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History  |
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Paragiros, Paragaia, Epa-gogos, Epargos (it seem that from these alternatives Parga derived its name) were the first names of this beautiful town. The creation of whics is due to the Constantinople refugees who sought shelter here. They founded a settlement and built a castle in "Petzvolio".
Today the locals call the ruins "Kasteli". Old Parga is mentioned from the 12th century as one of the most important Epitoric towns. On the 21th of March 1401, the Pargiotes signed a treaty with the Royal Democracy of Venice, which had entabilished itself in Parga, so that they could prevent the Turks from conquering the town.
The castle was probably built during this time, only to be demolished in 1537 by Harentine Barbarosa. The Venetians rebuilt it in 1567. The second time it was destroyed, was by the Turks in 1571.
The Venetians rebuilt it again after the Naval Battle of Naphpakto. It remained impregnable until the Pargiotes were forced to abandon it because the British goverment surrendered it to Ali Pasha.
The British High Commissioner, Maitland (Sultan Thomas to the Greeks) met with Ali Pasha in his seraglio in Preveza it is here that he also received monetary compensation for the property of the Pargiotes. On the 22nd of May 1930 (the year they celebrated the restoration of the Greek nation after 100 years of enslavement) the ship "Elly" brought back Parga's Holy articles (banner, the icons and the holy vessels)
that had been kept in Kerkira since 1819. They were placed in the church of the Holy Apostles, which today is the Ecclesiastical Museum of Parga.
The tracks of history and time have asserted their imprints in a lot of monuments in the area, like the domed Mycenean tomb in Kiperi, remnants of walls and tombs of the classical ancient greek period, the Castle of Parga, the ruined Monastery of Vlachernon, the small French castle on the Island and the Castle of Anthousa. Parga is a town with ancient roots,
deeply influenced by the Western civilization and culture. It existed for many years as a natural boundary between east and west. This coexistence of these two civilizations here in this small edge of the epirotic peninsula, has graced it with a unique charm. When you first visit Parga you will be impressed with its lush vegetation, its sorrounding mountains and its hundred years old olive groves. It's beautiful beaches and isolated bays hide behind huge rocks that protect them as if they were valuable treasures.
All the services one requires are concentrated near the port. There you can book everything from accomodations to boat excursions to nearby islands.
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