The truth is that for many years travelers passed her either to go to the popular Lefkada or to much more prominent Parga
By Nicolas Bard
The name of Preveza means “pass”, and the geographical location of the city actually reveals. It is built on the edge of the homonymous peninsula, on the passage from Epirus to Central Greece, and from the Ambracian Gulf in the Ionian Sea. And the truth is that for many years travelers have passed her either to go to the popular Lefkada or to much more prominent Parga. But in recent years, and especially with the opening of the Ionian Road but also with the operation of the airport at neighboring Aktio, the city has begun to win more and more fans from both Greece and abroad, looking for a place. With beautiful beaches, good food and affordable prices. Preveza has the whole package.
Going there, you will start your ride from the picturesque historic center of the city, with the market and the famous Saitan Pazar. You will see the Venetian bell tower of Agios Charalambous, the patron of the city, and wander around beautiful alleys with the blooming bougainvilleas, which give island air to this continental city. Whichever road you follow, you will go to the city beach, the port, where there are many cafes, restaurants and taverns to choose to relax overlooking the Aktio lighthouse. If you are lucky, in your seaside ride you can achieve some sea turtle or a dolphin of Amvrakikos to play in the waves. In recent years, a brand new marina has been built in the port of the city, hosting boats from all over the world, and travelers who want to explore the Ionian beauties.
But the tour does not stop there. The city is surrounded by three castles (of St. Andrew, St. George and Pantokrator), it has many historical churches, such as St. Athanasius with the distinctive frescoes of 1780, Agios Charalambous, which is the Metropolis, and Panagia of Xenon , at just entrance to the market. In Saitan Pazar there is also the house where Mr. G. Karyotakis lived when he came to the city. The poet’s lyrics “dress up” the whole historical center and while they used to think that he had “defamed” the city with the tragic end he gave in his life, probably the opposite is happening nowadays. Of course, there has not yet been a museum in memory of the leading poet, which would of course give even more value to the already beautiful and historic center of the city. A very close distance from the center is the seaside Pantocrator, with the unrivaled sunset (from there you see the sun literally dipping in the blue of the Ionian Sea), and the Vathi, with the masts of the ships from the neighboring shipyard mirror Waters of Amvrakikos in the afternoon, creating a highly cinematic setting.
Still, neoclassical and captain houses, with internal gardens, colored doorways and “lyrical” balconies that are scattered through the city, will take you back in time, at a time when everything was different. The sea breeze permeates the straits and gives you the feeling that you are on an Ionian island, despite being in the mainland. This special charm of the city is beginning to become known in the “travel circles”, who are looking for new and interesting places. If you still like walking and bike, Preveza is ideal, as it is a flat city, with no uphill and difficult spots. Particularly popular ride is the one in “Dapia”, which used to be the perimeter ditch of the city walls and had water. Today it is paved, with a bike path and is an ideal choice for an excursion.
However, there is no visit to Preveza, unless you go to ancient Nicopolis, which is a few kilometers outside the modern urban fabric. This great city was built by the Romans in 28 BC, at the behest of Emperor Octavian August, after the historic Battle of Aktio (31 BC), and today is the largest ancient city in Greece. It is built on the narrowest part of the Isthmus of the Preveza Peninsula, well -protected legally protected by archaeological law, and is accessible. The visitor can see some great findings from the wider area at the New Museum of Nicopolis, as well as the well -preserved Roman Conservatory, the Octavian Theater, the Roman Stadium, the Roman Aqueduct (in the village of Agios Georgios), City, Early Christian basilicas and rare mosaics. As early as 2011, the Ministry of Culture announced the creation of the Nicopolis Archaeological Park of 13,500 acres, which will highlight this historic area of Epirus. The projects, however, have not yet been completed.
Preveza is called to be called as a “mild tourism” area, but it has all the specifications to evolve into the largest tourist center in Western Greece. It has kilometers of coastline, with paradise beaches and picturesque bays with turquoise waters, a separate cuisine rich in both seafood and meat, remarkable tourist infrastructure both inside and outside the city, easy access and of course great and long history of which they are visible, wherever you are. It may not have been given the attention it deserves so far, but the only sure thing is that in the coming years it will be the “next big thing” in Greek tourism. A walk there will convince you …
Source :Skai
I am Frederick Tuttle, who works in 247 News Agency as an author and mostly cover entertainment news. I have worked in this industry for 10 years and have gained a lot of experience. I am a very hard worker and always strive to get the best out of my work. I am also very passionate about my work and always try to keep up with the latest news and trends.
