Aktaion Hotel
Igoumenitsa - Agion Apostolon 17
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Considered an important port of connection to the Ionian Islands and Italy, Igoumenitsa is a not very famous Greek town that is often only known as a stopover location before embarking to other destinations. Igoumenitsa is the second most important port in western Greece, as ferries to and from the islands of Corfu and Paxi dock here, as well as to and from the ports of Patras.
Surrounded on one side by high, forest-covered mountains and on the other by the sea, Igoumenitsa deserves to be discovered especially by all those who enjoy spending time in contact with nature. Reconstructed after the Second World War, this is now a contemporary and modern resort and is the ideal place both for those who enjoy relaxing on the beach and as a starting point for excursions into the countryside.
Nearby, don’t miss the village of Sivota, a beautiful bay dotted with small islands in front of Corfu, the city of letters and arts, Ioannina, which preserves traditional buildings exemplifying Byzantine and post-Byzantine architecture, the castle and palace of Ali Passà. Also, the splendid village of Zagoria, with its Megalo Papigo and Mikro Papigo quarters and the remarkable churches of Agios Georgios and Aghios Vassilios.
A two-hour drive from Igoumenitsa is Meteora, the complex of monasteries built on top of huge rocks, a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1988.
Igoumenitsa is surrounded by beautiful beaches that allow you to spend relaxing days in the sun. One of the closest to the centre is Plataria Beach, a sandy shore equipped with sunbeds and umbrellas and washed by crystal-clear waters. Not far from this shoreline is also the small beach of Elià, which is located right at the beginning of the bay coming from Igoumenitsa; this is not only a quiet and secluded spot, but also the beach that boasts the best waters in the area.
Other famous beaches are Drepano Beach and Makrigiali Beach that are popular especially with families for their facilities and features. Drepano Beach is a large sandy beach with a convenient parking area, fully equipped with all facilities and with slowly sloping seabed; the latter detail in particular is very popular with non-swimmers and families with small children. Immediately after Drepano is Makrigiali, a beach with fine, soft sand and a very peaceful environment.
Referred to by some as the ‘Gateway to Europe’ due to its strategic location, Igoumenitsa is considered a real ‘Piraeus in miniature’ due to its active port. The hub of city life is the port area, which is also the first stop for all ships from Italy that stop here before continuing on to Patras.
Apart from this, the city boasts a fairly cohesive city centre that has its heart in the coastal area where numerous buildings, shops and several restaurants can be found. In addition, Igoumenitsa is often used as a base for exploring surrounding localities as it is only a few kilometres from Syvota and about fifty kilometres from Parga, two popular tourist destinations.
On the wooded hillside overlooking the modern city of Igoumenitsa you can find the remains of a fortress that was originally built in the late Roman period, but was later destroyed and rebuilt several times. Given the strategic location of the castle, it was used extensively during the rule of the Serenissima, especially for defensive purposes as Igoumenitsa was an important trade centre at the time.
With the fall of Venetian rule and the arrival of the Ottomans, the castle of Igoumenitsa was destroyed several times and rebuilt in the same location. Today, we can only admire the remains of an ancient manor with rectangular towers on all sides that communicated with the interior of the castle through portals.
One of the few historical buildings in Igoumenitsa that has survived despite its destruction during World War II is a peaceful monastery located on Raion Hill. This small hill, in fact, houses an ancient Byzantine monastery on its top, which has managed to preserve wonderful frescoes and some other very old decorative elements over time. The walk to the monastery is not difficult and allows one to reach this small oasis of peace and tranquillity.
The Archaeological Museum of Igoumenitsa houses a collection of ancient artefacts found in the surrounding area covering several centuries of history: from the Palaeolithic to the Ottoman period, passing through the Hellenistic, Roman and finally the Venetian period.
A visit here is a great way to learn about the identity and history not only of the city but of the entire region. In fact, there are routes inside the museum that allow visitors to admire artefacts, ceramics, statues, weapons, coins and other objects that narrate many of the area’s events.
Lovers of open-air excursions can, on the other hand, plan a trip to Mount Zalongo, a place that offers breathtaking views of the surrounding region. There are several itineraries that lead up to the top of the mountain and allow you to spend a day surrounded by nature. The Zalongo Monument, named after the sacrifice made by the women of Souli, is also located at the summit. Souli was a town in Epirus conquered in 1803 by the Ottomans, who were headed by the ruthless Turkish-Albanian governor Ali Pasha, and rather than fall into slavery the women decided to throw themselves and their children off the summit.
Igoumenitsa is not an emblazoned tourist resort but nevertheless boasts several facilities in which to stay. The area offers different types of accommodation: from 4-star hotels to B&Bs and various campsites, especially in the area near the beach of Plataria.
Igoumenitsa is easy to reach by car thanks to the well-developed road network. In particular, the new Egnatia motorway passes through here, connecting the city with the north of Greece, cutting the entire Balkan Peninsula in two.
Alternatively, another very convenient way to reach the city is by boat, as the city offers connections to several Greek cities (Patras, Corfu, Paxoi)
The closest airports to the city of Igoumenitsa are Ioannina Airport, 79 km away, and Aktion-Preveza Airport, 93 km away.
What's the weather at Igoumenitsa? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Igoumenitsa for the next few days.
Igoumenitsa is a Greek city located in the Epirus region, a few kilometres from the Albanian border at Konispol. The city is 79 km from Ioannina, 320 km from Thessaloniki and 484 km from Athens.
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