PREFECTURE OF THESPROTIA

Albania borders the prefecture to the north, to the east by Ioannina`s prefecture, to the south by Preveza`s one and engulfed to the west by the Ionian Sea. It is the poorest prefecture of Epirus.
The present day prefecture is part of Ancient Thesprotia, which was stretching from the Gulf of Amvrakikos in the north, the Arachtho in the east, the Tomaros Range in the north to river Thiami in the northwest. It got its name from the first governor Thesprotos who built Kichyro, which was later called Ephyra. This area was inhabited since the Palaeolithic and the Neolithic Period (there are findings). The poet maker Homer frequently mentions Thesprotia which had friendly relationships with Ithaca and Doulichi (Cephalonia). The Acherousia Lake and the necromancy were located here. The Selles and Elles first inhabited it. In BC 1400, the Myceneans set up their first colonies and built the Cyclopean Walls. In the historical Times, colonies were established by the Ilies (BC 730) and later by people who came from Corfu (BC 645). In BC 433 the Thesprotians with the Corinthians beat the Corfians and Athenians in the sea-fight of Sybota on the eve of the Peloponnessian War. They maintained their independence even when they were members of the "Public of the Molosses (another Greek tribe). Their base was the fortified Elea [present Beliani] and later Titane [present Goumani]. The towns disappeared during the Roman Empire, when, in BC 27, Augustus united Thesprotia with the province of Achaia while from AD 3 the destructive invasions began against the Byzantine "Thema" of Epirus: Goths, Ostrogoths ,Saracenes and Normands. After the Byzantine Empire was overthrown by the Crusades in 1204, the prefecture became part of the "Despotato of Epirus". In 1449, it conceded to theTurks, except Souli which was betrayed in 1803 and so Cougi, Zaloggos and the Selchou monastery remained in history. The revolution of the Bishop of Trikke (Thessaly), Dionyssios Skylosofos, who in 1612, with 800 villagers from Paramythia, Souli and Pindos, armed with sticks and poles, entered Ioannina. The revolution was a failure and the Turks skinned the Bishop alive. Thesprotia remained outside the Greek State until it was freed in 1913 by the Greek army.

Igoumenitsa: Crowned by two pine-forested hills, it is a modern town with a bustling port, especially in the summer. There are numerous hotels to serve the traveler. With a population of 9.104 inhabitants, it is the main port of Epirus.It is the capital of the province of Thyamis and the prefecture of Thesprotia. Situated on the Ionian coast, in a deep bay opposite Corfu, south of the mouth of Kalamas river, it is one of the main entrance in Greece from the west. In older times and even when it became capital of the prefecture (1936), it was an insignificant village. In 1944, it was destroyed by the Germans and rebuilt again. Nowadays, with its improved internal road network, it is the main centre of the prefecture. It become well known for its frequent ferrying of ships between Greece and Italy.

Paramithia: Mediterranean town, built on the foothills of Korilas, it lies 37 km east of Igoumenitsa. It has a population of 2.862 inhabitants. It is probably built at the area of the ancient city of Euroia, which was ruined by the Goths in AD 551. It has the original colors of Epirus. The initial name was Agios Donatos and later it was called Paramithia.

Souli: Historical village, on the west slopes of the homonymous mountains, 73 km south east of Igoumenitsa. It belonged to a group of villages which in 1750 were a "state" -80 villages- with 25,000 inhabitants.
Souli and its villages were inhabited between the 16th and the 17th century by people who came from several villages of Thesprotia and wanted to avoid the oppressive Ottomans. These people built four villages, Souli, Kiafa, Samoniba and Abariko, with common administration. This group of villages ruled the around villages. To hold the Turks they organized a defence team.

Syvotas: seaside resort, with olive groves and beautiful beaches. It is surrounded by the islets of Mavro Oros, Agios Nickolas and Bella Brako, which one can visit by boat. Until 1913, it was ruled by the Turks who called it Mourto. In 1959 it got the name Sibota, in honour of the homonymous Battle of Sibota (BC 433), occurred in the sea area of the islets. It lies 25 km south of Igoumenitsa and has 908 inhabitants. In a distance of 8km south there is the picturesque fishing village of Perdika with the exquisite beaches of Arilla and Karabostasi.