The city of Grevena is built at an altitude of 534 m east of North Pindos, on the banks of the Grevenitis, a tributary of the Aliakmons. A part of ancient Elimia and cradle of the Dorians, the region has marked a creative course of intense cultural, social and historical life. The Grevena are mentioned for the first time in a text called Grivana by Constantine the Porphyrogenitus (905 – 953). The name is found in written and oral sources with the variants "Gravino", "Grevenos", "Grevinon", "Grebenitz", "Grevaina", "Grevaino", etc. It is possible that the toponym is of Latin origin, as in the Latin language there is the word gravis = difficult, steep, rough and the adverb grave with similar meanings.

The exact founding date of the city of Grevena and its course over the centuries remain unknown. At the end of the 3rd millennium BC Greek leaves were settled in Western Macedonia and in part of Epirus. In the area of ​​the Grevenae were the boundaries between Arcadians, Ionians, who lived further south, and Western races, who lived further west towards Epirus. A group from the Western races, the Macedonians after wanderings ended up again in Western Macedonia in the 14th century BC, around the same time as a related group moved south, where they later received the name Dorians. During the 12th century BC continental leaf, the Elimiotes, settled in the area of ​​Grevena. Accidental finds showed that the inhabitants of the area had contact with the other Greek leaves, bearers of the Mycenaean culture, and they were shareholders of this culture. During the first period of the Roman rule, Western Macedonia was a border region. Gentian raids from the north were constant and the Romans were in great need of mercenary hoplites. Several Oresivians from the Grevena region, poor then, as now, joined his legions. Those who moved with their families to the northern Balkans for a number of years became bilingual over time, as they were also obliged to learn Latin. Of course, the language was not the exact Latin but a simpler one with a lot of Greek words. From these Latinized legionnaires came the Vlachs and the Vlach language. As during the late period of the Roman Empire (4th century AD ) the region of Grevena belonged administratively to Thessaly, the relations between the inhabitants of the two regions were close. Among the northern races that raided the Grevena area, the Slavs who settled in the area are included. The result of their influence was the existence of Slavic toponyms until the 20th century.

The area of ​​Grevena was occupied by the Turks around 1385. Because the inhabitants resisted, the conquerors caused a lot of destruction. However, even after the submission, Pindos of Greveni remained free and was ruled by thieves. Big thieves who operated in the area were Vergos, Doukas, Meidanis, Zidros, Mandalos, Totskas, Ziakas, Priftis, Misios. Based on historical reports, it seems that throughout the Turkish occupation, Grevena was a commercial and transportation hub. The 18th century was the century of raids by Albanian bandits, who plundered, raped and destroyed. The placement of Ali Pasha in the pasaliki of Epirus (1788) put an end to the Albanian raids. He extended his rule to Grevena in 1807, so many villages became fiefdoms of beys in the service of Ali. Grevenites also took part in the Greek revolution. The presence of Apostolos Kyrimis in the revolution of Halkidiki, Karamitsios in the revolution of Olympus, Ziakaion in the revolution of Naoussa is witnessed. The situation in the region worsened with the predominance of the Young Turks. Atrocities and killings intensified. Among the victims was Metropolitan Emilianos (1911), whose name bears the central square of the city of Grevena. Finally, the liberation of Grevena from the Turks took place on October 13, 1912. During the German occupation, the area of ​​Grevena was tested, due to the desire of the Italians to establish the "Principality of Pindos". However, there was a large focus of resistance by ELAS forces. The presence of Apostolos Kyrimis in the revolution of Halkidiki, Karamitsios in the revolution of Olympus, Ziakaion in the revolution of Naoussa is witnessed. The situation in the region worsened with the predominance of the Young Turks. Atrocities and killings intensified. Among the victims was Metropolitan Emilianos (1911), whose name bears the central square of the city of Grevena. Finally, the liberation of Grevena from the Turks took place on October 13, 1912. During the German occupation, the area of ​​Grevena was tested, due to the desire of the Italians to establish the "Principality of Pindos". However, there was a large focus of resistance by ELAS forces. The presence of Apostolos Kyrimis in the revolution of Halkidiki, Karamitsios in the revolution of Olympus, Ziakaion in the revolution of Naoussa is witnessed. The situation in the region worsened with the predominance of the Young Turks. Atrocities and killings intensified. Among the victims was Metropolitan Emilianos (1911), whose name bears the central square of the city of Grevena. Finally, the liberation of Grevena from the Turks took place on October 13, 1912. During the German occupation, the area of ​​Grevena was tested, due to the desire of the Italians to establish the "Principality of Pindos". However, there was a large focus of resistance by ELAS forces. Atrocities and killings intensified. Among the victims was Metropolitan Emilianos (1911), whose name bears the central square of the city of Grevena. Finally, the liberation of Grevena from the Turks took place on October 13, 1912. During the German occupation, the area of ​​Grevena was tested, due to the desire of the Italians to establish the "Principality of Pindos". However, there was a large focus of resistance by ELAS forces. Atrocities and killings intensified. Among the victims was Metropolitan Emilianos (1911), whose name bears the central square of the city of Grevena. Finally, the liberation of Grevena from the Turks took place on October 13, 1912. During the German occupation, the area of ​​Grevena was tested, due to the desire of the Italians to establish the "Principality of Pindos". However, there was a large focus of resistance by ELAS forces. due to the desire of the Italians to establish the "Principality of Pindos". However, there was a large focus of resistance by ELAS forces. due to the desire of the Italians to establish the "Principality of Pindos". However, there was a large focus of resistance by ELAS forces.

Source: Regional Unit of Grevena http://www.grevena.gov.gr/