One does not need anything more than admiring the unique pink colors offered by the sunrise in Rodavgi to understand that the name of the village is not just a coincidence. The eastern orientation gave her this privilege. As well as the privilege of offering the residents and visitors of the village a magnificent view of Tzoumerka, Lake Pournario, the plain of Arta and the Amvrakiko Gulf.
Rodavgi is located at an altitude of 740 m on the eastern slope of Xirovouni. It is only 22 km from Arta, 60 km from Ioannina and 70 km from Aktion airport. In ancient times it bore the name Athenaion. Later the name Nisista was adopted and from 1962 it took the name Rodavgi.
In the center of the village dominates the Church of Agia Paraskevi, which dates back to 1804 and in front of it the large square with tall plane trees that offer coolness and relaxation during the summer months.
Points of interest
– Agia Paraskevi, the imposing post-Byzantine church with the wonderful wood-carved iconostasis in the village square, a type of tiled three-aisled vaulted basilica with a dome, built in 1804. According to the legend, Agia Paraskevi indicated by the transfer of her image the place where she should build her church, around which the village is organized.
– The Besikou-Arapi spring, a stream near the center (300 m.) with spectacular plane trees and a water mill, an ideal place to cool off on hot summer days. There, during the Turkish occupation, the Rodaugiotes and the Turks gave their word, i.e. “besa” that they will live peacefully. Hence the name “Besiko”.
– The forest of Bistoura, above the village, which offers pleasant walks but also many places from where one can admire the magnificent view.
– The ruins of the Ancient Wall (Athenion) at the “Manoura” or “Tsougri” site, dating from the 4th c. e.g.
– The Folklore Museum. It started operating in 1995 and today has a satisfactory collection of more than 200 objects from the life of the villagers.
– Chapels such as that of Agios Nikolaos in Perdikari, built in 1803 and of Prophet Ilias with remarkable frescoes from the 17th century.

Events
Rodavgi is a favorite destination both for the residents of the neighboring areas and for foreign and Greek visitors. The Cultural Association of the village is very active and has a dance department that helps in learning and preserving the traditional dances of the place. Every year thousands of visitors flock to Rodavgi to enjoy, in addition to the unique nature and the very important events that take place. The most important of these are:
– The Chestnut festival established in 2009 with the aim of highlighting local products, entertainment and entertainment. It takes place every year on the 2nd Sunday of October, a time when Rodavgi is flooded with autumn colors and hosts thousands of people in its square, who have the opportunity to enjoy roasted and boiled chestnuts, as well as many other local dishes, always under the traditional sounds of local musicians. The day before the celebration, the “Chestnut Road”, a very beautiful hiking route that starts from the neighboring village of Pistiana and ends in Rodavgi, takes place.
– The Kangelari, a traditional dance danced in the village square in a large circle, is associated with the heroic years of the residents’ struggles during the long Turkish slavery. It is danced every year on July 27 and after the dance follows the big traditional festival of Agia Paraskevi in ​​the village square.
– “Rosofegaro” Festival, ten days of events in August, with musical evenings, interactive games, painting workshops, exhibitions, screening of films and documentaries, fairy tales, lectures, prizes, hidden treasure game, voluntary blood donation and many sports activities.
– The custom of Lazarus, an Easter custom that takes place every eve of Lazarus, Friday evening in the loggia of the historic Church of Ag. Friday and during which the villagers sing with passion unforgettable songs of our tradition.
– Christmas events such as the “Wedding of Fire” held on New Year’s Eve and the celebration of Lights at the nearby Tzaris Bridge.

Local products
Rodavgi, like the neighboring areas, is famous for its fine local products. The most characteristic are the chestnuts, which are abundant in the forests of Rodavgi, the tsipouro of Rodavgi produced from the local grape variety “zabela” that thrives in Tzoumerka and is known for the wonderful aroma that its distillation gives us and of course the traditional Epirotian pies.