Historic Nikopolis is located in Preveza and has a special feature that few know about. It is the largest ancient city in Greece. Apart from its beauty, there are other reasons that will convince you to visit it. In fact, it is a city that now has few inhabitants but is a popular tourist destination in Epirus.
Nicopolis is also called the Greek "Pompeii". The beautiful and historical city is built on the peninsula that separates the Gulf of Amvrakikos from the Ionian Sea. It was an important trading center for centuries, as land and sea routes led to it.
But why was it called Nicopolis? It was so named because it was founded as a symbol of the great victory("niki" in greek) of Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian and the later Roman Emperor Augustus against Marco Antonio and Cleopatra VII of Egypt at Aktio in 31 BC. It experienced great prosperity and was a major transportation hub.
It was the administrative capital of Epirus for 7 centuries. To breathe life into his ambitious plan, Octavian moved the population from the largest Greek cities in the wider region to the new city. It is estimated that in its heyday, Nicopolis had a population of up to 100,000, making it one of the largest urban centers in the Roman world. Significantly, from the beginning of the 7th century onwards, evidence from sources and excavations is scarce. Therefore, no reliable conclusions can be drawn about the continuity of urban life.
What is certain and indisputable is that Nicopolis was the pride of the Roman emperor Octavian. And it could not have been otherwise, for it was the settlement he founded in commemoration of his victory against the mobilized fleet.
Nicopolis from Preveza today
Today Nikopolis is a unique and important archeological site in Greece. It can be said that its scale and "monumental cores" piece together the puzzle for the most complete single example of Greco-Roman culture and way of life. Nicopolis is an ideal destination for those who like to delve deep into history.
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