A special place in the list of attractions is held by the castles that have been preserved, reflecting the turbulent historical journey of the region.

In the city of Preveza, notable landmarks include the Castle of Saint Andrew, the Castle of Saint George at Kyani Akti, and the Castle of Pantokrator in the neighborhood of the same name, offering a breathtaking view of the sea and the sunset.

Within the city, you can also see remnants of the Boukas Fortress, located at the site of the Thermal Baths. Just a few kilometers from Preveza, near the village of Agios Thomas, lies the Fortress of Laskara.

In the Municipal District of Riza, near the Despo Bridge, you can gaze at the vastness of the Ionian Sea from the Castle of Rogoi.

Castle of Saint Andrew

The Castle of Saint Andrew (Its Kale) is located north of the city of Preveza, right by the sea. It was built by the Ottomans in the early 17th century, immediately after the demolition of the Boukas Fortress, since its absence made control of the straits difficult. The Ottomans chose this area because of the natural elevation that still exists today. They reinforced the exterior with stone masonry and built their new fortress at a site then known as “at the cypress,” most likely because of the presence of a large cypress tree, a common species in the region even today. The castle, now called Saint Andrew’s Castle, went through three main construction phases:

Ottoman phase (1701–1702)
Within twelve months, the Ottomans built a fortress covering 62 stremmata (about six times the size of Boukas Fortress). Information about it became known relatively recently from a plan attached to a report by the Venetian commander of Corfu, Daniel Dolfin. The report mentions that the castle lay “at cannon’s range” from the old Boukas Fortress. The walls of the new castle were about 2 meters high and 3.5 meters thick. The curtain walls between the bastions measured about 210 meters each. The defensive moat was about 2.5 meters deep and 1–2 meters wide. It was also noted that the structure was not particularly strong: the shallow moat, the low parapet, and the simple palisade fence made it vulnerable to organized military attacks. The same plan indicates two gates, one to the north and one to the south, as well as a mosque at the center of the castle.

Venetian phase (1718–1720)
This phase began with the capture of Preveza by the Venetians in October 1717. The Venetians converted the mosque in the center of the castle into a Catholic church dedicated to Saint Andrew, likely in honor of Admiral Andrea Pisani. After the conquest, the castle’s size was reduced by nearly half. Surviving plans show that the Venetians kept the entire eastern side of the existing wall. Two defensive walls were constructed, forming an outer enclosure around the main fortress. Within this enclosure were some houses—possibly belonging to local notables—built for protection. From these walls, a relief with a coat of arms has survived. The moat was widened and deepened, now measuring 3–4 meters in width, while the height of the walls from the moat’s base increased to about 3 meters, with a thickness of around 2.5 meters. Within the eastern enclosure, a second church of Saint Andrew was built, this time Orthodox. During the 80 years of Venetian rule, Preveza developed considerably. The castle continued to dominate the city’s harbor, while on the beach east of the castle, the first stone piers were built to help ships dock more easily.

Ali Pasha’s phase (1807–1808)
At the beginning of 1807, extensive fortification works began in Preveza and were completed in 1815. Hundreds of workers from across Ali Pasha’s territories were forced into labor under harsh conditions, often paid only with a piece of bread. The construction of the defensive moat (known as the tapias) and the castles of Saint George, Pantokrator, and Aktion, along with the Punta defenses, were the most significant works during Ali Pasha’s short 14-year presence in the city.
During the first two years (1807–1808), Saint Andrew’s Castle was thoroughly reinforced, as evidenced by inscriptions on its walls. The moat was widened to nearly twice its size, and the walls were heightened and faced with stone similar to that used in Ali’s other new fortresses. The bastions were strengthened, and a new imposing entrance was built near the southeastern bastion. The walls surrounding the eastern enclosure were reinforced, fully incorporating the area into the larger castle complex.

The architect of all the fortifications in Preveza was a Christian named Petros from Korçë, according to a Byzantine-style Greek inscription once carved above the main gate of Saint Andrew’s Castle.

The castle’s main gate was decorated with architectural elements taken from the ruins of ancient Nicopolis, which, unfortunately, was used as a quarry for Ali Pasha’s fortification works. Other stone reliefs embedded in the walls provide information about later repairs.

During this period, a large Ottoman mosque was built within the eastern enclosure, on the site of the demolished Orthodox church of Saint Andrew. Photographs from 1913 still show the mosque, which was converted into an archaeological museum around 1920, after the minaret had been removed. It was bombed in 1940 and demolished in the early 1950s, likely along with the castle’s main gate. The building of the Scouts (Proskopoi) that survives today was later built in its place. In 1953, a new Orthodox church dedicated to Saint Andrew was erected inside the castle.

The seaward wall of the eastern enclosure was demolished by the army in the early 1920s. The remaining part, which included the main gate and the prison cells, was torn down around 1955, and in its place the Officers’ Club of Preveza (L.A.F.) was constructed. In the large courtyard of the castle, a monument was erected around 1930, inscribed with the names of the heroes of the 24th Infantry Regiment of Preveza and local soldiers who fell in various wars.

After the liberation of the city, the castle was used to house military units. Following the departure of the last unit in March 2005, the site was left unprotected, abandoned, and looted. By ministerial decision in October 1980, the castle was declared a preserved monument, and under the 2002 law, all castles in Greece were classified as historical monuments. In front of the castle begins Preveza’s central coastal road, lined with several architecturally remarkable buildings.