The inhabitants of a place, especially villagers, stand as important source of knowledge, convictions and notions, which can contribute to the interpretation of architectural elements and traces that are discovered in the present. The experiential existence of architecture is a key essence of it. The narratives and stories that the villagers recount, in combination with their ethnographic documentation, can produce a complete interpretation of features that seem unfamiliar to the resident of a city.

This research paper deals with the specific situation, having Katafigio village as a reference point. The village is located in the Municipality of Karditsa, in close proximity to Plastiras Lake. It is a small and picturesque settlement overlooking the Thessalian plain. The script shows the history, shape and structure of the village through the years as well as the everyday life of its inhabitants, as it was narrated in personal stories and interviews.

The on-site recording and analysis of the characteristics of the village, the tracing of the villagers’ daily life and activities combined with the personal testimonies of relatives and others, authentic and strong sociological and folklore elements were drawn from an era, a world and a way of life that today is difficult to be recognized in Katafigio. Further, by approaching the anthropological nature of research through an autobiographical note, efforts to preserve the tradition by the descendants become apparent.