Agios Spiridon is located in the Arta area, 18 metres above sea level. In the village, the Church of Agios Spyridon and the preserved Ottoman Kotseki lead into different chapters of local history. Nearby, Rogoi Castle broadens the picture: its history stretches from the ruins of the ancient city of Vouchetio to the destruction of the medieval city at the end of the 17th century. When choosing cultural highlights, it is useful to distinguish between the history of the village and the history of the surrounding area.

The Church and Kotseki in the Village

The Church of Agios Spyridon, after which the village takes its present name, was built between 1812 and 1813 on the ruins of the Church of Agios Markos. The name links Agios Spiridon to a specific building and an older church site. The dating also provides a clear chronological anchor for the village’s history.

Another historical testament is the Ottoman Kotseki preserved in the village. It is apparently considered a continuation of the residence of Ali Pasha’s Kethüda Bey. The church and the Kotseki thus represent different historical connections: the origin of the village’s present name and a cautiously worded association with a residence from the Ottoman period.

Rogoi: Ancient City and Later Fortifications

Rogoi Castle rises on a hill between Nea Kerassounta and Petra, near Agios Spiridon. It was built on the ruins of Vouchetio; the ancient city was a colony of the Eleans. In this way, the history of the ancient city and the later history of the castle are intertwined.

The first fortifications of the acropolis of Rogoi were built in the 5th century BC. In the 3rd century AD, the Romans strengthened and extended the castle walls. These details describe clearly distinct building phases: the acropolis fortifications date to antiquity, while the Roman works took place several centuries later.

At the end of the 17th century, the medieval city of Rogoi was completely destroyed by the Ottomans during the Venetian–Ottoman War. The Monastery of the Theotokos is located on the castle grounds. Large stone blocks can be seen in the surviving structure. Thus, along with its long chronology, Rogoi also offers tangible features of the site.

More Cultural History in the Wider Arta Destination

In the wider Arta destination, the Historic Bridge of Arta and the Archaeological Museum of Arta offer a distinct urban perspective on history. The bridge took its present form between 1602 and 1606; it is 142 metres long and 3.75 metres wide. The Archaeological Museum of Arta opened in 2009 near the Arachthos River and the Historic Bridge. Its permanent exhibition is divided into sections on public life, burial customs and private life.

The distinction is simple when choosing what to explore: the church and the Kotseki tell the story of Agios Spiridon itself, while Rogoi presents a sequence of ancient urban history and later fortifications. The wider Arta destination adds further cultural themes specifically located there, with the bridge and museum. You can choose your focus according to what interests you most: the origin of the village’s name, Rogoi’s different historical periods, or Arta’s architectural and urban history.

Discover more destinations: Rodavgi, Agnanta, Kypseli, Theodoriana, Mesopirgos, Árta, Vourgareli, Mytikas

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