Agios Charalambos and the Venetian Clock Tower of Preveza
Updated: Sep 12
A place we pass by all the time
There are places you deliberately seek out when visiting a city.
And then there are places that simply become part of it over time.
For us, Agios Charalambos Church in the heart of Preveza’s old town is one of those places. We regularly pass by when walking through the pedestrian streets. The Venetian Clock Tower stands right next to it, and one of our favourite cafés is just a few steps away.
Saturdays in particular often bring us here. After shopping at the weekly market, we head into the old town, have a coffee and wander through the streets for a while.
Over time, the church and the clock tower have become less of a sight to us and more a part of our everyday Preveza.
But it is worth taking a closer look.
Because among the cafés, shops and everyday bustle of the old town stand a church and a clock tower whose history stretches back several centuries.
Quick info: Agios Charalambos in Preveza
Location: Old town of Preveza, Epirus, in northwestern Greece
Ideal for: History, church architecture, photography, Venetian traces and small historic details
Good to know: Agios Charalambos is the Metropolitan Church of Preveza and is dedicated to the city’s patron saint. Right next to the church stands the Venetian Clock Tower from 1792, now one of the most distinctive landmarks in the old town.
Best time: Morning or later in the afternoon, when the pedestrian streets are a little quieter and the light beautifully highlights the church and clock tower.
Unfiltered tip: Don’t just photograph the clock tower. The interior of the church is well worth seeing too – and on the eastern exterior, there is an unusual detail that is easy to miss: part of a Roman sarcophagus from Nicopolis incorporated into a fountain.
Where to explore: Agios Charalambos Church - on Google Maps
The Church of Preveza’s Patron Saint
Agios Charalambos is not just any church in Preveza.
It is the city’s Metropolitan Church and is dedicated to Saint Charalambos, who is venerated as the patron saint of Preveza.
The present church dates from the 18th century and was probably built on the site of an earlier place of worship. From the outside, it initially appears relatively understated – especially beside the tall clock tower, which has a much stronger presence in the square.
Inside, however, a different picture emerges.
A richly carved wooden iconostasis, old icons and paintings reflect different periods and artistic influences. Some of the works date back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Later wall and ceiling paintings show influences from the art of the Ionian Islands as well as Western painting.
It is one of those places where, from the outside, you would hardly guess how many details are hidden within.
Why Agios Charalambos Is So Important to Preveza
The close connection between the saint and the city dates back to the middle of the 19th century.
At that time, Preveza was struck by a severe epidemic.
According to local religious tradition, the residents turned to Saint Charalambos and had a relic of the saint brought to Preveza from the Monastery of Agios Stefanos near Meteora. It was placed inside the church and later carried through the city in a procession.
According to tradition, the epidemic ended shortly afterwards.
Since 1854, Saint Charalambos has been venerated as the patron saint of Preveza.
This connection remains alive to this day. Every year on February 10, the city celebrates its patron saint with church services and religious festivities.
Agios Charalambos is therefore much more than just a historic church.
It remains part of the life of the city.
A Venetian Clock Tower in the Heart of the Old Town
Right next to the church stands one of the most striking landmarks in the center of Preveza.
The Venetian Clock Tower was built in 1792, at a time when Preveza was under Venetian rule.
For a long time, the damaged date in an inscription on the tower was read as 1752 – a date that can still be found on some websites today. More recent historical research, however, has shown that the tower was completed in 1792. This is also supported by the tenure of the Venetian Provveditore Alessandro Semitecolo and by the clock tower’s bell, which had already been made in Venice in 1791.
Today, when walking through the pedestrian streets, you can see the tower rising above the surrounding buildings from some distance away. Its clock has long since become a familiar part of the old town.
But one small detail is easy to miss.
There is also a sundial on the tower.
These are exactly the kinds of details we like about Preveza. You can walk past a building countless times and still, one day, discover something you had never noticed before.
The tower itself did not always look the way it does today. Historic photographs show it in an earlier form. The bell structure that now defines its appearance was added later.
Today, the church and tower seem like an ensemble that naturally belongs together.
In reality, their present appearance developed gradually over a long period of time.
A Piece of Nicopolis Inside the Church
One of the most unusual discoveries is not inside the church, but on its exterior.
On the eastern exterior of the church, part of a Roman sarcophagus from Nicopolis was incorporated into the wall and used as a fountain. The ancient relief can still be clearly seen today.
