Arta, Greece

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Arta Άρτα
The Bridge of Arta
Location
Coordinates	39°9′N 20°59′E / 39.15, 20.983Coordinates: 39°9′N 20°59′E / 39.15, 20.983
Time zone:	EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Elevation (center):	30 m (98 ft)
Government
Country:	Greece
Periphery:	Epirus
Prefecture:	Arta
Districts:	5
Mayor:	Panagiotis Ekonomidis
Population statistics (as of 2001[1])
City Proper
- Population:	23,863
- Area:[2]	47.973 km² (19 sq mi)
- Density:	497 /km² (1,288 /sq mi)
Codes
Postal:	471 00
Area:	26810
Auto:	ΑΤ
Website
www.arta.gr

Arta (Greek: Άρτα) is a city with a rich history in north-western Greece, capital of the Arta Prefecture which is part of the Epirus province. The city was known in ancient times as Amvrakia (Greek: Αμβρακία). Arta is famous for its old bridge located over the Arachthos river, situated west of downtown. Arta is also known for its ancient sites from the era of Pyrrhus of Epirus and its 13th century old castle, one of the best preserved in Greece. Arta's rich Byzantine history can be also traced today via its many Byzantine churches; perhaps best known is the church of the Panayía Parigorítissa (Mother of God the Swiftly Consoling), built about 1290 by Despot Nikephoros. The city is the seat of the Technological Educational Institute of Epirus.

[edit] History

The history of Arta stretches back to the Paleolithic ages. The first settlement in the area of the modern city was established in the 9th century B.C. Amvrakia (ancient name of Arta) was founded by the Corinthians at the 7th century B.C.

[edit] Antiquity

Further information: Ancient Greece and Roman Greece

In 295 BC Pyrrhus of Epirus, king of the Molossians transferred the capital of his kingdom to Amvrakia, which he used as a base from which he attacked the Romans. Pyrrhus managed to achieve great but costly victories against the Romans and he became famous for the phrase "Pyrrhic victory" which refers to an exchange at the Battle of Asculum. In 146 BC Amvrakia became part of the Roman empire and the province of Epirus was renamed Epirus Vetus, to distinguish it from Epirus Nova to the east. The town is not mentioned under the name of Arta until 1082.

[edit] Byzantine/Ottoman Era

Further information: Byzantine Greece and Ottoman Greece

In 1204 after the fall of Constantinople to the Crusaders, it became the capital of the Despotate of Epirus. The Despotate of Epirus extended up to Dyrrhachium, and included the entire north-western Greece and regions of Thessaly and north-western Macedonia. Its founder was Michael I Komnenos Doukas (1205-1215), relative of the imperial Byzantine family of Komnenos. After brief conquests of the city by the Italian dynasty of Orsini (1318-1337), Serbian Empire (1337 - 1359), Albanian clans (1359-1416) and Italian rulers (Carlo II Tocco, Leonardo III Tocco), the Ottoman Turks conquered it in 1449 and renamed her name as "Narda". She was occupied by Venetians in 1717 and Frenchs in 1797. Ottomans reoccupied her in 1799. The city was eventually liberated from the Ottomans and annexed to Greece in 1881 by the Treaty of Berlin.

[edit] Landmarks

[edit] Classical

The modern city has been built on the ancient Amvrakia. Remains of the classic era include the ancient walls of Amvrakia, the ruins of the ancient temple of Apollo, the small theatre of Amvrakia and remnants of the southwest cemetery of Amvrakia.

[edit] Byzantine

Late 13th century Church of the Parigoritria

The castle of Arta was built by Michael II Komnenos Doukas in the middle of 13th century. It is representative of Byzantine architecture and is well preserved. The most important Byzantine church is the Church of Parigoritria that was built during 1285-89 by Nikephoros I Komnenos Doukas and his wife Anna Palaiologina Catacuzene. The church of Saint Theodora is another fine example of Byzantine architecture. It is dedicated to the protector of Arta and is the only surviving department of the abbey that was founded in the 13th century by the queen of the Despotate of Epirus, Theodora in honour of Saint George, functioning as a nunnery. After the death of her husband, Theodora herself became a nun, and was buried there and the temple is honoured in her name. Other important Byzantine monuments include the churches of Saint Basil (Hagios Vasilios), the Abbey of Kato Panagia, Hagios Vasilios of the Bridge, Panagia Vlaherna, Panagia Brioni in Neohoraki, Saint Demetrius Katsouri in Plisioi, the Red Church in Vourgareli, Panagia of Koronisia in Koronisia and the church of Pantanassa in Filippiada.

[edit] Museums

• Museum of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities of Arta
• Church of Parigoritissa
• Folk museum 'Skoufas'
• Historical museum 'Skoufas'
• Private folk museum in Kypseli.
• Archaeological museum of Koronisia

[edit] Technological Educational Institute of Epirus

The Technological Educational Institute of Epirus (T.E.I.) [1] of Epirus has a main campus and its administration seat in Arta and has branch campuses in the three other main cities of Epirus, Ioannina, Igoumenitsa and Preveza. It has four (4) Faculties and thirteen (13) Departments.

[edit] Transportation

Arta is located NNW of Antirrio, Messolongi and Agrinio, NE of Preveza, SSE of Ioannina and nearly SW of Trikala.

Regular bus lines are connecting Arta with all bigger Greek cityes. (bus to Athens departs several times a day and trip takes about 5 hours)

The city is linked with the GR-5 (Antirrio - Ioannina) and the GR-30 which links with Peta and Trikala. The Arachthos River flows to the west with its reservoir lying directly to the north.

[edit] Municipal districts

• Keramates
• Kostakioi
  • Thanasseika
  • Syngouneika
• Limini

[edit] Subdivisions

• Agia Triada
• Agioi Anargyroi
• Agios Georgios Glykorrizou
• Eleousa
• Glykorrizo
• Kato Panagia Artas
• Marathovouni

[edit] Historical population

[edit] Famous people

• Pyrrhus (318 BC-272 BC) general and king of Epirus
• Maximus the Greek (c. 1475-1556) publicist, writer, scholar, humanist and translator
• Napoleon Zervas (1891-1957)
• Yiannis Moralis (1916) painter
• Antonios Nikopolidis (1971) footballer
• Yannis Anastasiou (1973) footballer

[edit] Professional sports

Handball

• http://www.anagenisi-artas.gr

Basketball

• Pyrros Artas

Football

• http://www.anagenisiartas.gr
• http://www.doxa-artas.gr/

Volleyball

• http://www.anagenisi-artas.gr/volley
• http://www.filia.gr/

[edit] See also

• Bridge of Arta
• Arachthos River
• Despotate of Epirus

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Arta Prefecture
• Municipality of Makrakomi on GTP Travel Pages (in English and Greek)
• Makrakomi (community) on GTP Travel Pages (in English and Greek)
• Map and aerial photos:
  • Street map: Street map from Mapquest or Google
  • Satellite images: Google or Microsoft Virtual Earth - image now available
• Coordinates: 39°9′28″N, 20°59′12″E

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