Igoumenitsa
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City | Port
Road Transport | Public Transport | Water Transport
It is the Capital of Thesprotia, from the formation of the administrative unit in 1936 until today (Lazari et. Al., 2021). It has about 10,000 residents and is one of the largest ports in the country.
According to Kitsos, the name Igoumenitsa [Goumenitsa or Gkoumenitsa] came from the neighboring area of Goumani or Goumeni, when residents of the settlement or nomads settled there. The increase in population and the herds in Goumani, led many, mainly cattle breeders to move to today’s Igoumenitsa which was then a rich uninhabited pasture. Consequently, to maintain ties with their original settlement, they named the new one with the firsts nickname (Kitsos, 1977).
The Archaeological Museum of Igoumenitsa is a modern regional museum that has been operating since the end of 2009 in a newly built building at the northern entrance of the city.
The permanent exhibition of the Archaeological Museum of Igoumenitsa, entitled “Thesproton Chora” covers the archaeological periods from the Middle Paleolithic (100,000 B.C.) to the times of Ottoman rule (19th century AD), presenting through selected findings, accompanied by rich information material, the most important stations in the history of the Thesprotian area. The main interest is focused on the Hellenistic era, a period of great prosperity and which is representative of the general region of Epirus.
The exhibition is developed on three levels and is structured in five sub-thematic units: archaeological – historical background, settlements of historical times, public life, private life, and burial customs.
With the help of technology (video projection) in various parts of the exhibition, visitors are given the opportunity to view additional information.
Suggested Activities
Visit the Archaeological Museum of the area.
Visit the House of Rena, to experience the cultural, folklore traditions and arts of the area
There are several places that can be visited by bicycle in the area. Visitors can also rent bicycles (Aquarius travel, 2021).
It is worth noting that the Mediterranean route – route 8 of EUROVELO, passes through Igoumenitsa (EUROVELO, 2021).
“Head to the small forest downtown. You will go through the market where you can shop for fresh fruits and vegetables. In the heart of the forest at the top of the hill lay the ruins of a medieval castle overlooking the bay of Igoumenitsa” (Igoumenitsa Port Authority, 2013).
Visit the Roman Villa in Ladochori, Igoumenitsa
Visit the fortified settlement of Lygia that extends to the eastern half of the homonymous peninsula
Visit ruins of a windmill in Graikohori (Greek Village)
Take a swim in the beautiful beaches of the area.
At the entrance of the Bay of Igoumenitsa, visit, by boat, the pine-covered Agionisi (Sacred-Island) and the katholikon of the Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi, share of the Monastery of Giromerio of Thesprotia, which is hosted there (Municipality of Igoumenitsa, 2018)
Big Carnival events take place in Igoumenitsa, be sure not to miss them! (R.U. Thesprotia, 2021).