Almost two thousand years of history come together here in a remarkably small space.
Just a few kilometres away lie the ruins of the Roman city of Nicopolis. Yet right in the heart of modern-day Preveza, a piece of this ancient past suddenly reappears in the wall of an 18th-century church.
It is not a monumental exhibit and is easy to overlook.
Perhaps that is exactly what makes this detail so interesting.
A Church with Visible Traces of Its History
The church itself has also witnessed a great deal over the centuries.
During the violent events of 1798, known in the city’s history as the Χαλασμός της Πρέβεζας – the Destruction of Preveza – the church was damaged.
It was later restored.
In October 1924, a major fire broke out inside the church. Traces of this event have survived as well. A historic icon of Saint Charalambos still bears damage today that is associated with the fire.
The courtyard is also worth a closer look.
To the left of the main entrance, two marble plaques set into the wall commemorate Theodoros A. Varzelis and Ambrosios I, Metropolitan of Nicopolis. Both were originally buried in the church courtyard. Their former marble tombs disappeared when the courtyard was later paved, but the funerary inscriptions were preserved.
Today, it is above all the images on the two plaques that catch the eye: one depicts a mourning female figure, while on the other, a bishop’s staff and mitre recall the ecclesiastical office of Ambrosios I.
Another detail is hidden at the entrance. The wrought-iron gate features the crowned Byzantine double-headed eagle – a symbol closely associated with Byzantine tradition and still used by the Orthodox Church today.
Details like these change the way you look at a place.
Suddenly, the old icons, the wood, the walls and even the inconspicuous stone plaques in the courtyard are no longer simply historic remains. They tell of the people and events connected with this place.
In the Heart of Everyday Life in Preveza
Perhaps that is exactly why we like Agios Charalambos so much.
The church is not tucked away behind high walls, nor is it somewhere on the outskirts of the city. It stands right in the middle of everyday life.
People walk past carrying shopping bags. In the surrounding cafés, others linger over coffee or breakfast, while everyday errands are taken care of in the nearby shops. In the evening, the streets fill with people heading to the tavernas.
And among all of this, the church and the old clock tower have stood for centuries.
You do not even have to come here specifically to discover them.
Anyone wandering through Preveza’s old town will sooner or later almost automatically pass by them.
Sometimes It’s Worth Taking a Second Look
We ourselves have walked past Agios Charalambos often enough without thinking about all these stories.
The clock tower was simply the clock tower. The church was just part of the square. And most of the time, we were on our way somewhere – for coffee, to the marina or to take care of one of those everyday errands that regularly bring us through the old town.
Only when you begin to learn more about a place like this does the way you see it start to change.
Suddenly, you notice the sundial on the tower. You learn about a Roman sarcophagus from Nicopolis incorporated into the church wall, an epidemic in the 19th century, a fire in 1924 and why Saint Charalambos remains so important to the people of Preveza today.
And the next time you pass by, the same square looks just a little different.
These are exactly the kinds of places that make exploring Preveza so interesting for us.
Sometimes you do not need to discover a new sight.
You simply need to take a closer look at one you already know.
Practical Tips for Your Visit
Agios Charalambos is located in the heart of Preveza’s old town and can easily be visited while walking through the city center. The church stands directly by the pedestrian streets and is surrounded by cafés, small shops and restaurants.
Time to allow: You do not need much time for the church and clock tower. If you would like to take a closer look at the church interior and the small details around the building, allow around 20 to 30 minutes.
Opening hours: As Agios Charalambos is an active church, opening hours may vary depending on services and other church events. If you would also like to see the interior, keep in mind that the church may not be accessible at all times of the day.
Visiting the church: Agios Charalambos is an active Orthodox church, not a museum. Appropriate clothing should be worn when entering, and visitors should be respectful during services or religious celebrations. If you would like to take photographs inside, check beforehand whether photography is permitted and appropriate at that particular time.
Clock tower: Don’t just look at the large clock. The Venetian tower also has a sundial that is easy to miss when passing by.
February 10: On the feast day of Saint Charalambos, Preveza celebrates its patron saint in a special way. If you are in the city at this time, you will experience the place very differently from an ordinary day.
Exploring the old town: A visit can easily be combined with a walk through the surrounding streets. The waterfront promenade and marina are also within easy walking distance.
Discover More Around Preveza
If you are interested in history, small details and special places woven into everyday life in Preveza, you might also enjoy these posts:
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