Happy TravellerWelcome to Preveza, a beautiful city located on the northern peninsula of the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf in the region of Epirus, northwestern Greece. This charming city is the capital of the regional unit of Preveza, which is the southern part of the region of Epirus. Preveza is a hidden gem that is often overlooked in favor of its more famous neighbors, but it boasts a rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and mouthwatering local cuisine that make it a must-visit destination for any traveler.
One of the main attractions of Preveza is the Aktio-Preveza Immersed Tunnel, which is the first and only undersea tunnel in Greece. Completed in 2002, the tunnel connects Preveza in the north to Aktio of western Acarnania to the south. The tunnel is a marvel of engineering and offers a unique experience for visitors.
Another must-see attraction in Preveza is the ruins of the ancient city of Nicopolis, which lie 7 kilometers (4 miles) north of the city. Nicopolis was built by Augustus to commemorate his victory in the naval Battle of Actium, which took place nearby in the Ionian Sea. The city is believed to have had a population of 150,000 at its peak and is a fascinating glimpse into the ancient history of the region.
The origin of the name Preveza is a topic of debate among scholars, with three main views. The first suggests that the name comes from the Slavic word prěvozъ, meaning passage, while the second suggests that it comes from the old Albanian word prevëzë -za, which means passage, transition, crossing over. The third view suggests that the word originates from the Italian word prevesione, which means provision, supply.
The present form of the Municipality of Preveza was established in 2011 through the Reform Legislation for Local Government, which merged the former municipalities of Louros, Preveza, and Zalongo. The municipality has an area of 380.541 km2, and the municipal unit covers 66.835 km2.
In antiquity, the south-southwestern part of Epirus was inhabited by the Greek tribe of Cassopeans, part of a larger tribe, the Thesprotians. Their capital city was Cassope, near the village of Kamarina. King Pyrrhus founded the town of Berenike or Berenice, named after his mother-in-law Berenice I of Egypt, near Preveza in 290 BC. The Ionian Sea, near Berenike, was the site of the naval Battle of Actium, in which Octavian’s forces defeated those of Mark Antony and Queen Cleopatra of Egypt.
Preveza was refounded by the Ottomans probably in 1477, with a subsequent strengthening of the fortifications in 1495. The naval Battle of Preveza was fought off the shores of Preveza on 29 September 1538, where the Ottoman fleet of Hayreddin Barbarossa defeated a united Christian fleet under the Genoese captain Andrea Doria. Preveza was hotly contested in several Ottoman-Venetian Wars, with Venice capturing the city in 1684 and again in 1717. Venetian rule would persist until the end of the Venetian Republic itself in 1797.
Following the Treaty of Campo Formio, Preveza was ceded to Revolutionary France in 1797. The city was attacked by the local Ottoman governor Ali Pasha Tepelena in October 1798, and a major massacre of the French troops and the local Greek population took place in Preveza and Port Salaora. Preveza would remain under Ottoman rule until finally taken by the Greek
