Brief chronology

At the entrance of Amvrakikos gulf, close to the remains of ancient Vereniki – whose exact position we don’t know yet – at a distance of almost 10 kilometers off the remains of ancient Nikopolis, the city that was founded after the naval battle of Aktio in 31 BC, the city of Preveza is located, at a key position for its later spiritual and commercial development. The first clear reference of its name is found on a Greek version of “Peloponnese Chronicles” (Χρονικού του Μορέως) of 1429, verse 9108: “… sixty gallery ships came and they are Genoese, they arrived at Preveza, they ravage the villages…”.

The etymology of the name Preveza, according to prevailing views,dates back either to the word of Slavic origin Perevor (= passage, crossing), or to the word of Albanian origin Prevёzё / a (= transfer, transition), or to the word of Italian origin Prevezione (provisions). All interpretations are relevant to it dominant geographical position.

The historic references about Preveza during the period of 1292 until the half of the 15th century are very few. To anonymous Byzantine chronicles it is written that Preveza was conquered by the Ottomans in 1477/78, in the days of Mehmed II the conqueror and it was twice fortified in the days of Bayezid II in 1486/87 and in 1495. The Venetian Admiral Bartholomew Pesaro with eight gallery ships tried unsuccessfully to conquer it in 1499 and he plundered the city, from where he kidnapped “a flotilla of twenty gallery ships”.

From 1530 until 1684 the city was under the Ottoman occupation. The most important historic event all over this period,was the great naval battle of Preveza in 1538. At this naval battle Admiral Hayreddin Pasha Barbarossa defeated the allied western fleet of the emperor Charles V, Pope Paul III and Venetians of Andrea Doria.

In September of 1684 Preveza was in the hands of Venetians, since Francisco Morosini occupied the fortress. That Venetian occupation lasted until 1701, when finally given to Turks, in accordance with the Karlowitz treaty (January 1699). The short Turkish occupation ended in 1718, when following Pasarovits agreement the city got back in the hands of Venetians, until the destruction of the Venetian democracy in 1797. All these years, there was a relative administrative independency. Preveza was divided in eight land subdivisions, with respective parishes and it was named capital of the territories of Epirus conquered by the Venetians (Continente).

The city had suffered big disasters and it was abandoned by its dwellers during the Turkish Venetian war (1714 – 18). The Venetians called the commanders of Akarnania to inhabit the city. The population was strengthened by Heptanesians also and the port began to get developed. During the 18th century Preveza was “the gate of Epirus” for the maritime forces of Epirus.

Με τη συνθήκη του Καμποφόρμιο (1797) η Πρέβεζα περιήλθε για ένα χρόνο σε Γαλλική κατοχή. Τον Οκτώβριο του 1798 ο Αλή Πασάς, αποβλέποντας στην επέκταση της κυριαρχίας του, με 4.000 Τουρκαλβανούς άντρες στράφηκε εναντίον των Γάλλων της Πρέβεζας, κατέσφαξε τη φρουρά τους, πυρπόλησε και λεηλάτησε την πόλη (Χαλασμός της Πρέβεζας). 

According to treaty of Campo Formio of 1800 

Με τη Ρωσοτουρκική συνθήκη του 1800  Preveza and the region were given to Turkey and until 1803 it was an independent state, governed by a Turkish commissioner. From 1803 until 1821 the city was under Ali Pasha’s power. During this period of time the city got fortified (castles of Agios Georgios, Agios Andreas, Aktio, Pantokratoras) and many great buildings were erected like Saray Pasha at Paliosaraga place. The thermal springs of old Saray stand there. They have been restored by the Municipality of Preveza and they are open to the public for many decades now. At the same period of time Cosmas of Aetolia and Lord Byron visited the city.

In 1821 the region, since it was very far from the revolutionary centres, it couldn’t easily join the Revolutionary war, but many of the citizens participated in the fights of Sterea Ellada and Peloponnese. Despite the fact that Preveza was not part of the new Greek country, the city developed a lot during the 19th century, especially economically. It got liberated by the Greek army on 21 October 1912.

In 1917 during I World War the city got occupied by the Entente Forces, whilst during the II World War the city got bombed by the German and allied air forces, with many losses in all sectors. The civil war in September 1944 hurt Preveza also deeply.

However, the city was given a negative label that marked its reputation because of the suicide of the poet Kostas Karyotakis in July 1928 at Vathy Margarona and the city had to carry that bad name for a long time for no reason. The nature’s great beauty and the kindness of the people of Preveza changed the negative image.

After 1983, Preveza was integrated to the common town planning. Currently, the city disposes of high level of social and technical infrastructures and services of Prefectural and Regional level: administration, hospital, education and other social infrastructure, sports facilities, central city services, port Authority, Custom Authority etc.

As far as productive infrastructure is concerned, we mention the Industrial Zone on the outskirts and the units of fish farming and pisciculture in Amvrakikos Gulf. The port and the marina play a significant role to transportation infrastructure, as well as Aktio Airport and the Bus Station.

The visitor can admire the serenity of the sea and the olive grove, the unique sunset at Pantokratoras with the yards full of flowers, Alonaki beach, Monolithi shore. While visiting the churches of the Assumption of Theotokos (1873), Agios Nikolaos (1530), Agios Charalambos (1700) with the wonderful iconostasis, Agios Athanasios with splendid wall paintings (1780), as well as the castles of Agios Andreas, Agios Georgios and Pantokratoras the visitor will get closer to the past of the city’s architecture. A great building was the Jewish Synagogue(1932), which was demolished in 1962, the Public Market (1939) and the National Bank (1930-32). There is great interest in getting to know ancient Nikopolis, “the city with people of gentle nature, achieving success every day” (Stravon) at a distance of ten kilometers off Preveza. Zalongo, Cassope, Oracle of the dead at Acherontas River, Parga are points of interest for the visitor.

Preveza of today proceeds with respect to its memories and traditions, based on the wonders, researches and expectations of it hospitable citizens.

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