Thesprotia archeological tour
Exploring the Ancient Site of Gitana
Overview:
Discover the archaeological remains of Gitana, an ancient city that offers insights into the region’s historical significance amidst a natural setting.
Description:
Located on the slopes of Vrysella hill near the Kalamas River, Gitana was once a prominent political and economic center in ancient Thesprotia. Visitors can explore well-preserved ruins, including city walls, public buildings, and theaters. The site’s location offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, combining cultural exploration with appreciation for natural beauty. Visiting Gitana supports cultural heritage tourism, which plays a role in the conservation of archaeological sites.
A Remarkable Ancient Greek Theater in the Heart of Epirus
In the middle of the third century BC, the theater was constructed. It sits against the base of the village and is just outside Ancient Gitana’s fortifications. During the late Classical and Hellenistic era, the most important settlement in the region was definitely ancient Gitana. Before the Romans destroyed it in 167 BC, the town was a political hub for the Thesprotians. In addition to being naturally safe, the settlement was defended by sturdy walls. With the exception of the northeastern side, where it is only partially intact, the walls are generally in fair condition. Only roughly 5% of the city, which had a population of 10,000, has been excavated to yet.
The theater itself was surrounded on three sides by the Thyamis River and a rampart. The Ionian Sea was easily accessible at the time since the river was navigable. Only a small portion of the theater, including the stage, the orchestra, and a portion of the cavea, has been unearthed thus far. With a maximum circumference of 65 meters, the cavea is made up of 28 rows of benches arranged in two tiers, and it is divided into five gradins by four staircases. While a portion of the cavea appears to have been hewn directly on the conglomerate rocky substrate, which was clearly covered in whitewash mortar, the benches were constructed of limestone. The stage was rectangular and comprised an internal row of supporting piers. It was 15.5 meters long, with twelve monolithic semi-columns and had a roof covered with tiles.
The Gitana theater is interesting because each of the lower seats has two names written on it. The names of Menedamos, Charopidas, Pausanias, Timodamos, Antinous, Alexandros, Cephalos, Dokimos, Nikomachos, Nikostratos, and others are among the approximately 100 such names that have been found. One idea holds that the slave master owned the first name, while the slave he had freed held the second.
The lower tier and other parts of the ancient monument have been undergoing restoration since 2000. The second and third concentric semicircular rows of seats, which make up the upper tiers of the enormous auditorium, are currently the focus of the restoration project. Restoration work must move quickly, though, because the theater suffers significant damage from the surrounding Kalamas River’s severe erosion, particularly during floods when the stage, orchestra, and front seats are submerged.
Archaelogical Museum of Igoumenitsa
Description
The exhibits, which span from the Middle Paleolithic age (100,000 BC) to the post-Byzantine era, are organized into five exhibition units with rich supervisory material. The first unit is devoted to Thesprotia’s historical and archaeological identity and includes information about major ancient cities, including Gitana, Elea, and Elina, among others. We also have units of public and private life, with particular reference to the area’s burial customs. The visitor can readily comprehend the various facets of ancient Thesprotians’ way of life. In the museum’s halls, visitors can view exhibits from a variety of categories, including jewelry, pottery, tools, coins, and weapons.