Tour the Venetian Castle of Parga
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Parga is one of those idyllic seaside villages that seem to have jumped off the pages of the storybooks. Located in Northern Greece, Parga is known just as much for its beautiful scenery as it is its rich history. What’s even better is that the village is perched right on the sea, and visitors and locals alike enjoy the waters while they’re here.
Standing over Parga is something that isn’t necessarily unique to Greece, but it’s special nonetheless. Even though the Venetian Castle of Parga is one of many such castles scattered throughout Greece, it’s hard to go anywhere in the town without being aware of its presence. You truly don’t want to miss the chance to take a tour of this castle, or at least walk around and take it all in and maybe read a few of the informational plaques. Here’s more information about visiting this historical site:
History of the Venetian Castle of Parga
When gazing at the way the castle is sitting on top of the hill, overlooking the water, it is clear that there has to be a story behind it. For those who see it, it is a reminder at just how long the history of the region really is. The castle was built in the 11th Century A.D. by the people of Parga as a way to help protect them from the Ottoman Empire. In the 13th Century A.D., as the Ottoman Empire gained even more control over the surrounding areas near Parga, the people decided to make the castle even stronger. In 1537, the Ottoman admiral, Barbarossa, destroyed the castle. In 1572, the castle was reconstructed by the Venetians and shortly after that, it was demolished again. The Venetians rebuilt it one more time after that and this time, the castle was stronger than ever. It is still standing today, exactly as it was. The Venetians’ fourth attempt at building a strong, fortified castle was finally successful.
Visiting the Venetian Castle of Parga
If you happen to be staying in Parga or in one of the other nearby places, you won’t want to miss the chance to visit the fortress. You can either take a tour of the grounds once you arrive, take a tour of the city and make sure that it stops at the castle, and also give yourself a guided a tour based on the resources they have available to you. To get the most out of it, however, you’ll want to take a tour.
What to Look Out for When You Visit
When you visit here, you will have the chance to view some unique things. One of the things that makes this such a beautiful place to see is that it is an outstanding example of the Venetian fortress-architecture of the time. There are a total of eight towers located outside of the fortress as well as two cisterns for water storage. The castle also has some unique features, such as the Lion of Venice, which is perched at the entrance, depictions of two-headed eagles, two emblems of Ali Pasha, and a secret passageway that leads to the sea.
You won’t want to miss the chance to visit the Venetian Castle of Parga during your stay in this region!
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Categorized in: About Parga, Greece, Greek Travel Guide
This post was written by Greek Boston
