PARGA, on Greece's mainland west coast and the largest resort in the area of Ipiros (Epirus), faces across the water to the Ionian Islands of Paxos (Paxi) and Andipaxos (Andipaxi). The old town is situated in a short valley, between the eastern rim of Valtos Bay and the olive-tree clad Lithitsa hill, with newer extensions into the long Kryoneri valley to the east. The headland between the town and Valtos is guarded by the large castle.
The bay of Kryoneri beach (town beach) and next-door Piso Kryoneri beach is dotted with islets and emergent rocks. The largest of these is the tree-covered Panagia (Virgin Mary) island, with two churches – that of the Panagia by the jetty, and Agios Nikolaos by the little Ammopoulou beach – and a small Napoleonic fortification. The two large, upright sea rocks east of Panagia island are known as Kremyda and Skorda, Onion and Garlic.
VALTOS BEACH. This huge, 1 km beach is backed by a steep ridge at the eastern, Parga end, and at the western end by olive groves and scattered accommodations in the valley which runs up to Anthousa. The southwestern tip of the bay has a small harbour and jetty, and a headland, Akrotiri Keladio, with the bell-towered ruins of the monastery of the Panagia of Vlahernon. The name Valtos means a marsh, and refers to the good supplies of underground water in the area. An older name for the bay is Hrysoyiali, the ‘golden shore'.
LYKHNOS (Likhnos, Lychnos) BEACH. Almost as large as Valtos, sea-caved Lykhnos has an even more spectacular setting, between the hills of eastern Parga and Agia Kyriaki.
ANTHOUSA. To the northwest of Parga, the main road climbs in 3.5 km to the elongated village of Anthousa (see map, page 11), with several cafes and tavernas. Anthousa is overlooked by Ali Pasha's hilltop castle, behind which is the small, scattered settlement of Trikorfo. On the plateau on the mountain ridge above, is the site of ancient Paleo Parga.
AGIA. Beyond Anthousa and Trikorfo, perched on an outlier of 927m Mt. Pargas, is the large village of Agia, the westernmost in the province of Preveza. From Agia, the road continues 10 km to Perdika, and then on to the coastal resort of Syvota and the port of Igoumenitsa, all in Thesprotia province. A surfaced side road from Agia leads 6 km down to pretty Sarakiniko beach.
Beyond Parga. Once you have done the local walks from Parga, there are many interesting areas of mainland Greece to visit with a taxi or hire car. These include the Nekromantio (Oracle of the Dead) of Ephyra; the Roman city of Nikopolis, near Preveza; Lefkada (Levkas) island (accessible by causeway road); historical Ioannina with its lake; the Oracle of Zeus and one of the largest ancient theatres at Dodona. With an overnight stop or two, the following would be possible: the picturesque village of Metsovo, near the high pass over the Pindos mountains; the rock pillar monasteries of Meteora; the villages and fabulous scenery of the Zagori-Vikos Gorge region. There are also ferries westward from Parga for the day trip to the small, green island of Paxi (Paxos).
Taxi driver Tasos Tousis (and son Vassilis) of taxi TAZ-9149 (mobile phone 69770 92536)
speak good English and can arrange excursions and
transfers.
The book and map are on sale at the bookshop (picture left) at Spyrou Livada
3 in Parga, near the central crossroads by the main church and OTE office,
along with an extensive stock of stationery, Greek maps, postcards and other
publications.
The book and map are also on sale at the office of ITS Travel at Spyrou Livada 4.
Lance Chilton and Marengo 2008
Marengo, 17 Bernard Crescent, HUNSTANTON PE36 6ER, England e-mail us: here
Taxi driver Tasos Tousis (and son Vassilis) of taxi TAZ-9149 (mobile phone 69770 92536)
speak good English and can arrange excursions and
transfers.