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| Igoumenitsa | ||
| region | Epirus | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 9.145 (2011) | |
| height | 22 m | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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Igoumenitsa (Ηγουμενίτσα) is a port city in northwestern Greece, in the province Epirus. The ferry connections from Italy, which are often used to travel to northern Greece, arrive here.
background
Near today's Igoumenitsa, in the municipality of Filiates, was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Thesprotien, which was founded in the 4th century. v. BC on the banks of the Thiamis River. The city on the then navigable Thiamis was founded in 167 BC. Conquered by Roman troops and subsequently destroyed.
Further south, in the area of today's border with Igoumenitsa Ladochori (on the site of the courthouse) there were ruins of a harbor and a Roman villa from the imperial era. The bay was used as a port in Roman and Byzantine times, and in the Middle Ages the coast of Epirus was conquered by the Venetians. Around the Venetian fort built near Igoumenitsa Porto delle Gomenizze As a result, numerous battles between Venetians and Turks broke out.
The fishing village in the area of today's Igoumenitsa with its port was founded after the end of Ottoman rule in 1913 Grava named. With the establishment of the prefecture "Thesprotia" in 1938, the city was named Igoumenitsa and became the capital of the prefecture. During the Second World War, the city got caught up in a conflict of interests between the Allies and the Axis powers. The people of Albanian origin, partly Muslim, partly Greek Orthodox Çamen collaborated with the Italians and German occupiers with the prospect of integration into Greater Albania; with the withdrawal of the Axis powers, the city was almost completely razed to the ground.
In the post-war years, Igoumenitsa was rebuilt with a modern floor plan and gained importance as a ferry port with the dredging of the bay around 1960. Today Igoumenitsa has the largest ferry port in western Greece, is the gateway to northern Greece for many ferry users and, with the construction of the new port, has also served as the end point of the west-east motorway connection Egnatia Odos gained even more importance.
getting there
By plane
There is no international airport near Igoumenitsa, via the highway Egnatia Odos the one from Thessaloniki can be reached in approx. 3½ hours, the one from Athens in 6 hours. The closest airport is Corfu, which is served by charter companies, but then a ferry passage is required.
By train / by bus
Igoumenitsa is not connected to the Greek rail network, even if plans have been moving for several years.
- 1 KTEL Thesprotias, Leoph. 49 Martiron. Tel.: 30 26650 22309, Fax: 30 26650 23773, Email: [email protected]. Buses run from the bus station to Ioannina - Thessaloniki and numerous cities in the area.
In the street
The Adriatic port of Igoumenitsa is located at the western end of the toll road, which has been completed with modern construction standards A2 Odos Egnatia above Ioannina - Grevena - Thessaloniki - Kavala - Alexandroupoli - Turkish border and further to Istanbul. Thessaloniki can be reached in a good 3 hours, the travel time has been more than halved compared to the previous long journey on the country road, sometimes with passports.
Also after Ioannina the road leads a little further north EO6which follows the course of the Thiamis (Kalamas). From there the EO20 north towards Albania and the EO5 inland towards the south Arga.
The EO101 runs along the coast towards the south Parga and Preveza, also well developed but more curvy is the coastal road to Parga and the further after Preveza leading EO18.
By boat
The ferry port of Igoumenitsa is the gateway to northern and central Greece for travelers from Italy, the port was expanded to the south in 2003, the exit of the port area is now directly at the end / start of the motorway.
There are numerous international ferry connections from to Igoumenitsa:
- Ancona (I) - Igoumenitsa, approx. 15½ hours, daily connections with Minoan Lines or Anek Lines resp. Superfast Ferries
- Bari (I) - Igoumenitsa, about 12 hours with Agoudimos Lines or Ventouris Ferries, faster (9½ hours) with the fast ferries from Anek Lines resp. Superfast Ferries
- Brindisi (I) - Igoumenitsa, 8½ hours with Grimaldi Lines, Every day
longer crossing times result from the ports in the north:
- Ravenna (I) - Igoumenitsa, 27 hours with Minoan Lines, three times a week.
