Built by Michael II, Despot of Epirus, in the 13th century, the castle of Arta preserved in an excellent condition, is a representative example of the secular architecture of the Byzantine period and the medieval character of Arta.
It is one of the major attractions of the area. It is the crown of the lower city, the most beautiful corner of today’s Arta.
Nothing more idyllic for the afternoon walker or the foreign visitor than being in the picturesque embrace of the castle, walk around the path of the warriors, stand in a tower and enjoy the panoramic view.
The small hill on which it is built was also considered a strategic location by the ancient Amvrakiotes, so apart from the fortress of the citadel on Peranthi hill, they also surrounded the lower city with a wall passing along the banks of the Arachtos river.
The huge clock tower in front of the castle was built during the Turkish occupation (1875) with much sensitivity so as to seem as a natural extension of the wall.
