. At this point you will see the stone sign that says Kalarrytes and below it has the phrase “Tzoumerka high and deceptive and always snowy” and next to a useful map of the area. The neck of Baros is a stop for many visitors who make mountain routes by motorbike or by car or bicycle. They make a short stop to enjoy the scenery, we also made a stop and started a conversation together.
Baros is one of the three passages of South Pindos, the other two are Katara in the north and Mesochora in the south. From the passage of Baros there is a unique view to the peaks of Peristeri (2,294m) and Kakarditsa (2,429m).
So after greeting the other travelers (who were going to Anthousa, Haliki, Larissa) in Baros we continued our way to Kalarrytes in the stony landscape of Epirus. In 15 to 20 minutes you are in the village park your vehicle at the entrance of the village since there are no roads within the village, only stone paths that lead you to the square, the houses, the churches and the sights of the village.
