Thesprotia

General Information on Thesprotia

Igoumenitsa is a nice coastal town and the capital of the Prefecture of Thesprotia. It is a modern town with a huge, well protected, harbour, a gateway to Western Europe, and a major hub for Adriatic Sea traffic. The economy of the region is based on agriculture, stock-breeding, fish-culture, trade, craft industry, tourism and lastly, transportation.

Igoumenitsa is considered a “passage”, as it is an intermediate station to Corfu or Italy. It attracts thousands of visitors all year round, but most of them stay here only for a while, without discovering the hidden beauties of the area. The city has remarkable tourist infrastructures and natural beauties. Visitors are enchanted by scenery variations. The combination of green and Ionian blue creates unique pictures. Apart from its natural beauties, the region offers many archaeological sites of historical importance, which are worth a visit. Igoumenitsa is a lovely town and an excellent choice for short escapes or as a starting point for an acquaintance with magnificent Epirus.

History of Thesprotia

The region of Igoumenitsa has been inhabited since prehistoric times. According to writers of antiquity, Thesprotia was the birthplace of Hellenism, as its inhabitants are considered descendants of Hellen’s parents, Defkalion and Pyrra. The Greeks left Thesprotia and moved to Thessaly, Fthia and the rest of Greece. If myth sometimes mingles with truth, the historic sources and archaeological finds corroborate the importance of Thesprotia throughout Greek history.

In ancient times, Igoumenitsa was known as Titani and was one of the most important cities of the Thesprotis Kingdom. The city was a meeting place of the Epirotic League and it was destroyed by Romans in 167 B.C. and annexed to the Roman Empire. Igoumenitsa belonged to the Ottoman Empire until 1913. It then became part of the Greek state. In 1944, the town was completely destroyed by the retreating German troops and was rebuilt again as a modern city. The port was constructed in the 60s and a coastal link with Italy was established. This was the driving force for the development of the town and today, Igoumenitsa is one of the greatest harbours of Greece.

Towns & Villages in Thesprotia

Syvota: Syvota is a small sleepy village in the coastal line of the Ionian Sea, in Thesprotia. It is only a half-hour drive from the capital Igoumenitsa and it is the best-known resort in the region. The settlement is built in an idyllic landscape. Verdant hills around an enchanting bay, islets, crystal-clear waters and spotless beaches justify the number of its visitors. The beaches Megas Ammos, Mikri Ammos, Bella Vraka etc. and the excellent tourist facilities attract many tourists every summer.

Perdika: This big village of Thesprotia has a remarkable history and rare natural beauty. It is situated between Parga and Syvota, opposite the islands of Paxi and Corfu. The settlement is well worth visiting because of the nearby river and the acropolis of Dymokastro, a Corinthian colony. The archaeological site of Dymokastro is on a hill, where three walls surrounded an area of 220,000km², the ancient settlement of Elina. The eastern wall dates to the 4th century B.C. and the western wall to the 3rd century B.C.

Arillas: This small settlement lies right next to Perdika village and boasts one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece. The village took its name after Roman general Arillas, who died in the waters of the beach and was buried in Dymokastro.

Pente Ekklisies: This village is situated in a hill above the banks of Kalama, in the municipality of Paramythia, and it has a very beautiful landscape. It is rumoured that the town was built during the years of Ioulianos (6th century A.D.). Among the numerous churches of the settlement, two –Taxiarhes and Virgin Mary (1609-1610)– are well preserved and have nice paintings in their interiors.

Polidroso: This village is located at the boundaries of the Prefectures of Thesprotia and Ioannina in the municipality of Paramythia. It is a very beautiful, traditional settlement which stretches under the road to the banks of Kalamas with a beautiful bell tower which was built in 1577 and a remarkable Cultural Museum.

Beaches in Thesprotia

There are many beautiful beaches at the Prefecture of Igoumenitsa and even more around the region of Epirus. Closest to the capital are Drepanos beach and Makrigialos beach. Both of them are long and sandy with clean waters and tourist facilities.

How to Reach Thesprotia

Coach: Several KTEL coach services connect the city with most major cities in Greece, including Athens and Thessaloniki.

Ferry: Igoumenitsa is the port with the second largest number of passenger traffic in Greece. Many ferries dock here en route to other destinations in Greece and Italy.

Weather in Thesprotia

The climate is similar to Bergen and Norway. Average precipitation in Igoumentisa is around 1,100 mm, while in Athens it is only 380 mm. Despite the rainy weather, the region has many sunny days all year long.