Epirus Ancient Theaters

Explore the Route of the Ancient Theatres of Epirus No journey is ever just a journey. It is made up of images, sounds, tastes, and scents — in endless combinations, carrying different meanings and intensity for each person, depending on the season, the traveler, the company or solitude, the mood for adventure or introspection, exploration, discovery, or relaxation. Every journey contains many journeys within it — and each one is unique. The "Ancient Theatres of Epirus" is a cultural route that promises many journeys at once — through space, time, and the world of the five senses. Five archaeological sites, each centered around its ancient theatre, serve as key stations — starting points for visitors to collect and weave together the experiences that inspire and interest them. Everything is here: fascinating monuments and archaeological sites with remarkable histories, architectural and artisanal expressions of an ancient and distinct tradition, rich gastronomy, and the breathtaking natural beauty of Epirus. The application is part of the project "Digital Services for Monuments", through which the Region of Epirus, in close collaboration with the Ephorates of Antiquities of Arta, Thesprotia, Ioannina, and Preveza, is developing the necessary digital infrastructure, combined with engaging and well-documented multimedia content. The aim is to create a unified, modern ecosystem of digital experiences for the "Cultural Route of the Ancient Theatres of Epirus." The project's goal is to offer both residents and visitors—on-site and online—rich, accessible, and engaging tours of the five ancient theatres of the Region of Epirus: Dodoni, Nikopolis, Kassope, Ambrakia, and Gitana, as well as other related points of interest along the route. In addition to this application, the project also includes the development of "Epirus Ancient Theaters AR," which offers a set of augmented reality (AR) digital tours, available free of charge. These tours can be activated on-site at the monuments and, by taking advantage of the advanced features of modern devices, aim to offer visitors a rich and immersive exploration experience.Through this app, four digital characters — an Archaeologist, an Ancient Man, an Ancient Woman, and a Robot guide for children — accompany visitors during their tour, introducing them to the site's most important monuments. Each character brings to life a hypothetical contemporary or historical figure who, through their own perspective, presents the key cultural and social features of their time. Meanwhile, the user's device displays three-dimensional, full-scale reconstructions of selected buildings as they stood in antiquity, digitally placed in their original locations. Nevertheless, the Ancient Theatres of Epirus remain the true protagonists of the project — and rightly so. They are not only outstanding monuments; for centuries, they were centers of public life, places of education, worship, and social gathering. Through these digital tours, the project aspires to reconnect the public with this cultural wealth, revealing the past in a way that is understandable, experiential, and captivating — especially for younger generations who seek interactivity and multimedia engagement. The project was co-financed by Greece and the European Union under the Operational Programme "Epirus 2014–2020", through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and national resources.