Sagiada: A quiet fish village and the beaches around it

The fish village of Sagiada is located in the western part of mainland Greece. It is a 20 minutes’ drive from Igoumenitsa and geographically it is opposite to the island of Corfu which is within sight distance. The village belongs to the municipality of Filiates, a small town at 15 km away. From Sagiada there is access to the customs office in Mavromati where the Albanian border is.

The small harbor in the village is called Skaloma and is popular with tourists sailing across the Ionian Sea. Fishing is the locals’ way of living, as apart from private fishing boats which throw their fishing nets in the open sea, there are numerous fish farms along the coastline all the way up to the Albanian border. Because of the abundance of fish, the village, although it can’t be considered as a popular holiday resort, is worth visiting for its traditional fish tavernas serving what else…fresh fish, grilled or fried, and any kind of sea food.

According to local history, during the time Epirus was a kingdom, in the area of Sagiada there was a fort which was later conquered by the Venetians (1402 A.C.) with the help of people coming from Corfu.

The ruins of this fort can be seen today in the top of the mountain Strovili. Under the same name, Strovili, there is also a beach, which together with Keramidi are the two nearest to Sagiada beaches. Both are about 10 minutes’ drive from the village but Keramidi is the most organized of the two. Both beaches are easily accessible and there is ample parking space in either one.

For those of you who love trekking a visit to the Old village of Sagiada is something worth doing. There are trekking trails leading you from Sagiada to the Old village up in the mountain which was abandoned after the second World War. Once there you will see nothing but the ruins of stone built detached houses, or cobbled streets but the view from up there will definitely compensate you for the hike. You can also visit the Old village by car.

Halfway between Igoumenitsa and Sagiada there are road signs to the villages of Kestrini, Asproklissi and Smerto. All of them are typical villages of the area which you can stop to visit. On your way to Sagiada you will come across the Kalamas water dam which is close to Kestrini’s flatland. Kestrini’s flatland is a hundrends of acres land covered in tangerine trees as the area here is the biggest producer of tangerines in Greece. In the western part of Kestrini there is the estuary of Kalamas river which you can visit only if you own a 4x4 vehicle. At a close distance to the estuary you will find a beautiful off the beaten track sandy beach, where you will probably enjoy a swim in privacy. The locals call it “Palia Buka Kalama”

Angelika Pallas Hotel, being right next to the International Port of Igoumenitsa and very close to the city centre, is in the perfect location for any tourist wishing to visit Sagiada, Sivota or Plataria on a day trip. It also serves as an ideal getaway to any other place around the prefecture of Thesprotia.