Vlasti, a mountainous village just 24 km off Ptolemaida, lies in the bosom of Mounts Siniatsiko (or Askio) and Mouriki, on a plateau with an altitude of 1240 meters. Greek pastures with cedars, beech and oak woods, and pine reforestations give a special character to the region. The village history starts in the 15th century; after the settlement of the Koniaroi Turks in the Kailaria meadow (Ptolemaida), the Christian populations that lived in the area were forced to settle in safer and more inaccessible places, mainly in the mountainous parts of Macedonia. In the late 18th century, the strengthening of the local population with refugees from Moschopolis and Grammos gave a new impetus to the development and progress of the settlement. Due to the mountainous terrain and the rich pastures, the villagers were mainly occupied with stock-breeding, and they had the biggest flocks in Macedonia. The settlement flourished in the 19th century, when the population was over 6,500 people; this flourish is reflected in the urban organization: three Greek schools, three churches, a library, a Town Hall, luxurious houses and two-storey mansions. The countdown for the prosperous Vlasti started at the dawn of the 20th century with the Macedonian Struggle, the Balkan wars, and World War I, all of which left their marks on the village. Moreover, during World War II, the village was burnt down by the Germans. In the civil war, it was abandoned by its residents. Today, the permanent residents are not more than one hundred during the winter. Nevertheless, the people from Vlasti are proud of their origin, and still keep strong ties with the community which comes back to life in summertime.