The Best Places to Visit in Epirus, the Mysterious Corner of Greece – Live Fun Travel

Are living Exciting Journey – The Best Locations to Stop by in Epirus, the Mysterious Corner of Greece.  Most people have Greece on their bucket lists.  With gorgeous islands and historic towns, Greece is one of the most well-liked summer tourist locations in Europe and the entire world. This mountainous nation in the south of the Balkan Peninsula is effectively-recognised for its historical heritage, prosperous culture, and amazing purely natural splendor. Greece has around 6,000 islands, the wonderful greater part of which are located in the Aegean Sea which lies involving Greece and Turkey.

When we assume of Greece, we ordinarily picture the famed acropolis of Athens, the historical ruins of the Peloponnese, crystal blue waters, and very long sandy beach locations. A seasoned traveler or even a standard tourist might be tempted to assume that there is not significantly left to find out in Greece. But very little is even further from the truth.

Sign up for us as we acquire you to Epirus, a region in western Greece with a lengthy history, and lots of places yet to be found.

The Land of Mountains, Historic Kings, and Charming Seaside Cities

Epirus is a regular geographic area and a modern day administrative unit of Greece. It borders the Greeks regions of Western Macedonia and Thessaly in the east, Western Greece in the south, the Ionian Sea in the west, and Albania in the north. The Pindus Mountain selection dominates a great deal of Epirus, stretching from the Albanian border in the north to the Gulf of Corinth in the south. The mountains separate Epirus from the relaxation of mainland Greece. The money and major metropolis of Epirus is Ioannina, about 410 km northwest of Athens.

During antiquity, Epirus was a somewhat distant location, dominated by pastoral peoples who inhabited the mountainous location. It grew to become known when Pyrrhus turned the King of Epirus and crossed the Ionian Sea to Italy to struggle the Romans. A couple of hundreds of years afterwards, Epirus and Southern Greece arrived under the dominion of the Romans. The Turks and the Venetians also remaining their mark on the record of Epirus.

Welcome to Syvota, an Unforgettable Town on the Ionian Coast

Syvota is a modest town with a lot less than 3,000 inhabitants, on the coast of the Ionian Sea, about 25 km south of the port town of Igoumenitsa. The town became a popular location for yachting, owing to its situation on the indented shoreline that characteristics many tiny islands, inlets, and bays.

As before long as you get there in Syvota, you will succumb to the allure of this photogenic minimal town. The architecture of Ionian Greece differs from what can be viewed in other parts of the region, mostly owing to powerful Italian cultural affect. Contrary to lots of other towns and cities in Greece, Syvota hasn’t however been opened to mass tourism, so crowds will not be an challenge. The sunset over the Ionian is magnificent when considered from the city waterfront.

Did we point out that Syvota has no considerably less than 16 seashores in its vicinity? The most scenic of these is Bella Vraka, but we suggest you go and pay a visit to the far more distant beaches like Megali and Mikri Ammos. You can hike, take a bus, or rent a car or truck if you want to attain the seashores like Karavostasi, positioned further more south down the coastline.

Meet up with Parga: The Haughty Mistress of Epirus

Significantly less than 30 km to the south of Syvota, lies Parga, the biggest city on the coastline of Epirus. No stop by to Epirus is finish devoid of coming to Parga. At to start with, you are going to have the impression you found on your own somewhere in Italy. The town’s coloured facades, buzzing narrow alleys, and various retailers, cafes, and eating places are a deal with for the senses. There’s something to see and encounter on each and every corner. Parga rose to prominence less than the rule of the Venetians, who created it into an essential outpost. The Castle of Parga designed on a rocky outcrop jutting out into the blue waters of the Ionian was extensively rebuilt by the Venetians and can be visited now. Parga also became known for becoming the birthplace of Ibrahim Pasha, the famous Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire below Sultan Suleiman the Wonderful.

Proper across from the town’s waterfront is the little islet of Panagia. You can choose a taxi boat to pay a visit to it or swim there from the close by beach. A compact Orthodox church can be found on the islet, properly hidden in between pines and other foliage.

Quickly to the west of the town, on the other side of the hill is the popular Valtos Beach front, in which you can commit a great working day at the beach or take pleasure in watersports. It will take only a pair of minutes to get to it by taxi boat but if you are in the temper for a climb and do not mind acquiring your way by way of winding alleys, you can also get there on foot. Parga is surrounded by olive groves and pines and enjoys a gentle Mediterranean weather. The climate stays heat until finally October but our advice is that you visit in September, when there are fewer crowds. Be confident to e-book your lodging in progress as it’s not generally easy to uncover a lodge area or an condominium on the location, in particular throughout the height of the summer months period.

Go on a Boat Trip and Go to the Islands of Paxi and Antipaxi

You can invest in a ticket to the close by islands of Paxos and Antipaxos at any tourist agency in Parga. The boat journey requires about an hour. Most tours include things like lunch and let you go on a swim in some of the sea caves alongside the way. The extra adventurous among you will like the thrill of leaping from the rocky cliffs towering about the azure waters of the Ionian. The shorelines of Antipaxos and Paxos rank amid the most scenic in the Mediterranean.

As you arrive at the small city of Gaios, on the western shore of Paxos, get some time to steep oneself into Greek mythology. In accordance to an ancient Greek myth, the two islands came to be when Poseidon stroke the a lot more substantial island of Corfu with his trident, so that he and his spouse can have some rest, much from anyone.

Fork out a Go to to Preveza: The Southern Gate of Epirus

Preveza is perched on the southern close of a peninsula bordered by the Ionian Sea to the west and the Ambracian Gulf to the east. The town and the country bordering it have a heritage that dates again to Antiquity. Suitable across the slim strait connecting the Ionian Sea with the Ambracian Gulf is the village of Aktio, wherever Mark Anthony and Cleopatra were defeated by the armies of Octavian. Right now, there is minor to see that bears testimony to the great naval struggle fought in the waters of the gulf but just to the north of Preveza you can take a look at the ruins of the Roman town of Nicopolis.

Significantly like Parga, Preveza’s architecture was intensely influenced by the Venetians. As somewhere else in Greece, you will encounter attribute Greek allure and take pleasure in the tradition of hospitality that will make Greece such a excellent location to check out. The community cuisine will fulfill the tastes of even the major gourmands among the you. Wine connoisseurs will be content to check out the regional Debina wine designed from white grapes native to Epirus.

Preveza is served by an international airport, making it the great place to start off and/or conclude your take a look at to Epirus.

Our Last Phrase

Greece is an remarkable place, but get off the beaten path and examine the mysterious corners.  You will not be let down and have a much improved time.