Parga

Vineyards

Some of the most mountainous and difficult vineyards to reach in Greece are in Epirus, hidden between the slopes of Mt. Pindos. Despite the difficult growing conditions many wine experts agree that some excellent wines are being produced in this region. The Katogi winery, located in the village of Metsovo, has been designed to serve the modern needs of the wine industry while maintaining the traditional architectural style of the region.

Cruises

From Parga a short boat trip takes you to the smallest islands in the Ionian, Antipaxos which has a wonderful beach and crystal clear waters, perfect for swimming, then to Paxos with its sleepy fishing village and also the capital, Gaios

Take a day trip ferry to Corfu town which remains one of the most beautiful island and steeped in histoy. Wander the narrow and irregular cobbled streets of the city that originate from the way the Greek inhabitants used to build their houses, view the old Venetian fort which dominates at the east of the city. Then there’s a brace of museums, including the Byzantine Museum of Corfu, which is housed in a 15th-century church in the Mouragia part of town. It houses valuable icons dating back to the same period.

Natural areas of beauty

There is so much to see, the whole Epirus area will enchant you with its beautiful rivers, Dragon Lakes, pristine forests, vast valleys, imposing canyons, mountains and endless rare natural beauties this place is blessed with.

The springs of Acheron River is an area of outstanding natural beauty located at the border of Thesprotia and Preveza, close to the villages of Kanalaki and Glyki. Apart from the natural beauty, the springs of Acheron is known worldwide for its mythological contents. In ancient Greek mythology, Acheron was one of the five rivers of the Greek underworld.

Attraction parks

Drive to the Holy Trinity Monastery which was featured in the 1981 James Bond film, For Your Eyes Only. Situated at the top of a rocky precipice over 400 metres high and forms part of 24 monasteries which were originally built at Meteora, six of the 24 monasteries are still active and open to visitors. The church was constructed between the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries and is included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites titled Meteora.

Other excursions

Take an excursion from Parga to Zagoria. This day will offer you sights you will never forget, the unique traditional stone built villages of Zagoria and stunning views of the amazing Vikos Gorge.

A day excursion to Albania, combine your curiosity and love of ancient sites by visiting the impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site of Butrint, in Albania and the nearby coastal resort of Saranda.

The old town

Wander the pretty streets and picturesque harbour ain historical Parga with its narrowed cobbled streets, explore the nearby beaches and coves to find your own piece of paradise.

Meander around peaceful Sivota, the village itself has plenty of Greek character and the harbour is picture postcard setting with an array of cafés, restaurants and small shops.

Epirus with its impressive verdant mountain backdrop, the coastline is a photographer's dream. Explode and find a mix of shingle beaches, rocky coves and sandy bays lapped by shimmering waters, as well as a number of offshore wooded islets with idyllic beaches of their own.

Museums

In Parga is the restored Olive Oil Factory, the museum travels you back to the industrial period of Parga presenting the traditional means of olive oil production offering visitors the chance to learn the secrets of olive oil, one of the most famous Greek products.

The Ecclesiastical Museum is found in the heart of Parga, next to the church of Agioi Apostoloi. Part of its lavish collection includes two gospels from 17th century, precious icons and other rare books. Of unique interest though is the 300 year old banner of Parga, made of red silk. Here you can admire the holy icon of Panagia Vlacherna.

Churches / Cathedrals

Parga has a large number of churches. to the west, at Cape Heladio, lies the Monastery of Vlaherna, an impressive building from the Byzantine era with a tall bell-tower which, according to tradition, had nine bells which could be heard from 12 miles away when they rang. A few of the other churches to explore are the church of Agios Nikolaos, patron saint of Parga, which is the largest church in the town, the church of Agia Eleni, located on the hill of Agia Eleni.

Within the region of Epirus, historical monasteries, churches and monuments dot around beautiful areas. The striking beauty of Zagoria villages is certainly worth a visit especially when it blends with the religious monuments which give away its rich history. The monasteries of Panagia Spiliotissa and Agia Paraskevi stand out for their architecture and offer amazing views to the gorge. Smaller churches spread in the village are Agios Minas and the church of Agios Vlassios.

National parks

Vikos–Aoös National Park s a national park in the north-western region of Epirus. It is named after the two major gorges of the area and encompasses over r31,00 acres of mountainous terrain, with numerous rivers, lakes, caves, deep canyons, dense coniferous and deciduous forest and offers many actives such as rafting, canoe-kayaking, hiking and mountain biking

Castles

The castle of Parga is found on the top of a hill overlooking the town and was used to protect the town from the mainland and the sea. It was initially built in the 11th century by the residents of Parga to protect their town from the pirates and the Turks but it was partly destroyed by such invasions. In the 13th century, the Venetians rebuilt the castle to fortify the area. In 1452, Parga was occupied by the Turks and destroyed part of the Castle. Today, the Castle of Parga is a great exponent of the Venetian architecture, as such architectures dominate. The location of this castle provides magnificent views over Parga and the shoreline. It is also a peaceful area to go for a walk, surrounded by cypress trees and crossed by stone trails. There is a cafeteria inside the castle that offers drinks and snacks as well as some interesting gift shops to buy souvenirs. The most common way to go is a steeped street coming out from the centre of the town.