From a 17th-century stone bridge to Byzantine churches and mountain villages, the best things to do in Arta reward slow travellers.
The famous arched bridge, the waters of the Arachthos and the green slopes of Tzoumerka all shape this city in Epirus. So does a deep store of Byzantine and post-Byzantine heritage.
This short list of things to do in Arta covers walks, flavours, tours and history. Each stop also brings you closer to a distinctive city and its people.
Things to do in Arta’s historic centre
Arta begins with the landmarks of its ancient past, then moves through the Byzantine and modern worlds. Beyond the bridge and its well-earned fame, it is a city with many souls.
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For its oldest face, start with a visit to the Archaeological Museum of Arta. Its fine collection of sculptures, ceramics and jewellery offers a glimpse of the Necropolis of Ambracia, the Corinthian colony that lies buried beneath the modern city.
In the city centre, the Small Theatre of Ambracia also deserves a place on your list of things to do in Arta. Builders raised it in the late 3rd century BC on top of older baths.
Moving a few centuries forward, the Castle of Arta is also open to the public. It stands on the western side of the city, and not by chance, since the Arachthos River gave that side natural protection.
Walking the riverbank to the Bridge of Arta
Right here, by the castle, comes one of the best things to do in Arta: an ideal stroll along the riverbanks.
Following the riverbed, you soon reach the city’s architectural marvel, the old stone bridge. In its present form, the Bridge of Arta has stood the test of time since the 17th century.
It stretches 142 metres and is, without doubt, the city’s best-known landmark. As a result, it has long been a meeting point for travellers, visitors and couples alike.
Byzantine churches worth a stop
The city’s great Byzantine past has also left a rich legacy of unique church monuments. Give them the attention they deserve, and they will repay you many times over.
Most imposing of all is the Panagia Parigoritissa, a 13th-century church with surviving frescoes. In the north apse, one fresco depicts the Nativity of Christ.
Its architectural innovations are just as striking, especially the columns that hold up the central dome. For lovers of Byzantine art, visiting the Parigoritissa is one of the essential things to do in Arta.
Just as special among the things to do in Arta is the church of Agios Vasileios tis Agoras, with elaborate ceramic decoration on its exterior. The convent of Kato Panagia, from the 13th century, was the work of Michael II Komnenos Doukas, Despot of Epirus.
Don’t miss the Panagia of Vlacherna either, with a thousand years of tradition behind it. According to local tradition, members of the Komnenodoukas family rest here.
Originally a three-aisled vaulted basilica from the 10th century, it gained a dome in the 13th century. The church stands almost opposite the castle, where the palace of the Komnenodoukas family once stood.
Into the mountain villages of Tzoumerka
Still, the things to do in Arta don’t end at the city limits. If you venture a little further, the mountain villages in the northeast of the prefecture offer hidden charms of their own.
Kypseli has two beautiful churches, Agios Nikolaos and the Holy Monastery of Evangelistria. Well-known Vourgareli brims with fountains, streams and single-arch bridges.
Agnanta and Athamanio, in turn, sit tucked among the bare peaks of Tzoumerka that rise so dramatically above. These are just a few of the places that create a unique atmosphere.
All of these villages also offer the privilege of nature, alongside lovely churches, arched bridges and traditional watermills. There are impressive waterfalls too, and even a village named after them.
Theodoriana, the capital of water
Then there is Theodoriana, one of the most important settlements on the eastern side of Tzoumerka. In many ways, it sums up the whole region.
A wander through the village brings greenery, well-kept houses, walking trails, vine-covered pergolas and flowers of every kind. Thanks to the twin Souda waterfalls, journalists have dubbed Theodoriana Greece’s ‘Capital of Water’.
Grills, pies and tsoumblekia
Back in town, Arta has a proud and well-known love of good food. Its meze shops and tavernas prove it, with the hospitality and flavour they stand for.
That flavour rests on the traditions of Epirus cooking, such as distinctive pies and prime meat. Among the favourite things to do in Arta is ordering kokoretsi, chops and lamb ribs.
Local specialities also take pride of place, especially tsoumblekia, oven-baked meatballs with onions. So, after a day of bridges, churches and mountain trails, few things to do in Arta beat a long, slow taverna meal.
Source: travel.gr
