The rugged and mountainous region of Epirus is located in northwest Greece, neighbouring Albania to the north. Throughout its four regional units, Ioannina, Arta, Preveza and Igoumenitsa, the landscape is defined by endless mountain ridges, lush green coniferous forests, and a dramatic coastline. Home to some of the most picturesque villages in Greece, Epirus has a rich history and unique cultural traditions.
An innovative project has begun in the region following a proposal by the DIAZOMA Association, a non-governmental organization working to preserve Ancient Greek theaters, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Region of Epirus, to create a cultural route connecting five ancient theaters.
The “Ancient Theatres of Epirus Cultural Route” connects five archeological sites (Dodona, Nicopolis, Cassope, Amvracia, and Gitana) across the region and eight ancient places of live performance (“sight and sound spaces”), traveling a distance of 344 kilometres and covering 2,300 years of history.
The European-backed and co-financed project hopes to restore the five ancient theatres, dating from the Hellenistic period (late 4th-late 1st century BC) to the early Roman Empire. The theaters will be the main stopping points en route because, like marketplaces (agoras), theaters were the bedrock of life in ancient Greek cities. They were spaces where citizens gathered to watch dramatic performances connected to religion, history, and mythology. The spectacles were used to both entertain and teach the citizenry, binding ancient communities together. Modern visitors to these unique sites are likewise immersed in a rich, multi-dimensional, holistic cultural experience.
Georgios Smyrnis, an architect and engineer from the University of Ioannina, hopes to recreate the ancient theaters for educational purposes. He outlines his ideas in the EUinmyRegion YouTube Channel.
Along with the experience of the ancient theatres and the atmosphere they create, visitors can also explore the heritage of the Epirus region; from the famous olive oil and rich variety of herbs that grow in the region to the warm hospitality of the local people.
