Parapotamos on the Kalamas: Ancient Settlement and Burial Mound

Parapotamos is a semi-mountainous village on the Kalamas. The ancient settlement of Fanoti (Doliani) is located in the village; it was once the seat of the Thesprotian tribe of the Fanotians. The burial mound of Parapotamos lies north of the village. The landscape and history therefore appeal to different travel interests: the river as a geographical feature, the settlement in the village, and a cemetery in the surrounding area. When planning your stay, you can weigh these interests separately rather than treating them as a single excursion destination.

River Landscape and Village Character

The Kalamas is considered one of the largest rivers in Epirus. Its regional significance complements the village’s local connection to the river. This means that landscape and archaeological history can be considered side by side when planning your trip: you can decide whether the waterside setting or the ancient sites is the deciding factor in choosing your holiday destination. You can search for a holiday apartment in Parapotamos with your preferred focus in mind. This distinction is useful if you are travelling with people who have different interests: one focus is the landscape, the other the archaeological sites and their history.

Fanoti: The Ancient Settlement

The ancient settlement of Fanoti (Doliani) is located in Parapotamos and was the seat of the Thesprotian tribe of the Fanotians. It covers 50 stremmata and is situated by a river. Fanoti therefore represents a settlement with its own tribal history, while the burial mound north of the village offers a different archaeological focus. Anyone exploring the area’s past can distinguish between these perspectives: Fanoti is associated with the seat of the Fanotians and the settlement, while the burial mound relates to burials and cemetery use.

Burial Mound and Cemetery

A total of 88 graves were excavated at the Parapotamos burial mound, most of them cist graves. There are also seven pit graves and one vessel burial. The cemetery was apparently used from the Hellenistic period through to the post-Byzantine period. Two aspects help place the site in context: the grave types describe the burials, while the date range indicates how long the cemetery was in use. This gives the burial mound its own historical significance alongside the ancient settlement of Fanoti.

Planning Your Trip

The directions to the burial mound follow the old Igoumenitsa–Ioannina National Road to the village of Parapotamos. About 700 m beyond the village, a farm track branches off to the left and leads to the monument. Check current road conditions and access before setting out.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Parapotamos, the locations of the two historical sites offer a practical point of reference: Fanoti is in the village, while the burial mound is to the north. If you are travelling together, you can discuss in advance whether the group is more interested in the settlement’s history, the types of graves, or the landscape. This lets you choose the focus of your stay deliberately and select a location based on the subjects you would like to explore further.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Syvota, Neraida, Sagiada, Paramythia, Margariti, Kastri, Faskomilia, Plataria Thesprotia.

For the broader travel overview: Thesprotia.