Anthousa Castle (Ali Pasha's Castle)
Hill between Anthousa and Agia, above Parga (about 66 km / 1 hour from Preveza)
Photo: Folleggiare / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0The fortress Ali Pasha built in 1814 on a hill above Parga to threaten the Venetian town. Unfenced ruins with a big gun tower and wide views of the Ionian.
About Anthousa Castle (Ali Pasha's Castle)
In 1814 Parga was still outside Ali Pasha's control. To besiege and threaten it, he built this fortress on a naturally strong hilltop between the villages of Anthousa and Agia. The design is attributed to the Italian engineer Don Santo di Monteleone. Parga was finally handed over to Ali by the British on 10 May 1819.
The main structure is a large bastion-tower with gun positions facing the town. Around it are courtyards, vaulted rooms and other defences. You can still walk through all of them.
From the top the view takes in the whole bay of Parga and the open Ionian Sea.
Good to know
- There is no ticket or fence, and no set opening hours. Go in daylight and allow time to come back down before dark.
- Some rooms and passages are dark, so a torch helps. Wear proper shoes, as the ground is uneven.
- It's a steep climb on foot from Parga. Most people drive up, but the road goes through the narrow lanes of Anthousa village.
- Late afternoon is a good time for the view over Parga bay.
Photos
Last updated 12 October 2026. Information checked against en.wikipedia.org. Spotted something out of date? Use “Suggest a place” in the footer.
More castles & monuments in Preveza
Pantokrator Castle
Ali Pasha's sea fort at the mouth of the strait, with one of the very few surviving rivellino gun batteries, famous for its sunsets and now awaiting restoration.
Parga Castle
The Venetian castle on the rock above Parga, which held out against Ali Pasha. Free entry, a café in the old barracks and views over Parga bay and Panagia islet.
Zalongo Monument
The huge cliff-top monument to the Souliot women of 1803, by sculptor George Zongolopoulos, reached by 410 steps from the Monastery of Agios Dimitrios.
Castle of Agios Andreas
Preveza's largest castle, in the middle of town: built by the Ottomans in 1702, enlarged by the Venetians and rebuilt by Ali Pasha in 1807–1808.