Why Visit
The most beautiful beach is Valtos, an enormous bay with blue green water and tourist facilities. Lichnos and Sarakiniko are also fabulous beaches, apart from the Town Beach that usually gets very crowded. A boat from the port of Parga connects Valtos, Lichnos and Sarakiniko to the town.
Interesting sights to visit there is the Venetian Castle on top of a rock above the town and the Ottoman Castle in Anthoussa. A place of amazing natural beauty is the springs of River Acherontas, surrounded by lush greenery. From these springs start trekking paths in the mountains.
History
Ancient and Venetian times
The history of Parga starts from antiquity. There is historical evidence that the bay of Parga has already been inhabited since the Mycenaean Times. However, after the Macedonian king Perseus was defeated in Pydna in 168 BC, the Roman general Aemilius Paul destroyed all cities of Epirus, including Parga. Many centuries went by until 1320, when the settlement currently known as "Paleoparga", on the Petzovolio mountain, was mentioned for the first time in a commercial trade between the bishop of Romania and Venice. In 1360, the inhabitants of this settlement moved to the place where Parga is located today, in order to avoid the constant attacks of the Turks and the Albanians.
To make sure that the city would be safe, the residents asked for the help of the Normans, who ruled over the Ionian Sea by those times. In 1401, the city came under the Venetian rules and this brought a certain sense of stability and welfare to its residents. The Venetians built the fortress of the city, planted great quantities of olive trees and developed Parga into an olive oil commercial centre. In 1452, the Ottomans attacked the city and dominated it for two years. In 1537, the fearsome pirate Barbarossa destroyed the whole city and in 1571, the army of the Albanian leader Ali Pasha attacked the city for one more time.
Sieges by the Ottomans
After that, a peace treaty between the Venetians and Ottomans took place, which lasted from 1573 to 1644 and brought again some prosperity.The Venetians considered Parga a city of strategic geographical position that allowed them to control the Ionian Islands and to keep an eye on the Ottoman Empire. Once the treaty expired, the Turks attacked Parga in 1657, sought the city for three years but they didn't manage to conquer it.
Then, in 1718 there was a new treaty, this time between Venice, Austria and the Ottoman Empire, the treaty of "Passarovitch", which ended in 1797, when Venice surrendered to Napoleon Bonaparte and gave Parga and the Ionian Islands away to the French. In the same year, some French troops came to Parga and built a fortress on the island of Panagia, in front of the Parga bay. The period of prosperity ended when Ali Pasha came with his army to conquer the city. Since the French were very few, the residents decided to ask for the help of the Russian fleet, which now patrolled the Ionian Islands. A treaty between the Russian Tsar and the Ottoman Empire recognized Parga as an autonomous city, under the Russian influence. However, Ali Pasha tried to recover Parga, without success.
Sold to Turks
In 1807, there was another treaty, in which Parga came under the French rule once again. This time Ali Pasha did not attack, since the French sent a small garrison to Parga, just in case. However, the history of Parga went through another difficult period when Napoleon lost the famous battle near Waterloo, in 1815. In that same year, the inhabitants of the city rebelled to the French under the instigation of the British and put themselves under the British ruling. In 1807, there was another treaty, in which Parga came under the French rule once again. This time Ali Pasha did not attack, since the French sent a small garrison to Parga, just in case.
However, the history of Parga went through another difficult period when Napoleon lost the famous battle near Waterloo, in 1815. In that same year, the inhabitants of the city rebelled to the French under the instigation of the British and put themselves under the British ruling. However, the British were not actually interested in Parga itself, as they only saw it as a path to achieve their final goal: to occupy the Ionian Islands. So, in 1817, England finally sold Parga to Ali Pasha for 150,000 pounds.
This was a very hard beat for the residents, who got so desperate that burned the bones of their ancestors and abandoned their city on April 15th, 1817. They were altogether 4000 people and embarked to the nearby island of Corfu. Then, 300 men of Ali Pasha entered Parga and inhabited the city. When part of its former Greek inhabitants came back in 1831, they found that the Turks were now the owners of their houses and lands. In fact, they were forced to work their lands. This Turkish oppression lasted until 1913, when Parga finally incorporated to the Greek state.
Museums - Archeological
Of great interest in Parga is the restored Olive Oil Factory which opened its doors in 2012. The museum travels you back to the industrial period of Parga presenting the traditional means of olive oil production offering visitors the chance to learn the secrets of olive oil, one of the most famous Greek products.
The Ecclesiastical Museum is found in the heart of Parga, next to the church of Agioi Apostoloi. Part of its lavish collection includes two gospels from 17th century, precious icons and other rare books. Of unique interest though is the 300 year old banner of Parga, made of red silk. Here you can admire the holy icon of Panagia Vlacherna.
Beaches
Town Beach, Valtos, Lichnos beach, Sarakiniko, Agios Ioannis, Agios Sostis, Krioneri, Piso Krioneri
Religious Monasteries and Churches
Due to the subsequent attacks and invasions from the enemies, the locals of Parga turned to religion for comfort and hope. Today, Parga is home to numerous Greek Orthodox churches built on the hills and the centre of the town.
West of the town, on a hill above Valtos beach rises the Monastery of Panagia Vlacherna, the most important religious monument of Parga. Its 15 meters-high bell tower is the only surviving part from the Byzantine monastery and dominates the area. Around the church lie some ancient ruins with embrasures in its walls. It is said that the icon of Panagia Vlacherna which is hosted in the Ecclesiastical Museum was brought from Kappadokia.
Only 7 km from the centre of the town, above the beautiful beach with the turquoise waters lies the chapel of Agios Sostis, one of the most peculiar churches wedged between two rocks. It is certainly a rare and captivating sight. It takes only 20 minutes to access by boat.
Agios Nikolaos is the saint patron of Parga located right at the centre, next to the Ecclesiastical Museum. It is also known as the largest church of the town with beautiful frescoes and icons.
On top of the islet located opposite Parga town lies the tiny chapel of Panagia. On August 15th, the name day of the Virgin Mary, you will see hundreds of faithful arriving by boat. Among the dozen other churches that adorn Parga are Agios Athanasios (Krioneri beach), Agia Marina, Agia Eleni and Agios Spyridonas.
