Parga
Where is Parga located?
Parga, the city steeped in history with ancient origins, underlines the countless faces of western Greece. In the midst of huge mountains, surrounded by clear rivers, dense forests and jagged rocks, the picturesque town enriches the mainland of the Greek west coast. Green olive groves and silvery shimmering cliffs frame an exceptionally beautiful sandy beach with a paradisiacal bay in a semicircle. The Venetian fortress towers high above the city. Not far are the islands of Paxos and Andipaxos – the southern tip of Corfu can also be seen. In the Epirus region, on the coast, Parga provides great insights into an eventful history of Greece.
Parga – the bride of the Ionian Sea
Erected by the Normans, destroyed by the Ottomans and rebuilt by the Venetians – Parga was occupied by Ottomans, Venetians, Italians and English for centuries. The favorable geographic location made the location a popular target for attacks. Medieval fortress walls today bear witness to a moving time. The fortress was built by the Normans in the 14th century. The castle received its final form and architecture in 1792 under Venetian rule. Rebuilt into a huge fortress, it remained impregnable until 1819. The castle ruins offer a wonderful view of the city and the coast with its bays and offshore islands. The castle, traditional building,
Activities around the picturesque port city
At the foot of the Epirus Mountains, Parga is one of the most beautiful holiday resorts in Greece. The lovable town attracts with an enchanting beach promenade, lined with countless taverns. Colorful house facades invite you to stroll. Small colorful boats and the larger excursion boats from Corfu ensure a lively hustle and bustle at the harbor. At the end of the harbor promenade there are romantic corners and an impressive labyrinth of narrow streets. During a stroll, your gaze wanders over beautiful beach bays. A trip to Valtos Beach with a wonderful view of the fortress is popular. Crystal clear water invites you to swim. In addition, this coastal area offers a wide range of water sports. The mountainous surroundings of Parga offer numerous opportunities for hiking and cycling.
Samos
Nature, culture and bathing pleasure
The green island of Samos is located in the east of the Aegean Sea and is one of the most beautiful islands in Greece. Pine forests, olive groves, lemon trees and grapevines offer an enchanting green landscape. Well-preserved buildings from antiquity and villages with an impressive history and atmosphere allow the visitor to spend an unforgettable holiday. Fantastic beaches with crystal clear water, enchanting flora and the famous Samos wine attract visitors in every season. Due to a good infrastructure and interesting excursion possibilities, Samos is a popular travel destination for both individual tours and study trips.
Localities
A visit to the Archaeological Museum in Vathy, the island’s capital, is one of the highlights of a trip to Samos. The most famous exhibit is the Samos kouros, the largest preserved kouros in Greece. A visit to the Byzantine Museum and the Wine Museum in Vathy is also recommended.
Island of Pythagoras
The ancient capital of the island of Pythagorion is named after the famous Greek mathematician Pythagoras who lived on Samos. The Pythagoras Cave, the city’s castle and the Wall of Polycrates are major attractions.
The Temple of Hera, called Heraion, is located on the south coast of the island and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Finds from this area can be seen in the Archaeological Museum in Vathy. The Heraia Pythagoria Festival takes place here every year in summer.
The Eupalinos tunnel is a water pipe from the 6th century BC. and is one of the largest technical structures of antiquity.
Hike
Samos is a paradise especially for hikers. Well-signposted hiking trails lead through a unique landscape that is particularly famous for its variety of orchids. The paths lead along the coast and keep going back to the interior of the island. The villages of Vourliotes and Manolates with their vineyards or the huge chestnut trees in the northeast of the island are among the most popular hiking destinations.
Kastellorizo
Kastellorizo is a Greek island and municipality in the southeastern Mediterranean. It is located about 2 kilometers off the south coast of Turkey, about 570 km southeast of Athens and 125 km east of Rhodes and is also part of the regional unit of Rhodes. The island, which belongs to Greece, has become popular in recent years with tourists looking for a secluded spot for a nice beach holiday, thanks in part to the Oscar-winning film “Mediterraneo” by Gabriele Salvatores, which is set on this island during the Second World War.
Inviting bay and romantic townhouses
Kastellorizo is also called Megesti and is located in the eastern Mediterranean and is the easternmost Greek island. It is six kilometers long and three kilometers wide and has an area of 9.2 square kilometers. The island, which is triangular in shape, has three capes: Agios Stefanos in the north), Nifti in the east and Pounenti in the southwest. Between the first two capes there is a wide and inviting bay where you will find the main port and the only town on the island. The townhouses are narrow and characterized by windows and wooden balconies of the Anatolian style. Behind the promenade, however, many houses are still in a ruinous condition. At the entrance to the port, on the east side, are the one-story remains of the former Italian government house, the “Palazzina della delegazione”, which was built in 1926 by the Italian architect Florestano Di Fausto. This architect built many of the most important buildings in Rhodes at the time. Nearby is the old Ottoman mosque from the 18th century, which has been restored since 2007 and reopened as a museum. This is where the city quay begins, which runs on all three sides of the harbor. The central square – Platja Ethelondon Kastellórizou – is in the middle of the east side, near the ship’s dock. On the opposite side of the harbor you have a very nice view of Pera Meria, the western quay, and the monasteries of Profitis Ilías and Agia Triadha, the former military base.