Neochori
A village of the plain beside the Arachthos, with a riverside park, a small harbour and a history of floods.
- Location
- About 15 km south of Arta, altitude 19 m
- Residents
- 1,372 (2021)
- Park
- Riverside, with a small harbour and a café
- Economy
- Citrus, olives, kiwi
Neochori is a village about 15 km south of Arta, along the Arachthos, in the Municipality of Nikolaos Skoufas. Nearby are the ruins of Amvrakos, a fortified town of the Ambraciotes, with walls that may be Ottoman.
History
It was founded between 1771 and 1794, when the village of Kakoudia was moved to the present site. Saint Kosmas the Aetolian preached in the area in 1775–1779. In 1897 Greek forces took it in April and then withdrew to Arta. It was liberated in October 1912. Under Metaxas, in 1936–1938, the bed of the Arachthos was diverted to its present course to limit flooding.
What to see
The church of Agios Dimitrios dates from 1967–68, since earlier ones were destroyed by floods in 1830 and 1857. The church of Saint Kosmas was built outside the village where, locals say, the saint appeared. The riverside park has a small harbour, a traditional café, a playground and viewing points, and hosts the cross-diving at Epiphany and Clean Monday events.
