It is the most important greek bridge, well-known due to the famous legend of the chief-builder, known not only in Greece and Balkan but in other countries too. Its history goes back in time even before the roman period, maybe in the times of Pyrros, the king of Epirus. Obviously this should be the bridge that Plinios mentioned in his writings. During the centuries, the Arta Bridge has been restored and extended many times. The last restoration was in 1612. A lot of folkloric essays, theatrical plays and operas were written about this famous bridge and the legend following it.
This text is cited Jan 2003 from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture URL below, which also contains image.
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The
castle of Arta was built in the middle of the 13th century, during the reign of the Despot of Epirus Michael II Komnenos Doukas (1230-1268). Here were the palaces of the ruler and the administrative headquarters of the Despotate of Epirus, one of the two Byzantine states established after the fall of the Byzantine Empire to the Latin Crusaders in 1204.
The castle was built on a low hill in the northeastern part of Arta, and in fact its enclosure wall is founded on the ancient fortification of the city. The massive walls were reinforced on three sides with a total of 18
towers, while the east side had as natural limit and defense shield the riverside of Arachthos, which was much closer to the walls at that time than it is today. The defensive character of the castle was strengthened in the Ottoman period, when it was the seat of the Turkish governor of the city. The tall
clock tower, built as a natural extension of the walls, was erected in 1875.
In the southwestern corner of the castle is formed an internal fortress, which the Turks called "Uc Kale" (acropolis) and the locals "Kastraki" (small castle). The inner wall surrounding the fort, the labyrinthine entrance, the crypts and the confined vaulted rooms indicate that this area was the ultimate refuge from invaders and it is also suggested that from the mid-14th century the court of the reigning family had also been transferred here. The palace of Komninoi-Doukes no longer exists today, while some scant architectural remains and decorative features are the only evidence that Kastraki was its likely location. During the Turkish occupation the area functioned as a prison until the liberation of Arta in 1881. It is said that during the Revolution of 1821, the Turks imprisoned in Kastraki General Makriyannis with his fellow fighters.
Today, the center of the main fort occupies the building of the Xenia hotel, while in Kastraki operates since 1987 the municipal outdoor theater, which hosts important cultural events of the city.
Though its turbulent history did not leave it unscathed, the castle still stands proudly in the most prominent part of the city, in spite of conquerors and time. The medieval castle, along with the Byzantine churches of Arta, comprise one of the most important monumental complexes preserved today in Greece, indisputable witnesses of the last gleam of Byzantium in its twilight years.
References: Prefectural Unit of Arta Website
Photo Album in URL, information in Greek only.
Photo Album in URL, information in Greek only.
Single-aisled basilica
with two conched chapels, the south dedicated to St. Gregory and the north to
St. John Chrysostomos. The walls are lavishly decorated on the outside with patterns
in brick and tile. Two glazed clay icons were preserved on the pediment of the
east side; the first depicts the three Hierarchs and the second the Crucifixion.
They are exhibited now in the Byzantine Museum of Ioannina. The interior is decorated
with wall paintings dated to the 17th century.
The church is located in the old quarter of the Tourkopazaro, in Arta.
It was built at the end of the 14th century A.D. During the 17th century, the
"Greek School" of the scholar Castorianos Manolakis was established in its precinct.
The first scholars to mention the church of St. Bazil in modern times are the
Russian archimandrite Antoninos in 1886 and the metropolitan bishop Serapheim
in 1884.
In 1979 the frescoes were cleaned and restored, in 1980 the roof was
repaired and the masonry was consolidated. In 1991 the roof was reconstructed,
and in 1994 the electrical installation was completed. Today the monument is used
as a church but liturgy takes place only on the day of its patron saint.
This text is cited July 2003 from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture URL below, which also contains image.
It is a small church built in 1770.
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