Communication between Ioannina and Arta was difficult due to the mountainous terrain. The only natural passage that the road was passable throughout the year, since it was cobbled in all its difficult parts, was the one that passed through the Pénte Pigádia position.

The highest point of this route was at 770 m and covered half the distance Ioannina – Arta. It was one of the main road arteries and led from Salaora to Pente Pigadia and from there to Ioannina.

The possibility of surveillance in two directions from this point and the existence of abundant water made the place an ideal stopover. In this way, the passage to the plain of Ioannina could be controlled, giving the city the possibility of defense.

At Pente Pigadia there was an inn for travelers and two fortresses built close to each other, one of which is now completely in ruins. The existence of five water wells in direct relation to the inn gave the characteristic name to the area. The inn had a great reputation and was the central inn of this route, as a result of which most of the travelers of the time spent the night there.

Source: The text is translated from information we found from: Κωσταγιάννη Μαρία, Φρούριο στη θέση Πέντε Πηγάδια, σελ. 12

The castle is part of the group of inland forts that were created to control the crossings. The fort of the Five Wells is chronologically the last fort of this category. It is an elongated rectangular building running from east to west and is joined by two bastions that protrude in the other directions giving the plan the shape of a cross.

From newer sources it is established that the central part was covered with a roof and had the form of a residence. The two bastions that protrude had no roof but only a perimeter parapet with cannon ports. The complex has two floors and throughout its floor plan it still maintains its original dimensions.

Source: The text is translated from information we found from: Σμύρης Γεώργιος, Το δίκτυο των οχυρώσεων στο Πασαλίκι των Ιωαννίνων, σελ. 402

The Battles at Pente Pigadia

Source: The text is translated from information we found from: Κωσταγιάννη Μαρία, Πολεμικές συγκρούσεις στα Πέντε Πηγάδια, σελ. 18

Due to their strategic importance, the Pente Pigadia were repeatedly a battlefield, at the beginning of the Greek Revolution, in the Greek-Turkish wars of 1853 and 1897 and finally in the Balkan wars of 1912-13.

In mid-September 1821 there was a war with a victorious outcome for the Souliotes. The position at Pénte Pigádia had been occupied by the Souliotes since December 1820. Selim Pasha tried to retake it with 5,000 men but was defeated with heavy losses by Markos Botsaris.

When Toskesi (note Achladies Souliou) was threatened, Hursit sent 3,500 troops to reinforce the garrison. Then George Drakos with 350 Suliotes and his Albanian ally Muhurdaris with 200 men occupied Pente Pigadia. On September 15, 1821, they clashed with the Turks and defeated them. Two days later the Turks attacked again. They even made an attempt to surround them but were defeated by the men of Mouhourdaris. The attack cost them 200 dead and they were forced to retreat. The Souliotes lost 3 while the Albanian allies twelve.

During the Russian-Turkish war and the rebellion of the enslaved Greeks in Epirus, the Pente Pigadia were the scene of battles and the hostilities in this location necessitated the continuous presence of military force and guarding the location.

In the Greek-Turkish War of 1897 there were clashes in the area of Pente Pigadia and during the Greco-Turkish War of 1897 (“thirty day war” or “unfortunate war”), which was a consequence of the outcome of the Cretan problem. The Greek forces in Epirus during this period were completely disorganized. On April 11, a battle was fought in the area of the Pente Pigadia which ended at the expense of the Greeks. In the battle fought on April 17, the Greeks were defeated and pursued by the Ottomans. This defeat of Greece marked the reorganization of the Greek army in all sectors, a fact that later led to the victorious Balkan Wars.

In the period of the Balkan wars, the location of the Pente Pigadia was once again a theater of military conflicts. After the victory of the Greeks in the battle of Nicopolis and the capture of Preveza, Essat Pasha launched a counterattack with a center of expeditions at Pénte Pigádia, where the Ioannina commander himself was and directed the operations.

The total losses of the Greeks in the battle of the Five Wells amounted to 26 dead and 222 wounded. Four months later, after the great battle of Byzantium, Ioannina was liberated by the Greek army on February 21, 1913. The annexation of the lands of Epirus to Greece also meant the definitive degradation of the military importance of the Five Wells. The place was gradually consolidated in the perception of the people of Ioannina as a nearby destination for recreation and short trips for families and schools.

