Car Hire Parga - Mini guide to Parga
Nestled on west Greece’s Ionian Sea, Parga is a picturesque town offering isolated bays and splendid beaches. With its many relics of ancient history, Parga has a unique charm closely reminiscent of its neighbour Italy.
Built amphitheatrically around a cove, Parga is dominated by a stunning 12th century Venetian castle, Kasteli. The castle has twice been destroyed and rebuilt through history and the interesting Ecclesiastical Museum chronicles its lively past. Visitors flock to Parga to enjoy its beautiful beaches and inlets that dot the coastline.
Parga’s small centre is easy to navigate, with Kasteli as a good orientation point. Despite the town’s uphill wind, walking is pleasant during the day and the visitor can explore the many quaint side streets. Reminders of the classical period are spread through town, including remnants of ancient walls and tombs. The church of Agii Apostoli is especially interesting as is the Castle of Anthousa.
Parga has numerous fine beaches renowned for their transparent waters and they attract a variety of water sport enthusiasts. Visitors can waterski and windsurf as well as explore the coastline’s remote beaches by boat. Valtos, Parga’s most prominent beach, enjoys a stunning view of the castle and is perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
A visit to the nearby island of Paxos, easily accessible by boat, makes a pleasant day’s excursion. Thick with grapevines and olive trees, the island resembles one big garden. A motor launch trip around the island to admire its white cliffs and intriguing grottoes is highly recommended. Also interesting is the inland village of Paramithia, with its Epirot mansion houses and medieval castle.
The most convenient choice for arriving by air is Aktion Airport in Preveza, 60kms northwest of Parga. Flights arrive daily from Athens (45 minutes) and other main European cities. Coaches provide direct connections from Athens to Parga via Preveza. The Port of Igoumenitsa, 47kms south of Parga, receives ships from both Italian and Greek ports including Trieste, Venezia and Corfù daily.
