There are various versions about the origin of the name of Preveza. According to some, it is believed that the word came from the Slavic word “perevoz”, which means “passage”. According to others, the word comes from the old Albanian expression “prevëzë-za”, which means “transport for” (probably Preveza was a commercial or shipping centre from which transfers were made). There is a third version, according to which the word “Preveza” came from the old Latin word “prevesione”, which means supplies or supplies.
Preveza is a new city in relation to the rest of Greece, built in 1065 AD. In ancient times in the place of Preveza, there was the city of Verenikía or Vereníki, which was built in 290 BC. by King Pyrrhus I of Epirus. Vereníki was used as the main port for King Pyrrhus’s goods.
In Roman times Vereníki fell into Roman hands. In 31 BC, near the city of Vereníki, the famous naval battle of Áktio took place. In this naval battle, the opponents were Marcus Antonius and Octavian Augustus. When Octavian Augustus won, he built a city called Nikópolis, with ports of Vereníki. In the same year, Octavian conquered the entire peninsula, naming it Nikópolis.
Préveza was founded in 1065 AD, when the Bulgarians destroyed Nikópolis. In the beginning, it was just a small village where only fishermen from neighboring villages and towns went.
At the end of the 13th century AD Préveza begins to develop and enters the Despotate of Epirus. From the end of the 13th century until the middle of the 15th century, Préveza, along with the other cities of Epirus, was attacked by Albanians, Venetians, Normans and Franks.
In the middle of the 15th century, the Ottomans conquered Préveza but later in 1684 the Venetians and the French joined forces, against the Turks, and took Préveza again. The Venetians built several castles in Préveza to defend themselves from enemy attacks. However, in 1699 the Treaty of Karlovic was signed, according to which Préveza was again handed over to the Ottomans. Before the tradition, the Venetians destroyed all their castles (the ruins of some castles still exist today).
Nevertheless, 16 years after the treaty, the Venetians take Preveza again and hold it until 1797. After a year of French rule, in 1798 the blood of the Turks boiled in anger after their defeats. So they attacked Preveza with a huge army, took it and then beheaded all the Venetian, French and Greek soldiers. In fact, Ali Pasha ordered genocide and massacres for 10 days. Some texts state that the massacre ended on the 10th day because the Ottoman soldiers were tired.
Préveza was united with the rest of Greece in 1912.
Pantokrator Castle: A very beautiful castle, built in a very good location and has two beaches with easy access. Today it also has a small fishing shelter.
Pantokrator Temple: A new temple with very beautiful Hagiographies. It is located on the N side of Preveza.
