αξιοθέατα Τζουμέρκα

Kokkini Ekklisia or Panagia Vellas is one of the most important monuments created by the glorious dynasty of the Komnenoi in the 13th century in Epirus.

It is located in the village Paleochori, 3 km south of Vourgareli. It was built in 1281, ie it was earlier than that of the church Parigoritissa in Arta,financed by Theodoros Tsimiskis, the Protronist of the Byzantine Court. It is a cruciform inscribed temple with a single three-sided apse and a tri-partite narthex.

Academic Anastasias Orlandos mentions about  the name: The name Red Church is obviously due to the lively red color of the bricks,of  which the wall painting of the temple consists .It is also called the “king monastery”, probably because it was once the katholikon (main temple) of a royal monastery which, when abandoned, became a dependency of  the monastery of Vella, hence the name.

In the frescoes(1295) that are kept in , which are barely preserved,  saints and lay people are depicted, such as the owners Theodoros Tsimiskis and his wife Maria, his brother John and his wife Anna, the rulers  Nikephoros and Anna.

The temple is dedicated to the Birth of Virgin Mary and celebrates on 8th September.

Pournari Lake is located between the town of Arta and the mountainous mass of Tzoumerka at an altitude of 140m. It is an artificial lake, 8th in the list of the lake’s artisans, created by the collection of the waters of the Arachthos river and the construction of a dam near the village of Pournari, after which both the dam and the lake have been named .
The dam is the second largest dam in Greece and holds the waters of Arachthos, controlling the flow of the river, which passes through the city of Arta.

The lake hosts many varieties of fish, such as carp, birch, wild trout, eel. There are many birds, such as greenheaded ducks, alcines, river bridges ( το μωβ να φυγει) and others.The part of the settlement of Kato Kalentini, which was abandoned and partially submerged, when the dam was created is worth visiting. The periodical decrease of water levels reveals some old houses and other buildings creating a mysterious setting, most impressive of all that of the old elementary school, which is also the largest.
The lake is ideal for hiking, fishing, day trips and canoe kayaking.

A one-arched bridge located in place Barda in Vourgareli. It was built in the late 19th century. Below it flows a stream of Sarantaporo that ends in Arachthos.

Directions: We meet it by entering Vourgareli travelling from Arta. It is located on a path that we follow in our right side.

In the center of Agnanta village there is the old watermill where locals used to wash their clothes and grind millet into flour.The space is open to visitors.Every day life objects are on display. The watermill is still in operation today for those who want to wash rugs and blankets or grind wheat or corn. Head of the museum: Mr. Mavropanos Tel. 6978397643 contact hours between 10: 00-13: 00 and 18: 00-20: 00.