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Southern Epirus (Ipiros) Page 2

port of igoumanitsaIgoumenitsa (right) is the main port on the Greek mainland for car ferries from Brindisi and Otranto, as well as the terminus for a local ferry from Corfu/Kerkyra. In 1936, it became the seat of the nomarch of Thesprotia. The German occupier left it in ruins in 1944. It was rebuilt as were many such ruined Greek towns, quickly and cheaply, with little consideration for beauty or respect for its architectural past. There's not much good to be said about it. Though there is plenty of accommodation, it is mostly overpriced. There's a beach about 5km to the west of the town at Dhrepano (which means 'sickle'), a sandy, crescent shaped spit of land around a lagoon, with shady myrtle trees. It is 2km in length, and local buses go there. Though there are no tavernas, it has some snack bars.

The village of Filates 19km to the north, though touted as a 'traditional village', has little to recommend it except a few old houses. It is devoted mostly to commerce. In 1821 the Turkish population there was mostly killed off by the plague of that year, and Christian refugees took their place. In 1963-65 United Nations Association volunteers built a cheese factory there. Outside of the town is the 13th century monastery of Yeromeri.

beach 25k south of igoumanitsa at syvotaSybota, a little south of Igoumenitsa (25k), is a resort surrounded by olive orchards along a beautiful stretch of coast , with views of Corfu and Paxi islands. It used to be frequented mostly by Greeks who have apartments there, though now has a foreign package presence, with its little port spiffied up and some pedestrian streets. Yachts dock here, and a truly nice way to see the coast , which is convoluted in these parts, is to rent a small boat. The village center is inland a kilometer; there are some small sandy bays to the south off the road to Perdhika, which include Zavia (small and shady), Mega Ammos (larger and sunnier), Mikri Ammos (nicknamed 'BB' beach), Mega Trafos, and Aghia Paraskevi (with an islet to swim to). There is also the island of Mavro Oros, joined to the mainland by the sandy spit of Bella Vraka. These beaches are spread out along the coast, with little public transport. At Syvota, though there is accommodation, it isn't cheap; there's a campsite north of the harbor, however, open May to October (telephone: 26550 93 375). The best place to eat is at the Syvota harbor, as the other beaches just have snack bars and grills.

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