Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOP OF CHAPTER
NikopoliΝικόπολη
In 31 BC Octavian (later, Emperor Augustus) defeated Mark Antony and Cleopatra in
the naval Battle of Actium (present-day Aktion).
Nikopoli
(City of Victory; 26820 41336;
adult/child €2/free; 8.30am-3pm)
was built to commemmorate this. After 5th- and 6th-
century barbarian raids, Emperor Justinian rebuilt it. But the 11th-century Bulgarians
sacked it for good.
Scant
Roman walls
, and better-preserved
Byzantine walls
and a
theatre
are visible,
as are remains of a
Temple of Ares
, a
Temple of Poseidon
, an
aqueduct
,
Roman baths
and a restored
Roman odeum
. The enormous site sprawls across the Preveza-Arta road
and buses stop here. At the time of research, the site was closed for further excavations
and reconstruction; check locally.
Nikopoli's
Archaeological Museum
( 26820 41336; adult/child €4/free;
8.30am-3pm)
has ancient finds (others are in Ioannina's Archaeological Museum).
SAILING TO ITALY: IGOUMENITSA CONNECTIONS
If you're heading to Italy by ferry, you'll have to pass through
Igoumenitsa
(ih-goo-
meh-nit-sah), in Epiros' far northwest. This dull, characterless port also serves Io-
nian islands such as Corfu (Kerkrya) and Paxos.
Ferries leave from three adjacent quays on the waterfront. Ferries for Ancona
and Venice depart from the southern port; those for Brindisi and Bari use the old
port, by the shipping offices; and north of the new port are ferries for Corfu
(Kerkyra) and Paxos.
Just show up in Igoumenitsa to buy deck-class passenger tickets to Italian ports;
book ahead for car tickets or sleeping cabins. Be at the port two hours before de-
parture, and check at the shipping agent's office for your boarding pass. On-board
'camping' is allowable for those with campervans (bring your own oxygen).
At time of research, passenger deck-class tickets cost €58 to Brindisi (six to 9½
hours), €61 to Bari (8½ to 10½ hours), €72 to Ancona (15 hours), and €83 to
Venice (23 hours). A passenger ticket in a four-bed cabin with shower is generally
twice as expensive. Vehicle prices for Bari and Brindisi start from €57, and from
€90 to €112 for Ancona and Venice. Each destination has from two to four sailings
per day.
The different ferry companies charge similar prices; check with their local offices
or websites. They include
Agoudimos Lines
(
26650 21175;
www.agoudimos-lines.com
;
Agion Apostolon 147)
,
ANEK Lines
(
26650 22104;
www.anek.gr
; Revis Travel Tourism & Shipping,
