- Mayor : Ioannis Lolos
- Region : Epire
- Website : www.igoumenitsa.gr
Igoumenitsa, with its population of 25 814 inhabitants, is the capital of the prefecture of Thesprotia in the region of Epire, in the West of Greece. It is a strategic place for tourism and business in the North of the country. Located in the cove of the Thesprotia bay, it is just in front of the Corfou Island, being thus the nearest port to Italy, with direct connections with Brindisi, Bari, Ancona and Venetia. A road network directly links it to Athena, 480 km, Thessalonica, 327 km, and Ionnina. Ionnina has the nearest airport, 70 km away from the city, Corfu and Preveza, Aktio 94 km. There are interesting touristic places in Sivota, Corfu, Parga, the Ionian Islands, whereas a significant number of archaeological sites can be visited in Igoumenitsa. Igoumenitsa was in the hands of the Turks until 1913 and only developed as a harbour from 1923, when the border between Albania and Greece was set up. The German army destroyed Igoumenitsa during their retreat in 1944. On a hill of the city, in a park, there are ruins of an ancient Turkish fortress, hidden by trees. The harbour should become, in the following year, one of the first cruise destinations, putting forward the beauty of Thesprotia, as well as the touristic interest and the natural beauty of the Epire region. Igoumenitsa has numerous incredible monuments that are as many surprises and unknown beauties for the visitor. Dozens of fortified (or not) villages, military buildings, necropolis and hundreds of places with isolated monuments, from every period, are disseminated through the prefecture.
Places to see in Igoumenitsa
Pyrgos Ragiou: you should find the archaeological site of Pyrgos Ragiou (the Ragio tower) on the summit of a hill in the middle of the Regio-Kestrini plains, next to the former estuary of the Kalamas river. It was probably a fortified island in the 5th century BC, a seaside installation that certainly corresponds to the ancient city of Toroni, the basis of Corfou, cited by Thucydides.
Gitana (Gitani): Gitana, the second capital, in the chronological order, from the ancient Thesprotia and the head of Koinon of the Thesprotians, is present with the ruins of a fortified implantation in the South-West ridge of the Vrysella hill, in the North of the basin of the Kalamas River.
Doliani (Fanoti): the archaeological site of Danoti, on a surface area of 27,50 hectares, spread on a chalky hill to the East of the new village of Geroplatanos, within the limits of the municipality of Igoumenitsa, Theprotia. It is a fortification with a double wall of defence that corresponds to the former site of Fanoti, the centre of the ancient Thesprotian tribe of the “Fanotians”. We think that they occupied this place located between the Morgana mounts and the middle of the Kalamas River.
Dymokastro: the archaeological site of Dymokastro, located on a hill in the South of the Karavostaki bay in Perdika, Thesprotia. This fortified castle, which was identified by N. Hammond and S. Dakaris with Elina, was mentioned in the inscription in the lead from Dodona.
Archaeological museum of Igoumenitsa: the permanent collection of the museum, under the title, “the Thesprotian land”, covers a period from the middle of the Palaeolithic era (100 000 BC) to the setting up of the Ottoman authority, in the 19TH century AD. Thanks to the presentation of objects and didactical information, the visitor can follow the different historical steps and the diversity of the historical past of Thesprotia.
Saint Monastery of Giromari: it was founded by Saint Niloas Erihiotis at the beginning of the 14th century and was one of the most important monastic centres of Epire. The monastery belongs to the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople as a patriarchal place and later, in the 18th century, became the Chair of the Patriarchal Exarch of Giromeni.
Lake of Kalodiki: in the South of the prefecture of Thesprotia, a wild place, this lake is also a natural reserve. Surrounded by mountains and great ponds, it differs from the mouth of the Kalama. Numerous water birds (ducks, herons) come to find shelter there.
Places to see on the coast of Igoumenitsa
Drepano: Drepano is 5 km away from the city of Igoumenitsa. It is a very long beach, 7 km, on the peninsula of Drepano. The beach has lovely eucalyptus, real white and clean sand, not much deep waters. It proposes camping, inns, cafes and nautical sports.
Plataria: Plataria is a traditional and touristic village with a rich and beautiful nature, 12 km away from Igoumenitsa, perfectly combining the green of the Epire Mountains with the blue of the Ionian Sea.
Sivota: Sivota is a centre of interest for visitors coming from the entire world. This place is a gift from nature, and nobody can forget it. Sivota actively developed tourism with surprising beaches and greenish islands towards the entrance of the bay. Marinas from Sivota and Plataria can welcome small nautical unities, thus contributing to the development of the area.
Perdika: Perdika is a few km away from Sivota. It is built on a mountain with a spectacular view on the dark blue of the Ionian Sea. The beauty of the land of Perdika is similar to that of Sivota. It has superb beaches and luxuriant vegetation.