Roman Odeon of Nikopolis
Ancient Nikopolis city centre, by the Roman agora, about 7 km (9 min drive) north of Preveza
Photo: Vassiliki Feidopoulou / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0A small, well-preserved Roman odeon from the time of Augustus, in the centre of Ancient Nikopolis, fully excavated and repaired.
About Roman Odeon of Nikopolis
The Odeon was built in the early 1st century AD, under Emperor Augustus. It is one of the best-preserved monuments of Ancient Nikopolis, the city Octavian founded after the Battle of Actium.
During the Nea Aktia, the festival held in honour of Apollo, the Odeon hosted speeches, literary and musical contests, and theatre performances. At other times it probably served as the city's bouleuterion, the hall where the council met. It was repaired and remodelled between the late 2nd and early 3rd centuries AD.
It stands in the city centre, next to the Roman agora (forum) and on the western side of the later Early Christian wall. The monument has been fully excavated, and its seats, auditorium, proscenium and stage have been extensively repaired. Today it is used again as a venue for cultural events.
Good to know
- Look under the seating as well as at it: the arched passages beneath the auditorium are some of the best-preserved Roman brickwork at the site.
- The Great Theatre is 1.5 km north, outside the walls. Combine the two in one visit.
- Cultural events are held here in some summers. They're announced locally, and catching one is the best way to see the Odeon in use.
Photos
Last updated 12 October 2026. Information checked against allofgreeceone.culture.gov.gr. Spotted something out of date? Use “Suggest a place” in the footer.
More ancient theatres in Preveza
Great Theatre of Nikopolis
The Roman theatre of Nikopolis, built under Augustus for about 8,000 spectators and now being restored, 8 km north of Preveza.
Ancient Theatre of Kassope
A 3rd-century BC theatre for up to about 6,000 people, high on Mount Zalongo above the Ambracian Gulf, restored and used again after 2,100 years.