Arta Περιφερειακή ενότητα Άρτας | |
---|---|
![]() Municipalities of Arta | |
Coordinates:39°15′N21°15′E / 39.250°N 21.250°E /39.250; 21.250 | |
Country | Greece |
Administrative region | Epirus |
Seat | Arta |
Area | |
• Total | 1,662 km2 (642 sq mi) |
Population (2021)[1] | |
• Total | 63,732 |
• Density | 38/km2 (99/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
Postal code | 47x xx |
Area code(s) | 268x0 |
Vehicle registration | ΑΤ |
Website | www |
Arta (Greek:Περιφερειακή ενότητα Άρτας) is one of theregional units of Greece. It is part of theEpirus region. Its capital is the town ofArta.
The regional unit of Arta is located north of theAmbracian Gulf. The main mountain ranges are theAthamanika in the northeast, thePindus in the east, and Valtou in the southeast. Only one mountain road links Arta with thePineios valley andThessaly. There are low-lying agricultural plains in the west. Arta borders on the regional units ofPreveza in the west,Ioannina to the north,Trikala in the east,Karditsa to the east andAetolia-Acarnania to the south.
The main rivers are theAcheloos in the east, theArachthos in the centre, and theLouros in the west. Most of the population lives in the west, in the Arachthos valley, south and east of Arta. The Athamanika and Valtou mountains are the least populated.
The regional unit Arta is subdivided into 4 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):[2]
Arta was established as aprefecture in 1882 (Greek:Νομός Άρτας). As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Arta was created out of the former prefecture Arta. The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.[2]
New municipality | Old municipalities | Seat |
---|---|---|
Arta | Arta | Arta |
Amvrakikos | ||
Vlacherna | ||
Xirovouni | ||
Filothei | ||
Central Tzoumerka (Kentrika Tzoumerka) | Athamania | Vourgareli |
Agnanta | ||
Theodoriana | ||
Melissourgoi | ||
Georgios Karaiskakis | Georgios Karaiskakis | Ano Kalentini |
Irakleia | ||
Tetrafylia | ||
Nikolaos Skoufas | Peta | Peta |
Arachthos | ||
Kommeno | ||
Kompoti |
Arta was one of the capitals of theDespotate of Epirus in the lateMiddle Ages. The territory of the regional unit wasceded to Greece in 1881 by theOttoman Empire, along withThessaly, in accordance with the 1878Congress of Berlin. A famous landmark of Arta is theOld Bridge over the Arachthos river.
As one of the first completed sections of the futureIonia Odos linkingIoannina withPatras andKalamata, the motorway bypass of theGR-5 aroundArta was opened in 1997. The main highways are: