When Greece comes up in a conversation, people immediately think of its ancient history, democracy, medicine, ancient Greek philosophers, or anything related to travel.
Some people are familiar with Feta cheese and Greek extra virgin olive oil. But that’s all there is to it.
If you ask anyone what is produced in Greece, I am confident you will not get a satisfactory answer.
Tourism is, of course, a big deal. It is, as they say, the main “industry.” Tourism, on the other hand, is “the thing” in some parts of Greece. Other areas are rarely if ever, visited by tourists.
Some of these areas are in the Epirus region.
This region has 4 regional units that are: Thesprotia, Arta, Preveza, and Ioannina.
Some travelers have visited the region without even realizing it when vacationing in Greece.
For example, if you traveled by ferry from Italy and you disembarked at Igoumenitsa you came to Epirus.
Or if you flew in and out of Preveza Airport for a vacation in Lefkada, again you visited Epirus. Moreover, if you took a day trip from Corfu to visit Parga, you visited Epirus.
And, given that few people seem to plan an entire trip to explore Epirus, one might wonder what the locals are up to.
Well… here are their “hidden” secrets.
Citrus groves abound in Arta’s regional unit. Years ago, they were so large that they were exporting as well.
But then came the EU, and local farmers were even paid to destroy their crops in designated areas. As if there weren’t people in other countries who would be grateful for a donation. However, that was not the EU’s intention.
When you visit the regional unit of Arta, you will notice that most houses have a small garden with citrus trees prominently displayed. Almost no one goes to the market to buy lemons, oranges, or tangerines. They simply go pick them from their own trees.
Arta, in case you didn’t know, has a long history dating back to antiquity.
The first settlement in the area of the modern city dates to the 9th century B.C. At the time known as Ambracia which was founded as a Corinthian colony in the 7th century B.C.
In 294 BC, after forty-three years of semi-autonomy under Macedonian suzerainty, Ambracia was given to Pyrrhus, king of the Molossians and of Epirus, who made it his capital, using Ambracia as a base to attack the Romans.
Pyrrhus managed to achieve great but costly victories against the Romans, hence the phrase “Pyrrhic victory” which refers in particular to an exchange at the Battle of Asculum.
Nevertheless, Pyrrhus found the time and means to adorn his capital with a palace, temples, and theatres. In 146 BC, Ambracia became part of the Roman Republic.
Then there’s Preveza’s regional unit. The land formation and terrain are very similar to Arta. The same goes for the story. Agriculture used to be an important part of the locals’ lives. In some cases, it still is.
Preveza, on the other hand, has a beautiful coastline that the Greeks adore.
With the exception of the port city of Igoumenitsa, the regional unit of Thesprotia is still engaged in agricultural activities.
The regional unit of Ioannina, on the other hand, has everything.
The region’s capital comes first. Ioannina is a well-known city. A vibrant place about which we have already written several articles.
Aside from the city, this area of Greece is mountainous and filled with lakes, rivers, and gorges. No matter where you are, you are surrounded by enchanting landscapes.
Perhaps this is one of the reasons why Ioannina has become a popular tourist destination for Greeks in the last decade or so.
What few people seem to realize is that some of the best beaches in the Mediterranean can be found in this magnificent part of Greece.