Our Favourite Place on Earth: Zagori

There’s a place in Epirus where the mountains meet the sky, rivers carve their paths through forests, and stone villages blend with the landscape as if they’ve always been there. Zagori feels like a hidden world, untouched, wild, and grounding.

Our recent visit to the Zagorochoria was more than a journey, it was a reminder of nature’s quiet power, and of the dialogue between earth, water, and human craft.

But beyond its breathtaking beauty, Zagori holds a deep personal significance for us. It’s here, among these landscapes, that Neraw was born, inspired by the rhythm of the rivers, the textures of stone and moss, and the timeless connection between humans and nature. This place is where our shared love for the natural world first took root. It shaped our vision and continues to ground our work.

Following Water

We followed the sound of water and found ourselves in lush ravines, along hidden springs, and by the Voidomatis River, a sanctuary of clarity and flow. We placed some of our planted ceramics in the riverbed, letting them meet the current, reflect the sky, and breathe among the pebbles. Ceramics, too, are shaped by the elements. Here, they felt at home.

Stone and Silence

In the village of Papigo, stone-built houses rise like extensions of the land, with slate roofs and narrow alleys that echo with stillness. Towering above, the Astraka peaks dominate the skyline, majestic, ancient, indifferent. You feel small here, in the best possible way.

Patterns of the Forest

The forest in Zagori is rich with textures, moss clinging to bark, lichens like living lace on old tree trunks, thick leaves folding light into green shadows. Every path feels alive. It’s not just a hike, it’s a walk through natural design, layers, and rhythm.

A Home Covered in Green

We stumbled upon a house dressed entirely in ivy, its terrace blooming with potted herbs, handwoven chairs, and bursts of color. A lived-in place of care and craft, where nature is embraced, not controlled. This spirit resonates deeply with what we try to create at Neraw.

Zagori doesn’t demand your attention, it invites it. It doesn’t overwhelm, it roots. And in this quiet clarity, we remembered why we work with ceramics and plants in the first place, to connect, to observe, and to listen.