You may not need a boat to reach it, but it looks like an island. A beautiful city from another era, with colorful houses, picturesque alleys, countless churches, impressive castles and some of the most beautiful beaches in Greece. This is Parga!
A few words about the city
Parga is a seaside town located in the northwestern part of the prefecture of Preveza and washed by the Ionian Sea. Its history begins in antiquity when it was known as Parageiros, its current name comes from the combination of the words Paragaia and Ypargos! It was a possession of the Normans, who built the first fortress in the 14th century and then the Venetians, the French, the English and the Turks. During the years of the Venetian rule, it had important privileges, experienced economic prosperity and was a bridge between Turkish-occupied Greece and Venice! According to the latest census, it has a population of 3,904 inhabitants, while it has the nickname "Princess of Ionian", as it is charming, unique, mysterious, with a long history and various natural beauties. Below I have selected for you, what I think someone visiting the city for the first time should see.
10) Acheron Springs
A few kilometers outside of Parga, in the village of Glyki, we find the Springs of Acheron. This river took its name from the word ἄχος and means river of sighs, something not surprising since according to the ancient Greeks Acheron was the entrance of souls to the underworld! In fact, there is also the Acheron's Necromancy, which is built on top of a hill and where visitors used to come to communicate with the souls of their loved ones. If you find yourself there, it is worth walking among the gorge of its springs, where the landscape is magical and has a special energy. Of course, you should know that the waters are icy, so be fully prepared! But in Acheron you can also try various activities, such as rafting, canoe kayak, horse riding, paragliding, trekking, archery, cycling, trampoline and many others. The best choice in the area is undoubtedly River dream!
9) Paxos-Antipaxos
Of course, a trip to the wider area of Parga is incomplete without a visit to Paxos. Paxos is a small island complex, which, according to legend, was formed when Poseidon threw his trident with force at Corfu, in order to detach a piece of it to become his love refuge with Amphitrite! It is a jewel of the Ionian Sea, with blue-green waters, picturesque settlements and award-winning beaches that will surely blow your mind. I suggest choosing a cruise with Parga Cruises, which has an impressive pirate ship, the Captain Cook. He and his crew will take you to Voutumi beach in Antipaxos, whose waters look like a swimming pool, the blue caves and finally Gaios, the capital of Paxos. A Lilliputian paradise, with picturesque alleys, beautiful beaches and dozens of small taverns!
8) Syvota
Another place that is identified with Parga is, of course, Syvota. It is a small seaside village, which is built in a closed sea bay, where small islands have formed around it. In Syvota you will find some magical beaches with turquoise waters and fine sand, which you have never seen before. I suggest you either rent a boat yourself or hop on one of the ferries that run regularly from the harbor to discover them. Start from Pisina beach, which got its name for the obvious reasons (pisina in greek means pool), and continue to Diapori which is located directly opposite the islet of Saint Nicholas. It is also worth visiting the unique Bela Vraka, which you can reach by literally walking through the water, while I recommend walking the small passage behind this particular beach, to lead to a hidden shore. Finally, very nice beaches are also Zavia, Big and Small Ammos and Saint Paraskevi.
7) Churches
And let's focus on Parga, starting with its churches. Parga has a large number of churches and monasteries. Probably the many raids and attacks it received made the inhabitants turn to their religious feeling and the security it offers. In fact, the temples located outside the city had battlements for defensive purposes! The most important of these are the Holy Church of Saint Nicholas (Patron Saint of Parga), which is the largest in the city, the small Church of Saint Helen (Saint Helen hill), the Sacred Church of Saint Athanasius (Kryoneri), the church of Saint Sostis (Saint Sostis - beach), the Holy Ship of Saint Marina, the church of Mother Mary (on the islet of the same name), the Holy Churches of Saint Nicholas (in Haliopoulos and Monolithos), the Holy Church of the Twelve Apostles, where the holy relics of Parga the holy banner, gospels, icons and utensils, the church of Saint Spyridon (in Valto) and the Holy Monastery of Mother Mary of Vlacherna, at Cape Helati.
6) Museums
The truth is that Parga is not known for its museums; however there are two in the city that are worth visiting. The first is the Ecclesiastical Museum of Parga, located in the center of the city, next to the parish church of the Holy Apostles. The museum's rich collection includes, among other things, two Gospels from the 17th century, priceless icons such as the Virgin Mary of Vlacherna, the Virgin Mary of Panagiopoula and the Virgin Mary Odegetria, and two copies of the epitaphs of a monk of Mount Athos dating back to 1600. Here, the 300-year-old banner of Parga, which is made of red silk and has been painted with oil on both sides, where the Virgin Mary is depicted with the divine child and marks from the bullets of the Turks, can be seen on it!
