Elea
The archaeological site of Elea, on a naturally fortified plateau above the Kokytos valley near Paramythia, preserves the walls, the agora and the houses of a mainland city of the 4th century BC.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Elea lies on a naturally fortified plateau at the foot of the mountains of Paramythia and offers an outstanding view of the Kokytos valley, a tributary of the Acheron, the river which, according to myth, Charon crossed to carry the dead to Hades. The city’s coins depict deities of the Underworld, Persephone and the three-headed Cerberus.
The settlement was founded shortly after the middle of the 4th century BC, was destroyed in 167 BC by Roman legions and was gradually abandoned by the end of the 1st century BC. The city was surrounded by impressive walls that survive to a height of up to 7 metres. In the centre lay the agora, with stoas whose façades had columns, and around it the houses, organised in city blocks separated by streets and drains for sewage and rainwater. Inside the houses, storage areas with large pithoi, rooms with looms and sanitary areas with clay basins have been identified.
Highlights
- Walls surviving up to 7 metres high
- The agora with stoas and columns
- Houses with storerooms, looms and clay basins
- View over the Kokytos valley
Permanent exhibition
- Αρχαιολογικός χώρος της αρχαίας πόλης – Tour of the walls, the agora with its stoas and the houses of the Hellenistic city.
- Operated by
- Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού – Εφορεία Αρχαιοτήτων Θεσπρωτίας
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €5 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €3Citizens of Greece and the EU over 65 years of age (from 1 October to 31 May); accompanying parents on educational visits of primary schools in the EU; and accompanying teachers of schools from countries outside the EU. |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 18 · Free admission for children and young people up to 25 years of age from EU countries, and for children up to 18 years of age from countries outside the EU, with ID or passport. |
| Seniors | €3Reduced ticket for citizens of Greece and the EU over 65 years of age, from 1 October to 31 May. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for people with a disability and one companion (where the disability is 67% or more). |
Free admission: 6 March, 18 April, 18 May, the last weekend of September, 28 October and the first and third Sunday of each month from 1 November to 31 March.
Other categories of visitors are also entitled to free admission or a reduced ticket in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Culture.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
The site is in Chrysavgi; by car it is about 20 minutes from the town of Paramythia.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
