Parga is a small town placed on the northwestern coast of Greece, with approximately 2500
inhabitants. Its main feature is its beautiful surrounding. Parga is ideal for relaxing and strolling
around, although it gets a little busier in summer. Its history started many centuries ago.
Due to some archaeological findings, it is believed that Parga has been inhabited since the
Neolithic times. However, Parga appears more clearly in the greek history since the Byzantine
times. Along its history, the city has been conquered by the Venetians, who built the castle of
Parga, and has been destroyed by pirates. It has also been under the rule of the Russians and the
British, who finally sold it to Ali Pasha, in the 19th century; the residents moved to the close by
island of Corfu to avoid the cruelty of the Turks and returned to their birthplace after the liberation
of Greece, in 1819.
However, Parga became part of the Greek state a century later, in 1913. An interesting
archaeological site to visit in Parga is its Venetian castle, which lies on top of a hill. This castle has
some interesting Venetian and Turkish features and offers a picturesque view of the ceramic
rooftops of the houses and the bay of Parga.
Apart from archaeological sites, Parga also has beautiful scenery. A large portion of the greenery
surrounding the town consists of huge olive trees, planted by the Venetians in the 16th century. In
fact, the olive oil production consists a major income for its inhabitants.
The houses of Parga are amphitheatrically built, scattered along a sheltered bay. Although Parga is
not an island, you could say that it does have a certain island vibe. Moreover, Parga has developed
many tourist facilities, along these last years. Most restaurants offer traditional, homemade greek
food and there are many places to stay, from camping areas and rooms to rent to luxurious hotels.
The local residents are also very friendly. Most tourists are Greek, who want to spend some
relaxing days, but Parga also has many Italian visitors, due to its closeness to the Italian coast.
Last but not least, the surroundings of Parga have some picturesque villages and nice beaches to
visit. These beaches can be reached on foot or by boat from the harbor and are bound to give you
relaxing moments.