The second distinct museum of Parga is the Paragea Olive and Tasting Museum. It is an old olive mill in the heart of the city, which was designed to best tell the story of the olive and its processing in the area. The museum exhibits the olive oil production process in a motorized olive mill and shows the connection between the production of olives and oil with the history of Parga, from the days of the Venetians until today. At the same time, you will have the opportunity to taste the olive oil of the region and learn all its secrets!
5) Beaches
And we pass to what Parga is known for, and of course I am referring to its beaches. The most famous beach in the area is called Valtos! It is a huge sandy beach located behind the Castle, with organized infrastructure and water sports gathering the majority of tourists. So if you want to enjoy your bath in relative peace, you should visit it either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. For a quick dip, Kryoneri is also recommended. A tiny coast, just a few meters from the center of Parga, while a little further down is the quiet beach of Piso Krioneri. At 3 kilometers east of Parga you will find Lichnos beach, in a green environment and two small sea caves, ideal for exploration and 3 kilometers below is the bay of Ai Giannakis, with an underwater spring with fresh water. Finally, Sarakiniko, 19 kilometers from Parga, is an organized beach with fine sand and crystal clear waters, which is ideal for quiet holidays.
4) Panagia Island
Right across from the port of Parga are around ten small islands, all of which are naturally uninhabited and you can even approach them by swimming! The largest of these is the islet of Panagia, which took its name from the church of Panagia (Mother Mary) located on it. It is a small temple with a characteristic bell tower, while at the highest point of the island there is also a beautiful French castle. This was built by the French conquerors in 1808 during their stay in Parga (1797-1814), in order to control the small ships in the port, which were not visible from the castle.
3) Ali Pasha Castle
The Castle of Anthousa or Castle of Ali Pasha as it is popularly known, is the first of the two castles of the city and is located on a hill between the villages of Anthousa and Agia, five kilometers north of Parga. It is a massive and imposing building, built in 1814 by Ali Pasha of Ioannina in order to control from there the unruly Parga, which shortly after he would buy from the British governor of the Ionian Islands, Maitland. The fortress has been preserved in excellent condition, with many of the areas of the then castle being open to the visitor. Thus, being there you will have the opportunity to admire the underground tanks, the bastions, the matchbox and the rooms of Ali Pasha, with the fireplace and cupboards. Finally, the castle of Ali Pasha offers an eclipsing panoramic view of Parga and the entire Ionian Sea.
2) Parga Castle
The city's other castle is also the more famous of the two. The castle of Parga is therefore located on a hill-promontory, which dominates the entrance to the port of the city and the adjacent huge beach of Valtos. This particular castle was destroyed and rebuilt several times, as many times as the city was looted. What we see today is the work of the Venetians since the 16th century, plus the additions made by Ali Pasha when he acquired Parga. You can approach the castle through the narrow cobbled streets of the old town, starting from the port. The climb is quite easy and the view will definitely repay you! Finally, inside the castle there is a café-refreshment, while the two reconstructed buildings often host theatrical performances and photography exhibitions.
1) Port
Of course, the beautiful and picturesque port of Parga could not be missing from the top of the list. It is the most recognizable image of the city, with its countless colorful houses that look like postcards. It is the place where the heart of the city beats, as it is full of all kinds of shops. Here you will find from local taverns to gourmet restaurants, from cafes overlooking the Ionian Sea to bars that stay open until dawn and from souvenir shops to tourist accommodations. Finally, as a self-respecting port, all cruises to the surrounding areas depart from here. So don't hesitate to board one of the ships docked in the harbor and set sail for other states!
How to go
There are several ways to get to Parga. Initially, you can approach the city by road, with your own means of transport via Egnatia Street. You can also get on one of the buses that run continuously. Finally, one can arrive by air, up to a point. The Airport that serves Parga and Preveza prefecture is that of Aktion, located at a distance of 65 kilometers from the city of Parga. From there with a bus, in about an hour you will be at your destination!
Where to stay
Parga, like the whole region, is one of the most famous summer destinations in Greece, which means a lot of accommodation. My opinion is to stay in the city of Parga, to be in the center of things. So I recommend Bianco Resort. It is a beautiful hotel in one of the most central parts of the city, in front of Krioneri beach and literally on the sea.
What to eat
The cuisine of the region is influenced by the peculiarity of its terrain, which combines the mountain and the sea, its climate and its centuries-old history, offering countless dishes and taste combinations, which will make your visit to this special corner of Greece, truly unforgettable! One of the best options in town is The 5 Senses. This is a restaurant that has a menu carefully and well structured, with proposals that are impossible not to impress you! Also worth mentioning is Aegis Dine & Drink, on the promenade, while Lithos is also an excellent tavern and Magic Cream is a quality ice cream shop.
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Mouzakidis Pantelis
