A hill town of Thesprotia under Mount Gorilla, with a Byzantine castle open to visitors, the Kokytos river at its edge and ancient Elea 10 minutes away. 1 hour 15 minutes from Preveza.
About Paramythia
Paramythia is the seat of the municipality of Souli in Thesprotia, a town of about 2,600 people (2021) built like an amphitheatre on the slopes of Mount Gorilla. It looks out over the valley of Paramythia, one of the largest in Thesprotia, between the Acheron and the Kalamas rivers. At the edge of town runs the Kokytos, one of the rivers of the Underworld in Greek myth.
The town grew out of the ancient city of Photike. In the 1790s a hoard of nineteen bronze statuettes from the 2nd century AD was found nearby; it was sent to Catherine the Great in St Petersburg, and fourteen of the pieces later reached the British Museum. In Byzantine times the town was named Agios Donatos after its patron saint, and the Byzantine castle on one of the highest points of the town is open to visitors. The name Paramythia ("consolation") comes from a church of the Virgin Mary in one of its neighbourhoods.
Sotirios Voulgaris, who founded the jewellery house Bulgari, came from Paramythia; his jewellery shop in the town survives, and his sons paid for the town's primary school.
Good to know
- Climb to the Byzantine castle for the view over the valley.
- Ancient Elea is only 7.5 km away (about 10 minutes): see both in one day.
- The Egnatia motorway runs through the valley north of the town if you continue to Igoumenitsa or Ioannina.
Help keep it unspoiled: take your rubbish with you, never light fires outdoors in summer, and respect wildlife and local life. How to travel responsibly
Photos
Frequently asked questions
How far is Paramythia from Preveza?
About 75 km by road, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes from Preveza town centre.
What is there to see in Paramythia?
The Byzantine castle on the hill above the town, the old town, the Kokytos river and, 10 minutes away, ancient Elea.
What is the link between Paramythia and Bulgari?
Sotirios Voulgaris, the founder of Bulgari, was from Paramythia. His jewellery shop in the town survives.
Last updated 21 October 2026. Information checked against en.wikipedia.org. Spotted something out of date? Use “Suggest a place” in the footer.
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