Parga is a renown maritime town of the Prefecture of Preveza as well as a famous holiday destination. It is amphitheatrically built nestled in a picturesque bay, where the wooded small island of Panagia lays under the shadow of the towns’ Venetian castle. Take a stroll up to the old town where you’ll enjoy some distinguished architecture, wander around its cobbled stone streets with beautiful arches, discover flower-filled neighborhoods where picturesque little houses and colorful mansions and end up by drinking in the mesmerising sunset view of the emerald waters of the Ionian Sea from the Venetian walls. By nightfall take a romantic walk by the waterfront lined by tourist shops, beautiful stylish restaurants and little bars to drink or eat with a view to the lit up castle and Panagia islet.
The area’s lacy shores are excellent for your refreshing dives and sea water sports, not to mention that beaches offer various services and facilities to make your stay even more pleasant. Krioneri Beach (from where you can swim over to the small island of Panagia) and Piso-Krioneri Beach located within the town’s settlement, the cosmopolitan golden beach of Valtos, the wooded Lychnos Beach with the sea caves, the little bay of Agios Giannakis and finally Sarakiniko Beach with its fine sand and an olive orchard in the background.
Starting from Parga pay a visit to the Acheron River Springs, the archeological site of Nekromanteio (Oracle of the Dead), the historic area of Souli as well as to the islands of Paxi-Antipaxi which are reachable with the small boats departing from the town’s port.
Its capital and main port, Gaios (Gáios), is separated from its natural breakwater, the tiny island of Agios Nikolaos (Saint Nicholas), by a narrow channel, displaying one of the most beautiful port sceneries in Greece.
Not to be missed:
• the Venetian fortress of Agios Nikolaos
• the English Governor’s House
• the Paxi Museum and the churches and chapels of the area.
Visit the picturesque villages of Lóggos, Lákka and Oziás, tucked away in pine and olive trees. In the areas of Oziás, Yaná and Glyfáda, sulphur thermal springs offer an alternative treatment for rheumatics and other health conditions. Innumerable ravishing beaches await the fitter ones as a starting point for scuba diving into underwater caves and shipwrecks, and for top-notch windsurfing.
It sounds pretty interesting to walk through the vast olive groves inland. In the area of Magaziá, don’t forget to drop by the Olive Museum, once a traditional olive press. In the areas of Agia Eleoussa, Vlahopouliátika and Boycática look for the clusters of stone cisterns, carved on the rocks as rainwater collectors.
Sure “musts”:
• caique-sailing around the island
• exploring the islets around Paxi (Antipaxi)
• visiting the extraordinary 40-odd sea caves with the majestic domes on the south coast of the island
• hiking the old trails, among which we suggest the Mousmoúli-Porto Oziás and the Manessátika-Ypapantí ones.
To host a classical music festival runs in the family of the Ionian Islands, but Paxi take great pride in organising the following two. At the beginning and at the end of summer the island hosts internationally famous Greek and foreigner soloists, whereas in July the traditional festival of “Water and Oil” is held dedicated to folk music. To fully enjoy the celebration, visitors will sample here bread soaked in water, olives, onions, boiled potatoes and local wine.
