Region οf Western Greece

The Region of Western Greece encompasses three Regional Units, Aitoloakarnania, Achaia, and Ilia, with regional seats in Agrinio, Patras and Pyrgos respectively. The Region covers the western section of Central Greece and the northwestern section of the Peloponnese. Patras, the region’s largest city, is also the Regional capital.

One of the main attractions in Ilia is Ancient Olympia, the cradle of the Olympic Games and an international reference point for lofty values and ideals in the modern day.

Achaia, Ilia and Aitoloakarnania all exhibit striking natural beauty with their sheer variety of images and landscapes, places just waiting to be discovered and explored, and destinations for visitors year-round.

Achaia, for example, boasts the imposing Mount Helmos and the Kalavryta ski resort, which draws people in the winter months. Lake Tsivlos is situated at an elevation of 700 m on the slopes of the mountain, while the local Strofylia forest is a vital habitat for protected species, known for its rich biodiversity in both flora and fauna.

In the summer months, there’s no shortage of options for swimming and water sports. Achaia is studded with pristine beaches: Psathopyrgos on the Gulf of Corinth, Lakkopetra near Patras, Kalogria beach with its golden sands on the Ionian Sea, Akoli at Aigialeia with its deep waters, or Drepano, an ideal destination for surfing, windsurfing or kite surfing thanks to the strong local winds.

Ilia boasts a famous coastline dotted with beaches washed by the Ionian Sea. With beaches like cosmopolitan Kourouta and its sandy shore, quiet Glyfa with its sands that give way to forest, or small, picturesque Skafidia, there’s a wealth of options in Ilia, catering to even the most demanding beachgoers in the summer.

While Ilia is mostly flat, it is also home to one of the highest mountains in the region, Erymanthos (elevation: 1,794 metres). The Foloi Forest, which has been included in the Natura 2000 Network, grows on a plateau along the mountain’s southern spur. Stretching over 4,200 hectares, this dense landmark is the only oak forest in the Balkans, its trees offering striking images with their breathtaking colours that change throughout the year. It is criss-crossed by exciting hiking and biking trails, one of which goes through the Erymanthos gorge.

Water is dominant in Aitoloakarnania, a region with some of Greece’s most vital wetland habitats. Its natural borders are the Ionian Sea to the west, the Amvrakia gulf and the Messologhi Lagoon, the rivers Acheloos – with its impressively biodiverse Delta – and Evinos, as well as lake Trichonida, the largest in Greece by surface area. The Panaitoliko mountains are home to an exceptional array of local flora and especially avian fauna, forming yet another crucial natural habitat in the wider region.

Aitoloakarnania has no shortage of options for beachgoers, with beaches such as Tourlida, Palairo, Mytikas and Vonitsa. But no beach is more impressive than Vathyavali, with its fine white sands and azure waters on the Ionian Sea. Visitors should not miss the opportunity to explore the Aghios Varvaros waterfalls just outside Amfilochia.

The local cuisine draws on readily available raw materials and boasts everything from rustic flavours typical of the Greek countryside right through to more refined dishes. Their unifying thread is, of course, devotion to quality.

The region of Western Greece – especially Aitoloakarnania – has a well-developed livestock breeding sector which produces a wide variety of cheeses: kefalotyri, graviera, pecorino from Amfilochia, anthotyro, feta from Kalavryta, as well as other dairy products, such as yoghurt and rice pudding. Local meat dishes focus heavily on lamb, goat and pork, with piglet also being a local delicacy in places. However, the “Queen” of the local cuisine is the freshly caught shrimp from the Amvrakian gulf, considered Greece’s finest. Of course, given their close proximity to the sea and their abundant water resources, Aitoloakarnania, Achaia and Ilia all boast a wealth of fruits of fresh and salt water, such as fish, shellfish, molluscs and farmed trout. The most refined product visitors can sample in this region is fish roe from Messologhi, a Protected Designation of Origin product harvested from local mullets and known as ‘Greece’s caviar’. The fertile fields of Ilia produce olive oil of exceptional quality, in addition to various citrus and other fruits, such as watermelons and strawberries. Correspondingly, Achaia is renowned for its vineyards and local wines, with P.D.O. products such as the famous Mavrodaphne wine.

The region’s traditions and unique identity are reflected in its recipes, which use locally sourced raw materials.