Thesprotia
The Prefecture of Thesprotia at the dawn of the new century is radically changing its appearance. Today it is the gateway of Greece to the European Union and critical strategical junction of cross-European routes. The Harbor of Igoumenitsa , the Egnatia Way and the new coastal route Sayiada - Igoumenilsa - Preveza - Antirhion forms a new transport and communications reality, creating the conditions for development, investments and services. Thus our small prefecture now combines its important location with a variety of interesting traditional, cultural and environmental elements which have an appraisal to its visitors. Rock and light, mountains and gorges, rivers and springs, biotopes and beautiful coastlines, antiquities and churches make an attractive setting, together with the fine hospitable people. It is one of the loveliest regions in Greece .
Nowhere else does the blue of the sea embrace so harmoniously the verdant landscape. It is the perfect destination for everyone seeking something new and different. The beginning of the region's history is lost in the depths of time along with the first appearance of man in the Palaeolithic period. Thesprotia can boast an inexhaustible wealth of monuments of our cultural heritage: dozens of fortified and unfortified settlements, military castles,, necropolises and hundreds of sites with individual ancient monuments. The first Greek tribes came to Thesprotia at the beginning of the 2nd millennium, bringing with them the cult of Sacred Phegos. Mycenaean and Cretan merchants arrived at the harbour of Ephyra carrying vases, ornaments, fabrics and weapons. Hermes the Psychopomb flew over the Aherousian Lake and Persephone played on the banks of the Aheronas before Hades shut her up in his dark kingdom. 
The League of Thesprotians was founded in Elea and Ghana in the 4th c. BC. The Byzantine Empire was present in Photiki. Osdina and Giromeri. Dark masses of ruined castles and seraglios bear witness to the passing of the Ottoman Empire . In the mountains of Souli and Mourgana villages like eyries built up a culture that was bare and austere, like the landscape that guarded them. There are many traditional villages in the prefecture, some of the best preserved in Epiros with stone-paved streets, stone houses with imposing vaults, traditional stone fountains and ruined mansions. The visitor is invited to get to know this place, so rich in history and culture.
Thesprotia
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