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

Stay Entertaining Vacation – The Very best Areas to Check out in Epirus, the Mysterious Corner of Greece.  Most people today have Greece on their bucket lists.  With beautiful islands and historic cities, Greece is just one of the most well-known summertime tourist places in Europe and the world. This mountainous state in the south of the Balkan Peninsula is nicely-recognised for its historical heritage, loaded culture, and amazing pure magnificence. Greece has more than 6,000 islands, the great greater part of which are found in the Aegean Sea which lies concerning Greece and Turkey.

When we imagine of Greece, we ordinarily photograph the renowned acropolis of Athens, the historic ruins of the Peloponnese, crystal blue waters, and prolonged sandy beaches. A seasoned traveler or even a normal vacationer might be tempted to assume that there’s not much still left to find in Greece. But nothing at all is even more from the reality.

Be part of us as we consider you to Epirus, a region in western Greece with a extensive history, and a lot of spots nonetheless to be found out.

The Land of Mountains, Historical Kings, and Charming Seaside Towns

Epirus is a standard geographic region and a modern day administrative unit of Greece. It borders the Greeks areas 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 vary dominates significantly of Epirus, stretching from the Albanian border in the north to the Gulf of Corinth in the south. The mountains individual Epirus from the relaxation of mainland Greece. The cash and largest city of Epirus is Ioannina, somewhere around 410 km northwest of Athens.

During antiquity, Epirus was a instead distant area, dominated by pastoral peoples who inhabited the mountainous area. It became acknowledged when Pyrrhus turned the King of Epirus and crossed the Ionian Sea to Italy to struggle the Romans. A several hundreds of years afterwards, Epirus and Southern Greece came underneath the dominion of the Romans. The Turks and the Venetians also left their mark on the historical past of Epirus.

Welcome to Syvota, an Unforgettable Town on the Ionian Coast

Syvota is a compact city with much less than 3,000 inhabitants, on the coast of the Ionian Sea, about 25 km south of the port town of Igoumenitsa. The city became a well-liked vacation spot for yachting, owing to its situation on the indented shoreline that capabilities various little islands, inlets, and bays.

As quickly as you arrive in Syvota, you will succumb to the appeal of this photogenic minor city. The architecture of Ionian Greece differs from what can be noticed in other components of the country, generally thanks to robust Italian cultural affect. Contrary to several other cities and metropolitan areas in Greece, Syvota has not nevertheless been opened to mass tourism, so crowds will not be an problem. The sunset above the Ionian is amazing when seen from the city waterfront.

Did we point out that Syvota has no considerably less than 16 beach locations in its vicinity? The most scenic of these is Bella Vraka, but we advise you go and take a look at the a lot more remote shorelines like Megali and Mikri Ammos. You can hike, consider a bus, or rent a car if you want to arrive at the seashores like Karavostasi, positioned even more south down the coastline.

Satisfy Parga: The Haughty Mistress of Epirus

Less than 30 km to the south of Syvota, lies Parga, the biggest city on the coast of Epirus. No go to to Epirus is finish without the need of coming to Parga. At first, you will have the impression you uncovered oneself someplace in Italy. The town’s coloured facades, buzzing slim alleys, and a lot of shops, cafes, and dining establishments are a treat for the senses. There’s one thing to see and knowledge on each individual corner. Parga rose to prominence less than the rule of the Venetians, who manufactured it into an significant outpost. The Castle of Parga crafted on a rocky outcrop jutting out into the blue waters of the Ionian was thoroughly rebuilt by the Venetians and can be frequented today. Parga also grew to become recognized for becoming the birthplace of Ibrahim Pasha, the famous Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire underneath Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.

Suitable throughout from the town’s waterfront is the little islet of Panagia. You can acquire a taxi boat to stop by it or swim there from the nearby seashore. A little Orthodox church can be located on the islet, safely and securely hidden in between pines and other foliage.

Right away to the west of the town, on the other aspect of the hill is the famed Valtos Beach front, exactly where you can expend a great working day at the beach front or love watersports. It usually takes only a few of minutes to arrive at it by taxi boat but if you’re in the temper for a climb and really do not mind getting your way through winding alleys, you can also get there on foot. Parga is surrounded by olive groves and pines and enjoys a delicate Mediterranean climate. The temperature stays warm until finally Oct but our recommendation is that you stop by in September, when there are less crowds. Be positive to book your lodging in progress as it is not constantly easy to discover a hotel space or an condominium on the location, specially through the height of the summer time.

Go on a Boat Journey and Visit the Islands of Paxi and Antipaxi

You can get a ticket to the close by islands of Paxos and Antipaxos at any vacationer agency in Parga. The boat ride usually takes about an hour. Most excursions involve lunch and allow you go on a swim in some of the sea caves along the way. The much more adventurous between you will appreciate the thrill of leaping from the rocky cliffs towering above the azure waters of the Ionian. The beaches of Antipaxos and Paxos rank amongst the most scenic in the Mediterranean.

As you arrive at the modest town of Gaios, on the western shore of Paxos, get some time to steep oneself into Greek mythology. In accordance to an ancient Greek fantasy, the two islands arrived to be when Poseidon stroke the considerably much larger island of Corfu with his trident, so that he and his wife can have some rest, significantly from everybody.

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

Preveza is perched on the southern finish of a peninsula bordered by the Ionian Sea to the west and the Ambracian Gulf to the east. The city and the region encompassing it have a heritage that dates again to Antiquity. Right across the slim strait connecting the Ionian Sea with the Ambracian Gulf is the village of Aktio, where by Mark Anthony and Cleopatra ended up defeated by the armies of Octavian. Currently, there’s tiny to see that bears testimony to the excellent naval fight fought in the waters of the gulf but just to the north of Preveza you can stop by the ruins of the Roman metropolis of Nicopolis.

A lot like Parga, Preveza’s architecture was heavily motivated by the Venetians. As in other places in Greece, you will practical experience attribute Greek charm and take pleasure in the lifestyle of hospitality that will make Greece this sort of a good place to go to. The regional cuisine will fulfill the preferences of even the largest gourmands amid you. Wine connoisseurs will be joyful to consider the neighborhood Debina wine built from white grapes native to Epirus.

Preveza is served by an worldwide airport, creating it the excellent location to commence and/or conclude your go to to Epirus.

Our Last Word

Greece is an incredible place, but get off the beaten path and examine the mysterious corners.  You will not be unhappy and have a significantly far better time.