- Venice (I) - Igoumenitsa, 25½ hours with Anek Lines resp. Superfast Ferries, two times a week
- Trieste (I) - Igoumenitsa, 34½ hours with Minoan Lines, three times a week.
Most ferries from Italy stop in Igoumenitsa and continue to Patras (for travelers in the Peloponnese, Athens region), the fare surcharge is usually hardly relevant.
There are also national ferry connections from Igoumenitsa to Corfu, Zakynthos and Kephalonia.
Before starting the return journey is a Check in in the modern 2 Ferry terminal necessary at the counter of the relevant ferry company. Access is from the end of the motorway in the direction of "Port", but you cannot drive directly to the security check at the port entrance, but drive north towards the city center and turn around to the "Passenger Terminal" at the next roundabout Check in to get.
mobility
The city center of Igoumenitsa is easily accessible on foot from the port.
Tourist Attractions
After the destruction in 1944, hardly any buildings from the past can be seen in the city center. The city is often visited by ferry passengers; if you arrive early, a stroll through the city is worthwhile.
- the 1 Evangelistrias Church is in the north of the pedestrian zone.
- 2 Archeological Museum of Igoumenitsa (Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Ηγουμενίτσας), Ethniki Odos Igoumenitsas Ioanninon, Igoumenitsa. Tel.: 30 2665 028539. Open: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
activities
If you arrive in Igoumenitsa with enough time before the ferry passage (don't forget to check in 2 hours before the ferry leaves), you will find several shops in the city center for the last souvenirs from Greece, bars and restaurants and in the north of the city various nearby beaches (see below ); however, these can only be reached by private vehicle without any problems.
shop
- In the city center with a pedestrian zone there are a number of shops for sports and swimwear and boutiques, as well as the usual souvenir shops, of course.
- Grocery stores, bakeries and butchers can be found in the parallel streets, where self-caterers can stock up easily.
The range of shops is the widest in the region; in the surrounding villages, only everyday items are usually available.
kitchen
Several restaurants are recommended before starting the ferry passage, the return trips to Italy usually start late in the evening.
A number of restaurants can be found in Venizelou Eleutheriou St. which crosses the pedestrian zone:
- 1 Mezodromos, El. Venizelou 7, Igoumenitsa. Greek restaurant, grill.
- 3 Thalasografia Fish Restaurant, El. Venizelou 6, Igoumenitsa. Tel.: 30 694 818 5618. Fish and seafood.
others are closer to the port:
- 4 Taverna Tassos. Tavern, Greek meals from the grill, fish.
- 5 Emily Akti. Open: around the clock.
- 6 Charly's. Bar, tavern with Greek meals from the grill.
nightlife
accommodation
There are numerous hotels in and around Igoumenitsa.
camping
- 1 Camping Drepanos, Beach Drepanos, GR-46100 Igoumenitsa. Tel.: 30 26650 26980, Fax: 30 26650 26980, Email: [email protected]. on the sickle-shaped peninsula in the north of the city, approx. 5 km.
- 2 Camping Filiaton, EO18. free camping / parking space Sagiada; Infrastructure at the nearby beach with a bar.
health
Practical advice
trips
- 3 Gitana Theater (Γίτανα)
(Gitani, Titani, Goumani, Gkoumani), at Filiateswhere the capital of ancient Thesprotia was. - for one Bathing trip recommend the beaches of 1 Drepano, a narrow crescent-shaped peninsula to the north of the city.
- if you have more time, we recommend a Bathing trip in the place 2 Sagiada, the beach Paralia Kalamidi is a little north towards the Albanian border. Showers, beach bar, parasols and loungers.
literature
Web links
- http://www.igoumenitsa.gr/ - Igoumenitsa official website
