The pedestrianized main street in modern Arta is Odhos Skoufa and the central square Platia Ethnikis Andistasis. Many narrower streets are also pedestrian friendly. There are a couple of hotels, though not inexpensive. Restaurants are better, geared towards locals. The one next to the Amvrakia Hotel (the better of the two) even has some vegetarian dishes, but is open only for lunch and from Monday to Saturday. There are others open more of the time, including mayeirefta (casserole dishes) at the Ellinikon. There are nice outdoor cafes in Arta, including one by the historic bridge where the builder's wife was said to have been 'sealed up'.
Other Ambracian Gulf towns don't offer much to warrant a stop, though locals from Arta like to eat seafoold at the fishing villages of
Menidhi and Koronissia, the latter near a rather unappealing beach frequented by wind surfers. The village was once an island;
there are some tavernas, rooms, and the Byzantine church of Yennisis tou Theotokou (12th century). Amfilohia, at the head of the Gulf, but it is
a truly boring place, and the water there is stagnant. Vonitsa, to the west, is a better choice for somewhere to spend the night, though
dull as well, though it has a decent waterfront area, tree lined squares, and a Byzantine castle. Across the gulf from Preveza is Aktio, the
southern ferry terminal, not far from Aktio airport.
The rather odd Byzantine church of Panaghia Parigoritissa (The Consoling Virgin), (open to the public Tues-Sun 8:30am to 3pm; 2 euros admission), is rather grandiose with its five domes and Gothic-like interior with a huge mosaic of the Pandokrator (the all ruling Christ), which is very well preserved. There are also frescoes from the 16th and 17th centuries in the sanctuary and nave and two chapels flanking the church. It was built during the late 13th century by the despot Nikiforos I as part of a monastic complex, of which remain sixteen cells and the refectory. There are also excavated foundations of an earlier shrine. Two smaller Byzantine churches (from the time period) are found in Arta, which are usually locked, though one can admire the brick and tile decorations on the outer walls; these are Aghia Theodhora and Aghios Vasilis, the first containing the marble tomb of the wife of Epirot ruler Mikhalis the Second.
Many other churches and monasteries, can be visited among the orange groves around Arta, mostly built during the despotate. There are signs for all of them. One which you can walk to is the monastery of Kato Panaghia (open daily May to September; 7am-1pm, 4:30-7:30 pm; different hours other months. Ring for admission). Dating from the 13th century, this monastery is presently inhabited by around a dozen nuns. There are frescoes here. Buses go to exceptionally beautiful Panaghia Vlahernon in the village of the same name. This monastic church is built on a typical 12th century design of three aisles, but three domes were added in the next century by Mikhalis II. Get the key from the custodian, who will be hanging out at the kafeneio nearby. There's a beautiful mosaic hidden under a carpet here, and some frescoes that were exposed when plaster was scraped off (there may still be others under the remaining plaster). Three more churches are close to Arta: Panaghia tis Bryonis (towards Megarhi); Aghios Dhimitrios Katsouris near towards Plisi, and Aghios Nikolaso tis Rodhias, on the edge of the village of Kirkizates.
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