Preveza, Coastal city in Epirus, Greece
Preveza is a coastal city in Epirus, Greece, spreading along the northern peninsula at the mouth of the Ambracian Gulf. The architecture shows neoclassical facades alongside fortified structures, while narrow lanes lead from the harbor into the interior of the settlement.
The Ottoman fleet defeated a Christian alliance under Andrea Doria in the naval battle off the coast in 1538, cementing Ottoman dominance in the eastern Mediterranean for decades. Control later shifted several times until the region became part of the modern Greek state in the 19th century.
The name comes from Slavic roots meaning passage or crossing, a reminder of its geographic role between the gulf and open sea. Locals gather along the waterfront promenade in late afternoon, where cafés and taverns face the water and reflect the sociable life of the region.
The Aktio-Preveza Immersed Tunnel links the city to the opposite side of the gulf, offering a direct route westward. Visitors find parking near the harbor, from where most sites are reachable on foot.
The ruins of Nicopolis lie about 7 kilometers (4 miles) to the north and recall the victory of Augustus at the Battle of Actium in 31 BC. The name of the ancient city means City of Victory and marks the site where the Roman Empire took its final shape.
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