Vrachonas

The abandoned settlement of Vrachonas was once a community of about 60 houses and 352 inhabitants according to the 1929 census. Most of the houses, dating from the 18th-19th century, were two-storied with vaulted structures on the ground floor
and were built with local stone and architecture reminiscent of Byzantium. The mainoccupation of the inhabitants was agriculture and animal husbandry.

Apart from the houses, the settlement had numerous wells that were used by theresidents for their basic needs. Over time the village was abandoned and most of the inhabitants moved to Sivota. The settlement is built on a plateau that stretches along the ridge of Mount Vrachona to the southeast of the modern settlement ofSivota and offers a panoramic view of the Ionian Sea and the nearby islands.

The chapel of Prophet Ilias, built in 1990, stands out among the ruined houses. while west of the settlement there are ruins of a small citadel from prehistoric times.

The road to the settlement starts at about the middle of the Syvoton – Plataria route, where
the chapel of Agios Georgios is located. The distance that separates it from Sivota is about
10 kilometers. In 1993, in order to protect it from newer interventions, the settlement was declared a historical monument.

Nikopolis

Nikopolis or Nicopolis (meaning the victory city) is probably the largest (in size) ancient city in Greece! It was built by the Roman emperor Octavian after his victory at Aktion against Antony and Cleopatra of Egypt!

The size and the extensive walls are remarkable and totally stunning. The Archaeological site of Nikopolis is included in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Greece.

Some of the most important sites are:

The Roman Odeon includes the auditorium, the orchestra, and the stage. The impressive theatre isn’t like any other ancient Greek theatre that you might have visited! If you are lucky you might also attend concerts or theatre plays during summer time!

The seven notable Christian basilicas. Four lie within the perimeter of the Byzantine Walls.

The Roman water tower, which has a 50 km long pipeline and it carried water from the springs of Louros into the two tanks of Nymphaion in Nikopolis.

The Theatre, which is located south-east of the monument of Augustus.

The Springs of Acheron River (Glyki village)

The Acheron Springs is a hidden gem. A place of outstanding natural beauty that attracts people from all over the world. It is also a destination with lots of organized activities for people of all ages such as rafting, kayaking, gorge crossing, boating, archery, zip line, and horse riding. The springs are located in a very green landscape surrounded by hills with oak and elm trees, only 2 km away from the village of Gliki in the mountains of Souli. The light blue clear water of the river goes through gorges, creating ponds, and shelters. Creating sceneries of perfect peace and unique natural beauty on the way.

The Acheron River is well-known throughout Greek mythology. The mythical river was known as the “river of woe”, and was one of the five rivers of the Greek Underworld. It is here that Hermes psychopomp handed over the souls of the dead to the gloomy and terrifying Charon who would escort them from Earth to the Underworld. Its name probably comes from the word “achos” (= sorrow) and means “the river of sorrow”.

The Estuary of the Acheron River (Ammoudia village)

Homer describes the estuary of the Acheron as “…a small cliff, surrounded by Persephone’s tufted forests, full of lithe poplars and thorny willows”. This description of the area shows a significant
similarity with the current picture of the Bay of Ammoudia. The beautiful Ammoudia is a small picturesque village on the western coast of the Ionian Sea, between Preveza and Parga, opposite the island of Paxos.

Surrounded by an excellent beach at the bottom of a small and picturesque bay, with the crystal clear waters of the Ionian Sea but also with the River opening of the legendary Acheron River right next to it, it guarantees a unique experience. The whole landscape is dominated by two colors: Blue and Green. The combination of tradition and nature gives the magical atmosphere of the area a mystical feeling similar to that of Homer’s time.

The wider area of Ammoudia and the Acheron Delta, in general, is included in the NATURA 2000 European Network of Protected Areas and covers a total area of approximately 5,000 hectares.

The wider area of Ammoudia and the Acheron Delta, in general, is included in the NATURA 2000
European Network of Protected Areas and covers a total area of approximately 5,000 hectares.

The Acheron estuary is one of the main wetlands of Western Greece as on its banks there is a
significant number of rare species of flora and fauna which are protected by international conventions. In the Acheron Delta, there are a total of 19 types of habitats and 449 species of flora,
while the marsh of Ammoudia is included in the important and noteworthy wetland areas.

Inside the village, on the banks of the Acheron, you will find the four boats that make the wonderful boating every half hour, daily from May to mid-September. The journey takes about an hour and the ticket costs 5€.

Necromanteion of Acheron

The historical site of Necromanteion of Acheron is located 22km south of Parga and 13km north of Vrachos and dates back to the Hellenistic period (late 4th-3rd century BC). This sanctuary was an ancient Greek temple devoted to Hades, the god of the dead and the king of the underworld, as well as his later captive and future queen of the underworld, Persephone. Here devotees practiced magic involving communication with the dead.

The sanctuary is on top of a small hill on the outskirts of the village Mesopotamos at the meeting point of the Acheron, Pyriphlegethon, and the Cocytus rivers, which were believed to flow through and water the kingdom of Hades. This was the reason, that devotees thought it to be the door to the underworld and Homer’s Odyssey refers to it as the World of Souls.

If you choose to visit the river, do not forget to bring your water shoes to facilitate your walking in the river.

The site is open for visitors daily from 8:30 to 15:00h.

Admission is 8€. Admission for students and seniors is 4€. Children are free of charge.

Paxos & Antipaxos

Paxos & Antipaxos are Ionian islands separated by a short distance. According to Mythology, the island was created by Poseidon, who cut off, with a stroke of its trident, a part of Corfu with the purpose of lodging there his love with Amphitriti.

Tropical beaches, spectacular cliffs, seas of olive groves, and friendly harbors are just the start of your experience on picture-perfect Paxos and its flawless little island brother, Antipaxos.

The white sandy beaches on both Paxos and Antipaxos (Paxi and Antipaxi, as they are also known) are legendary and behind them stretch grove upon grove of century-old olive trees, dense vineyards, and untamed nature spilling down to the water’s edge. The sunset from the white cliffs of Eremitis has to be seen to be believed and exploring caves and hiking in search of historic cisterns are must-dos. This pair of tiny islands in the Ionian Sea will forever remain etched in your memory.