<p>The post The Castle of Pente Pigadia: A Historical Jewel of Epirus first appeared on Epirus Explorer.</p>

The excavation of this ancient treasure took place between 1976 and 1978 near the village of Ammotopos in Arta, revealing an entire town that spans approximately 55 acres, surrounded by an impressive wall nearly one kilometer long.

Orraon was founded by the Molossians, an ancient tribe that inhabited central Epirus, around the middle of the 4th century BC. Settled in a strategic location, Orraon offered an unobstructed view of the plain of Arta and the Ambracian Gulf, a landscape that still takes the breath away today.

The Roman historian Livios mentions that it was one of the four cities of Epirus that were destroyed by the Romans when they attempted to resist their power. Nevertheless, the settlement continued to exist until the founding of Nicopolis by Octavian Augustus in 31 BC, where the inhabitants were forced to relocate.

During the 4th century BC, as part of the urbanization of Epirus, a series of fortified residential units were developed in strategic locations. Orraon was connected to a series of acropolises that guarded the main passage leading from the Ambracian Gulf to the plain of Ioannina, which was the area of the Molossians. Thus, Orraon was protected on three sides by strong fortification, except for the south, which was inaccessible due to the steep slopes of the hill.

Despite its small size, the settlement followed the urban planning of a large city, having Ambracia as a model. With its geometric organization, the settlement had parallel streets intersecting with perpendicular ones, creating rectangular building blocks. Each block hosted a house, while the free public space was where citizens gathered. Outside the settlement was the cemetery, and among the most impressive public works was the rainwater collection tank, with a capacity of about 180 cubic meters, constructed from limestone boulders and coated with hydraulic plaster to waterproof it.

<p>The post A historical journey to Orraon, the fortified city of the Molossians first appeared on Epirus Explorer.</p>

Embarking on our journey from Arta towards Koronisia, a distance of approximately 16 kilometers, we unveil a unique destination nestled amidst the lagoons of Logarous and Tsoukalous.

A bit further lies the research center of the Amvrakikos Gulf and a pier with a lighthouse, marking the port of Salora, which was once the most significant harbor in Epirus.

The Historical Significance of Salaora

Salaora: From Trading Hub to Picturesque Harbor

For about eight centuries, Salora served a dual role as both a harbor and a transit center. After the 13th century, it became the central port of Arta, maintaining its importance until 1881.

Regarding the toponymy of the region, according to Fotis Vrakas, there are various interpretations, but all lead to the word “salt,” derived from neighboring saltworks. From the Middle Ages onwards, “Salagora” was the center of salt trade.

Salaora holds a significant role in the history of Epirus, especially during the era of Ali Pasha, where it had economic importance for the state. The region remained an important harbor until 1912 when its decline began due to the development of other ports in the area, such as the port of Kopraina for Arta and the port of Preveza.

Koronisia: The hidden gems of the Amvrakikos Gulf

Koronisia, also known as Korakonisia or Kyronisia, forms a mesmerizing cluster of islands hidden within the embrace of the Amvrakikos Gulf. Located just 25 kilometers from the city of Arta, it offers an escape into nature and tranquility.

Following a spectacular route from Salaora, we pass through a strip of land in the water. This journey unfolds unique vistas: on one side, our gaze embraces Vonitsa and the imposing mountains of Aetolia-Acarnania, while on the other, the majestic Amvrakikos Gulf stretches out.

On one of the islets lies the fishing village named Pera Nisi or Koronisia. Its residents are primarily engaged in fishing and tourism. The fishing village has developed as a tourist destination, admired for its beauty and charm, as well as its fresh fish.

One of the significant monuments in the Arta region from the Middle Byzantine period (late 10th century) is the church of the Nativity of the Virgin, also known as Panagia tis Koronisias, celebrated on September 8th.

Additionally, the “koulia,” a fortress from the era of Ali Pasha, has, at various times, hosted various cultural events.

<p>The post In Koronisia and Salaora: A Journey to the Heart of the Amvrakikos Gulf first appeared on Epirus Explorer.</p>