Preveza
The Municipality of Preveza has about 20.000 inhabitants and located in the west part of Hellas. Is the south west tip of region of Epirus. Preveza is the capital of the prefecture under the same name. It is the most important city of the prefecture and gathers nearly all the financial, administrative and social services.
The town is located in the west part of Hellas on a small peninsula at the narrow entrance of the Amvrakikos Gulf, opposite Aktion (ancient Actium). The peninsula of Preveza is generally low with some swamps in the north(Mazoma) and low hills in the south. The land is fertile, rich in water and vegetation. The environment is described as rich and varied.
The area of Preveza town is characterized as rural with agricultural specilization. A large proportion of it’s population is being occupied in the primary sector of production exclusively-early agricultural products, fishing and then with building activities, tourism, trade and transport services.
The distance from the capital of Hellas, Athens is about 420 kms. The town has a markedly island character, so fancinating for the visitor due to the fact that it is surrounded by the sea on it’s three sides.
The first Known reference to “Preveza” is first pinpointed in the Greek version of the Morea chronicle. According to this, during the operations of the Byzantine Emperor Andronikos II Paleologos against the despot of Epirus in 1292, sixty or forty, according to another version, Genoese ships allied to Paleologos landed in the “limiona”(port) of Preveza, where a ten day “Koursos”(plunder) took place.
After many occupations (turks, Venetians, French and again Turks) on the 21st October 1912, the last Turkish rule ended with the victory of the Greek army at the battle of Nikopolis. Throughout it’s history, Preveza has always been a cross-road between the land and the sea, between the east and the west; thus the name Preveza is the perfect one for the town (Preveza=passage, passing).
The historical past of the area is very rich. On the 2nd September 31 B.C. in the waters between Preveza and Lefkas a significant sea – battle took place. The allied fleets of Mark Antony and Cleopatra met the fleet of Octavian. The victory of Octavian in this sea battle of Actium made him the sole emperor of the roman empire and caused the creation of a new city, Nikopolis, the city of the Victory.
– Paul the apostle visited Nikopolis during 63 A.D. as he mentions in his letter to Titus(Titus, C12).
– The philoshopher Epictetos came to Nikopolis in 94 A.D. and founded a school of philosophy.
[gallery_bank type=”images” format=”masonry” title=”true” desc=”false” responsive=”true” display=”all” sort_by=”random” animation_effect=”bounce” album_title=”true” album_id=”14″]