Parga

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Η Πάργα απέχει περίπου 68 χιλιόμετρα από την Πρέβεζα και 40 χιλιόμετρα από την Ηγουμενίτσα και έχει απέναντι της τα γραφικά νησιά των Παξών και Αντίπαξων .

City amphitheatrically built, Parga is a picturesque resort situated between the coastal region of Preveza and Igoumenitsa and combines uniquely mountain and sea. One of the most picturesque and cosmopolitan places in northwestern Greece, the “Bride of Epirus”, the beautiful Parga challenges you to experience up close its long history, its diverse natural beauty and hospitality of its inhabitants. Parga is at a distance of 65 km. from the airport of Aktion – Preveza and the summer months is connected with the surrounding islands (Paxos – Antipaxos – Corfu).

Η Πάργα τους Καλοκαιρινούς μήνες συνδέεται καθημερινά μέσω ακτοπλοϊκής σύνδεσης με τους Παξούς και τους Αντίπαξους. Επίσης συνδέεται με πλοιάρια με την Αμμουδιά, την Κέρκυρα και την Λευκάδα.
 

Περίπου δεκαπέντε χιλιόμετρα από την Πάργα βρίσκεται το σημαντικότερο αρχαίο μνημείο της περιοχής. Πρόκειται για το σπουδαιότερο νεκρομαντείο της αρχαιότητας, το Νεκρομαντείο του Αχέροντα. Εδώ οι Αρχαίοι Έλληνες πίστευαν ότι οι πηγές του ποταμού Αχέροντα αποτελούσαν τις Πύλες του Κάτω Κόσμου.

History

In antiquity the area was inhabited the Greek tribe of the Thesprotians. The village of Parga, once known as Hypargos stands from the early 13th century. It was originally built on top of the mountain "Pezovolo". In 1360 the Pargians in order to avoid the attacks of the Albanians transferred the village to its present location.

During that period, with the help of the Normans who held the island of Corfu, the fortress of Parga was built.

In 1401 was signed a treaty with the Venetians, and the rule of Ionian Islands passed to them. The Venetians respected the lifestyle of Pargians who provided in turn, invaluable assistance to the fleet of the Venetians.

At the same time Pargians fought by the side of their compatriots to throw off the Ottoman yoke. As Parga was the only free christian village of Epirus, it was a perfect refuge for persecuted fighters and their families.

In 1797 the area, along with the Ionian Islands and Parga, fell into the hands of the French, and in 1800 proclaimed free city status with broad authority under the protection of the Sublime Porte. In 1817, following a treaty between England and the Ottoman Empire, the English granted Parga to the Ottomans. This resulted in the Good Friday of 1819 where 4000 Pargians having with them the ashes of the bones of their ancestors, their sacred images, flags and a handful of soil from their homeland, exiled themselves in Corfu where they settled in. Therefore they never ceased to dream of returning to a free country and to participate actively in the struggle for liberation.

But they had to wait almost 100 years for this. Parga and the rest of Epirus was liberated from the Ottoman rule on 1913 following the victory of Greece in the Balkan Wars.

Castle of Parga

Before the construction of the strong castle of Parga that survives till now, the residents of Parga were keeping their city fortified in order to confront the invaders. In 1452 Hatzi Beis took over the fortified place and Parga took it back in 1454. In 1537, Hayreddin Barbarossa demolished the fortress and the town. Before the reconstruction of the castle with the contribution of the Venetians, the Turkish demolished it once again.

In 1792, the Venetians rebuilt for third and last time a perfect strong fortress that stayed impregnable until 1819, despite the attacks especially of Ali Pasa of Ioannina, who besieges them from the castle of Agia-Anthousa.

Venetians created a perfect defence plan, which in combination with the natural fortification made the fortress.

Outside the castle, eight towers placed in different positions completed the defence. Inside the narrow space of citadel there were 400 houses, located in a way so that they occupied only a little room, far away from the seaside.

On this castle the free-besieged population of Parga and Souli fought epic battles and kept their freedom for centuries. From the faucet “Kremasma” the tanks of the castle and the houses were provided with water.

The castle for its provision used the two bays: of Valtos and Pogonia. When Parga was sold to the Ottomans, Ali Pasha enhanced it even more and put on its top its harem and its Turkish bath, improving radically the rooms of the castle.

On this castle, the free-besieged population of Parga and Souli fought epic battles and kept their freedom for centuries. On the arched gate of entrance, on the wall, you can see the winged lion of Agios Markos, the name “ANTONIO BERVASS 1764”, emblems of Ali Pasha, two-headed eagles and relative inscriptions.

Archways, gun emplacement rooms, supplies lodges, strong bastions with gun safe boxes, safe boxes of small arms, secret passage to the sea, barracks, jails, warehouses and two block-houses at the last defense line: prove the perfection of the defense plan, which along with the natural fortification made the fortress unconquered.

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Sights

The historic Venetian castle of the city

The islet with the church of Panagia

The ecclesiastical museum in the city center

The church of Agios Nikolaos, Patron Saint of Parga

The Monastery of Agia Vlacherna

The picturesque cobbled streets in the city

The castle "of Ali Pasha" in Anthousa

The underwater spring in Ai Giannaki bay

The natural caves in Lichnos

The dozens of churches inside the city

The small church in Ai.Sosti under the rock in a unique landscape above the homonymous beach

Beaches

Parga rightfully attracts thousands of tourists every summer, not only because of its natural beauties, but also because of its beautiful beaches. Swimmers can enjoy the calm and warm waters, and a wide variety of sea sports or games are also available. The coasts of Parga are probably the best part by the beaches of Ionian Sea. The most popular and most visited beaches are: Valtos, Kryoneri, Piso Kryoneri, Lichnos, Sarakiniko, Ai Giannakis and other steep but also of rare beauty beaches. Κρυονέρι αντικρίζει το Νησάκι της Παναγίας. Στο κέντρο απέναντι από την παραλία δεσπόζει μια μικρή ψηλή βραχονησίδα που οι ντόπιοι την ονομάζουν Σκορδά. Δίπλα ακριβώς προς τα ανατολικά βρίσκεται το Πίσω Κρυονέρι μια μικρή παραλία επίσης εντός του οικισμού της Πάργας που περιστοιχίζεται από ψηλούς βράχους. Στα δυτικά της Πάργας εκτείνεται η ίσως πιο γνωστή παραλία της περιοχής ο Βάλτος.

Μια μεγάλη και τουριστικά ανεπτυγμένη παραλία που έχει θέα τη πίσω πλευρά του κάστρου αλλά και τα σπίτια της περιοχής της Πάργας που ονομάζεται Τουρκοπάζαρο. Στα Ανατολικά 3 χιλιόμετρα έξω από την πόλη υπάρχει η παραλία Λίχνος, η οποία έχει και δύο μικρά θαλάσσια σπήλαια Η παραλία είναι αμμώδης, αλλά έχει και σημεία με χαλίκια, και θεωρείται μια από τις πιο όμορφες της Πάργας. Περίπου 6 χιλιόμετρα ανατολικά από τη Πάργα δίπλα στο χωριό Αγία Κυριακή υπάρχει ο Αι Γιαννάκης. Τέλος έξι χιλιόμετρα στα Δυτικά της Πάργας κοντά στο χωριό Αγιά υπάρχει η παραλία Σαρακήνικο. Όλες οι παραπάνω παραλίες είναι προσβάσιμες οδικά. Επίσης υπάρχουν μια σειρά από παραλίες που προσεγγίζονται από τη θάλασσα όπως ο Άγιος Σώστης, η Σπαρτίλα, η Πωγωνιά κ.α.