Vissani Explained

Vissani
Name Local:Βήσσανη
Type:community
Coordinates:39.9333°N 52°W
Periph:Epirus
Periphunit:Ioannina
Municipality:Pogoni
Municunit:Delvinaki
Population As Of:2021
Population:236

Vissani (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Βήσσανη Ιωαννίνων) is a village in the municipal unit of Delvinaki, Ioannina regional unit, in the Epirus region of northwestern Greece. It is situated in the mountainous Pogoni area near the Albanian border, at 750 m above sea level. A small road connects Vissani with the Greek National Road 22 Kakavia - Kalpaki.

Population

Year Population
1981 417
1991 365
2001 426
2011 420
2021 236

History

Vissani was founded in the 14th century, and grew during Ottoman rule. It became a part of Greece after the Balkan Wars in 1913. The village retains elements of its traditional architecture. In the center of the village is the church of Saint Nicholas from 1791, decorated with frescoes. The village houses were built by craftsmen from the villages of Pyrsogianni and Vourbiani. Vissani is the birthplace of Kitsos Harisiadis, one of the greatest traditional clarinetists of Epirus,[1] who mastered and taught the tradition of playing the "miroloi".

See also

Notes and References

  1. Lament from Epirus: An Odyssey Into Europe's Oldest Surviving Folk Music, by Christopher King