Rizovouni was an independent community until 1997, when it was absorbed into the municipality of
Thesprotiko with the homonymous village. Thesprotiko consists of the following municipal districts and villages: Thesprotiko (Lelova), Rizovouni (Podogora), Galatas (Boulimeti) and Zervo, Papadates, Meliana, Assos (Nasari), Nikolitsi, Elia (Dara) and Platania, Polystafylo (Rousiatsa). Geographically, the municipality is located in a valley called "Little Lakka Souliou", where the amphitheatricality of the villages, the olive groves, the orange groves and generally the rich vegetation are combined. The valley is formed between the Thesprotian Mountains (Baldenesi) to the west at an altitude of 1250 meters and Tsuka Podogora-Zarkorachi to the east at an altitude of 1270 meters. It also includes Lake Mavri, which was dried up around 1960 and part of Lake Ziros. The valley is crossed by a river, called "Ampoulas" (water source). Rizovouni extends to the east up to
Ziros Lake. Part of the lake area belongs to Rizovouni as well as agricultural land in the surrounding area of
Tseropolis. Similarly, in the eastern part of the village lies Kastri, a hill about 180 m high with archaeological and historical interest: there lie the ruins of the ancient city of Vatia or Vaties, a colony of the
Ilians from the 8th century BC., as well as the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, formerly a cathedral of the Kastri Monastery of Rizovouni (today's metochi of prophet Elias). The present church was built and decorated in [1670], but is based on the central aisle of an
Early Christian basilica, from which several parts are preserved. == Rizovouni today ==