Nikopolis

Augustus founded Nikopolis, the city of victory, in 29 BC to mark his victory at Actium two years before, and populated it by moving in the inhabitants of surrounding towns, creating overnight one of the largest cities of Roman Greece. Its remains spread over several square kilometres beside the main road: a theatre for perhaps ten thousand, an odeon still used for performances, long stretches of Byzantine and Roman wall, the stadium, an aqueduct that ran fifty kilometres from the Louros springs, and a group of early Christian basilicas whose floor mosaics of birds, trees and rivers are among the finest in Greece, protected under shelters. The excellent modern museum near the site holds sculpture, inscriptions and mosaic panels. The scale is unusual: this is a city to drive between, not walk around in an hour.

History

In 29 BC, 2 years after his naval victory at Actium, Octavian founded Nicopolis, the "City of Victory", on the southernmost promontory of Epirus, across the harbour mouth from Actium, and on the hill north of it where his tent had stood he built a monument and sanctuary to Apollo with trophies to Neptune and Mars. After his reform of 27 BC the city became the capital of southern Epirus, peopled from Ambracia, Kassopaia and towns of Acarnania; bishops of Nicopolis appear from the reign of Constantine, a series of basilicas followed from the late fourth century, and between the reigns of Zeno and Justinian the city was repeatedly damaged in war (Wikipedia, Nicopolis).

What's there

• The theatre - a large Roman theatre beside the road, partly restored.
• The basilica mosaics - early Christian floors of birds and rivers under cover.
• The walls - long stretches of Byzantine fortification across the site.
• The museum - a modern building holding the sculpture and mosaics.

When to go

Spring and autumn; the site is exposed and shadeless in summer. The odeon hosts summer performances, and parts of the site can close for events.

Practical notes

The ruins are scattered across a wide area with the main road running through, so a car is needed to see them properly. Several monuments are fenced and viewable only from outside. Signage has improved but remains uneven.

Nearby

Preveza and the gulf entrance lie south; the Ambracian Gulf lagoons are east.

Key facts