Strolling the historic centre of Preveza
Pedestrian beach walkway
You can start strolling from “the pedestrian beach walkway”, as the local call it “paralia”, from the starting point of Androutsos square. On your left side there is the Amvrakikos gulf and the port, where once it was full of ships that sailed the Mediterranean Sea during the period of the Venetian and Ottoman domination. Currently, it still is a busy port, especially during summer months when it accommodates sailing boats, yachts and boats that fish daily. Preveza is really well known for the high quality of its sardines.
Agora
On your right side, there is the Palace of Justice, and not far from there, there is the historic building of National Bank and next to it the City Hall. Most of the cafeterias and tavernas are situated along the pedestrian beach walkway, wherefrom you can admire the view towards the Amvrakikos gulf that goes up to the seaside villages of Psathaki and Agios Thomas. At night you can even see the lights of the city of Arta! Many cultural events take place all year round, such as the women’s and the carnival committee’s parade, whereas concerts are held by the municipal conservatoire and other cultural operators.
Moreover, along the pedestrian beach walkway, you can find the busiest street of the city, since, that is the place where the commercial heart of the citybeats, “the market”.Many of the shops and small traditional cafeterias give to the city an intense island style.
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Agios Charalampos
The Metropolitan Cathedral of Agios Charalampos, built in the 18th century, is one of the most famous sights of the old city, with the icons that bear you in mind the Venetians painters of Renaissance and the impressive wood carved iconostasis. There is the Venetian ClockTower standing next to it, with the solar clock, dating back to 1752.
The central road
The central road, called Ethnikis Antistasis street, or simply “market” meets paved narrow streets that go down at ouzeri, fish tavernas where you can taste traditional local food, such as marinated anchovy fillets, mussel risotto, and octopus in vinegar. Going up the even more charming “upper neighborhood” of the old city, you come across traditional houses and neighborhoods with beautiful backyards. There are a lot of two storey mansions that arestill well preserved. They stand out, because thewalls are painted in ochre and the shutters in dark green. In one of these narrow streets, you will find the Yannis Moralis Gallery, where exhibitions of not only local,but of famous artists also take place. Theofaneios hall is at the street of the market, where cultural events are held, all year long. A little bit further, there is the church of Panagia of foreigners and right next to it, the Municipal Library.
Seitan Pazar (the devil’s market)
Seitan Pazar (the devil’s market), the most interesting narrow street at the historic center of the city, has its own story to tell to passers-by, in a quite original way. At a building’s façade, there are three marble plates, each one placednext to the other, tellingus how that street took that specific name.
This was an idea of Babis Tsokas that the sculptor Torgy Larson took over to make it real: “Once, during the Turkish occupation, there was in Preveza a Turkish military commander, very cruel and violent. One night, the dwellers of the neighborhood, covered the cobbled street with soap (galderim), where the street was steep. The next day, the commander passed by, his horse slipped down and he fell off screaming: “Seitan Pazar”. This is how this street was named after”.
Kostas Karyotakis’ residence
Traditional ouzeris
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