Culinary tourism and taste festivals are one of the most emerging alternative forms of tourism in many parts of Greece, which may be known for their natural landscapes, but through the promotion of local traditional products aspire to be a basic choice for many visitors.
Such an initiative was recently undertaken and implemented by the Municipality of Sofadon, located in the Prefecture of Karditsa, organizing the 1st Festival of Gastronomy and Local Products, which took place in the mountainous landscape of Lake Smokovo, and specifically in Loutra Smokovo.
The idea for the tasting festival came from the mayor of Sofadon, Dimitris Katsis, and as it was found from the result, it had a significant impact on the residents of the area, on producers, but mainly on visitors, who had the opportunity to combine… the terpnon after the useful and to taste local Thessalian dishes against the backdrop of the area’s enchanting landscape among plane trees and chestnut trees.
The first tasting festival was attended by 35 local producers, as well as ordinary housewives, who presented the rich range of products of the primary sector of the region, such as nuts, meats, cheeses, pies, honey, pulses, wine, tsipouro, aromatic plants, sauces and processed products.
In the small picturesque village of Smokovos, located at the foot of Agrafo, tables were set up with local dishes by experienced chefs, who were inspired and created unique recipes based on the Mediterranean diet.
Among the guests were scientists, professors and experts, who presented during the festival important research on culinary tourism, wine tourism and the Mediterranean diet.
The first Gastronomy Festival started by the Municipality of Sofadon in Loutra Smokovo, with local Thessalian products, opened the time to develop into an institution, with the aim of being a constant attraction every year for a tasting experience for local residents and visitors to the area .
“The Smokovo Baths, thanks to their rich thermal character, can be a tourist attraction and the Festival of Gastronomy and Local Products will be an incentive to visit and get to know this precious treasure of our region”, said the mayor of Sofadon, D. Katsis, renewing the appointment for the next festival in the summer of 2025.
#Culinary #tourism #constantly #gaining #ground
