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... REGION: Epirus ... Prefecture: Preveza ... / Parga \ ... Port, chief town, and capital, department of Preveza, western Greece, on the north side of the entrance to the Amvrakikss Gulf. Linked by highway to Arta and Ioannina, Preveza exports olives, dairy products, hides, wool, and vegetables. Goods must be transferred by lighter or barge via the Khrisanthis channel (17 feet [5.2 m] deep).Preveza was founded as Berenicia about 290 BC by Pyrrhus, king of Epirus.In 31 BC Octavian, the future emperor Augustus, defeated Antony in a famous naval battle off the gulf's entrance. The settlement probably was eclipsed when Augustus founded nearby Nicopolis Actia. In 1499 it was occupied by the Venetians, ceded to the Turks by the Treaty of Carlowitz in 1699, and retaken by Venice in 1717. In 1798, a year after it had passed to the French, it was seized by Ali Pasha of Ioannina. In 1912 it fell to the Greek army and in 1913 was incorporated to Greece. Today Preveza is an enchanting lonian city at the entrance of the Amvrakikos gulf, with a Mediterranean climate, several attractions, cosmopolitan life and entertainment, as well as natural surroundings that both excite and relax the visitor. The narrow alleys, neoclassical houses, belfries (Ayios Athanasios and Profitis Elias), remnants of the Turkish and Venetian presence in Preveza, give the feeling that time has been put on hold. You can enjoy the endless lacework of beaches under Preveza's special sun, which combines with the verdant hillsides and the sea's several shades of blue to intoxicate visitors. A host of hotels and rooms to rent, spanning the entire range, as well as night clubs, restaurants, and bars, provide abundant choice, good service, and a comfortable stay. In Preveza you can savor genuine Greek and local delicacies, made with real pride. Dozens of small tavernas line the narrow streets, desiring only to give you a good time. It's worth it. Preveza is fortunate to be surrounded by two very different seas. To the west the lonian is open and to the east the Amvrakikos is closed. Winds in the summer are steady, westerlies to northwesterlies and moderate in both seas, making Preveza an ideal spot for sailing. One can learn the ropes in the safe gulf and then venture out into the open lonian.Additionally, Preveza: is a good base for excursions to the rest of northwestern Greece. If at some point you feel the need for adventure and to explore, you have but to set off.

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