The Province of Thesprotia covers the NW part of Epirus region. Its Surface reaches 1.515 km and its population is consisting of 46.000 inhabitants. Igoumenitsa, the capital of the prefecture, is also the biggest harbor in NW Greece. Within its territory, it comprises ten Municipal (and two Communities). It is mostly a mountainous area shaped by the west mountain chain of Pindos, which gradually lower in the west towards the sea. Among these sierras small and oblong valleys open, crossed by the rivers of Kalamas and Acheron. The two rivers, receiving the waters of many smaller rivers and torrents, outfall within the Ionian Sea.
Thesprotia, with its particular geographical position, the bas relief and the safe moorages within its many natural maritime bays, drove the Mycenae settlers to found fortified settlements, around the 14th century B.C. During the 4th century B.C the people of Thesprotia established cities with a complete residential system, such as Elea and Gitani ones. The history of the region, though the centuries, is imprinted upon the ruins of cities, hovels, towers, castles, monasteries, churches and a lot of archaeological findings. In the 15th century, Thesprotia is occupied by the Ottomans. The constant fights, for the liberation from the Ottomans peaks with the resistance of the people of Souli against Ali Pasha of Ioannina and the holocaust of Koughi. Today, Thesprotia constitutes the main naval gateway of the country, from Western Europe.
Its role is upgraded with the function of the new port and the completion of Egnatia highway making known the capital of the prefecture of Thesprotia, Igoumenitsa, as one of the principal transportation centers of Europe.
