PARGA, a town of European Turkey, in Albania,
stands on a rocky peninsula on the shore of the Mediter-
ranean, nearly opposite the island of Paxo, 47 miles S.W.
of Janina. The streets are narrow and dirty; and the
ground on which the town is built is so steep, that from the
sea the houses look as if they stood on the top of one another.
On the summit of the hill is a small but strong castle, from
which a fine view may be obtained along the sea-coast and
into the adjacent country, which is fertile and beautiful,
abounding in olives, gardens, and citron groves. Parga
has a harbour, defended by a small fortified island; and
carries on a considerable export trade in oil, wine, fruit,
and tobacco. It has played a part of some importance in
history since the beginning of the fifteenth century. It
maintained its independence, under the protection of
Venice, from this period till the fall of the Venetian power
in 1797, when it was for a short time garrisoned by the
French. Ali Pasha, the governor of Albania, besieged it
in 1814; and as the French would not defend them, the
inhabitants applied for aid to the British, who took possession
of the fortress. Parga was finally given up to Turkey by
the treaty of 1817; but the inhabitants, not wishing to
come under the Ottoman sway, migrated to Corfu and Paxo.
The town was then occupied by the Turks. Pop. 4000.
Parhelia
Parini.