THE PARGA CASTLE
Built on the top of a small steep peninsula between
Valtos beach and Parga, this castle can justifiably
be regarded as Parga's landmark. Throughout the 400
year Venetian dominion, it was demolished and
restored a number of times. The notorious pirate
Barbarosa was the first to destroy Parga's fortress.
In 1567 it was rebuilt by the Venetians. The Turks
attacked it in 1571 and the Venetians restored it
once again after the sea battle in Nafpactos. It
remained impregnable until 1819 when the people of
Parga were forced to desert it in order not to be
enslaved by the Turkish ruler Ali Passas.
PARGA'S LIBERATION
In 1913 the Greek army managed to liberate Parga. On
22 May 1930 the holy relics, the ancestors' ashes
and Parga's flag, which Parga's citizens had taken
along with them to Corfu, were transferred back to
Parga and are now kept in Saint Apostoles' Church.
ANCIENT TIMES
A significant number of archaeological findings are
witness to the fact that the area of Parga started
being inhabited in the Neolithic era.Also, according
to historical texts by Plutarch and Ptolemeus, Parga
is likely to have been the ancient town of "Toroni"
or "Torini" (3rd-4th c. B.C.). However, between the
coves of Lychnos and Saint John (Agios Giannakis),
in the village of Agia Kiriaki in Parga, the ruins
of an ancient town wall are still visible among the
houses, so it is possible that the ancient town of "Toroni"
or "Torini" was situated there.
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