The program “Common Ground”, hosted by Prokopis Agelopoulos on Voice of Greece, premiered on Tuesday, 10 February 2026 with a one-hour tribute to one of the most beautiful villages of Roumeli: Gardiki Omilaion, in the region of Phthiotis.
Perched on the northern slopes of Grammeni Oxyia, overlooking the Spercheios Valley at an altitude of 1,050 meters, this once-thriving regional hub is now home to only a few dozen permanent residents. Nevertheless, it remains especially popular among lovers of the mountains and nature in general, as well as adventure enthusiasts, offering visitors the opportunity to experience unique thrills through a range of activities in an area that marks the southernmost point in Greece where beech forests are found.
During our introduction to the village, we were joined in the studio by Mr. Thanasis Nikolodimos, President of the Association of Gardiki Omilaion Natives of Phthiotis. He spoke to us about the village’s history, as well as his own childhood memories of Gardiki, with special reference to the traditional festivals and events that continue, even today, to keep younger generations of Gardiki natives closely connected to their homeland.
By phone, further insights into present-day Gardiki were shared by Mr. Giannis Vasileiou, President of the local community and owner of the village’s large hotel, which offers comfortable accommodation to visitors (there is also another guesthouse in the village), and by Mr. Kostas Christopoulos, President of the Cultural Association of Gardiki Omilaion Natives of Phthiotis, based in Lamia, which is highly active, undertaking numerous initiatives and organizing events that bring Gardiki natives together each year.
Finally, the program featured the reflections of Aris Aidonis, the former rural doctor of the village, who spoke about his year and a half living there and who remains in close contact with the village’s residents.