The Greek town of Grevena has a history deeply intertwined with the Vlach people. It was once a key stopover on their travel routes, and many inhabitants from Avdela, the village of the Manakia brothers, had houses here where they lived during the winter months. The German linguist Gustav Weigand, in his 1895 book Die Aromunen, noted that Grevena had 80 Turkish, 120 Greek, and 20 Vlach houses. In winter, the number of Vlachs rose to 200 families, migrating here from nearby summer villages like Samarina, Smixi, and Furka. This created an interesting paradox: in summer, the Greek population was the majority, while in winter, the Vlachs became the town’s dominant population.
Today, nothing is recognizable from the Manakia brothers’ photograph, and almost nothing remains of the old town of Grevena. Earthquakes and population changes have left few traces of Grevena from the early 20th century. Among the significant buildings, only the clock tower remains, clearly visible in the panoramic photo by the Manakia brothers — a studio composition constructed from several frames. However, the tower is difficult to spot in the modern skyline, as most buildings are now taller than it is. The Manakia brothers also made a panoramic film of the town in 1911 from the same vantage point.
