In the North-East of Greece, at the foot of Mount Symbolo, the ancient city of Kavala is located - one of the most important ports of northern Hellas and the place where the most famous varieties of Macedonian tobacco are processed. However, in addition to economic importance, Kavala is an interesting city for a trip for impressions, and its history goes back to ancient times.
The history of Kavala begins in the 6th century. BC, when settlers from the island of Paros landed on the local coast and, having founded a small settlement, called it Neapolis. During the time of the Roman Empire, Kavala was an important transport hub, as evidenced by the numerous ruins from the beginning of the millennium. In the Dark Ages, the settlement was known as Christupol, and received its modern name only in the middle of the 15th century.
In addition to the Greeks and Romans, Normans, Franks and Venetians also managed to rule in Kavala, and from the end of the 14th century until 1912, Kavala was part of the Ottoman Empire. During the First and Second World Wars, even the Bulgarians managed to visit here, and, if history had disposed of it differently, the city could well have been part of modern Bulgaria.
Each conqueror left something of his own in Kavala, but in its modern appearance, the style of a modern Greek city is very clearly visible. The new quarters are built in the form of regular quadrangles, which is very typical for Hellas, and the busiest of them are located near the sea.
How to get to Kavala
Kavala is a very significant transport hub in Northern Greece, although it is located 680 km from the capital. Athens and Kavala are connected by regular bus routes departing from.
It is much easier to come to Kavala from Thessaloniki, which are only 165 km from here. The bus schedule can be viewed.
Kavala - the second largest city and port in Macedonia was founded in the VI century. BC
Megas Alexandros International Airport is located 25 km from Kavala. And, according to Wikipedia, you can fly here even from Moscow. You can check if this is true, or find a more convenient route, using the Aviasales search engine for cheap flights. We have already written in more detail about how to do this.
Finally, Kavala is a major seaport. Ferries from here run to many of the islands of Northern Greece, and it is easy to get to Chios and other ports on the islands from the city. If desired, from Kavala you can even swim to Athens - there would be a desire. You can find out up-to-date information about routes to Kavala and order tickets online. We described in great detail the process of buying tickets via the Internet for ships in a post:.
Hotels
If you came to Kavala overnight, then finding a hotel is very easy. You can get acquainted with the offers and book a room in one of the many hotels in Kavala.
What to see in Kavala
Among the huge number of attractions of Kavala, the ancient Kamares aqueduct, built in the 16th century under the Turks, and the Fortress, towering over the eastern part of the bay, stand out. The Byzantines, Venetians and Turks took part in its construction at different times. Looking at the massive walls of the Fortress, it is hard to imagine that most of the fortification was built in the 10th and 11th centuries. At night, the Fortress is illuminated with decorative lighting, which gives it a special charm.
The medieval aqueduct was rebuilt under Suleiman I in 1530.
A very interesting part of Kavala, called Panagia, attracts tourists with labyrinths of narrow streets and old houses of the 18th-19th centuries. In one of them, Muhammad Ali was born, who later became the Pasha of Egypt. The house of the famous pasha is easily recognizable by the equestrian statue of the ruler near it.
Another notable building in Kavala is Imaret, which was the largest Islamic institution in the entire Old World. The building is also directly related to Muhammad Ali, who built it back in 1817.
In general, many private and public buildings of previous eras have been preserved in Kavala. These are old houses in the historic quarter of St. John, and the city hall, and the city library, and many others.
In 1769, Muhammad Ali, the future pasha of Egypt, was born in Kavala
Numerous churches and cathedrals serve as open-air museums. Among them are the Church of St. Paraskeva, where there is a wax icon of the Virgin, painted by the Evangelist Luke, and the monastery of the Archangel Michael, where you can see magnificent icon paintings made at different times.
History buffs should definitely visit the Archaeological Museum of Kavala, which exhibits finds from Philippa, Amphipolis and other places that clearly tell about life and life in Ancient Macedonia. If visiting museums is not for you, then you can go to the port or to the Kavala market, which in its color is very reminiscent of the Oriental Bazaar.
Attractions around Kavala
15 km northeast of Kavala, there is the largest ancient complex of Northern Greece - Ancient Philippi - the city, which is the first settlement in Europe, where the Apostle Paul founded a Christian community. Philippi is famous not only for this. Once it was conquered from the Thracians by Philip II himself - the father of Alexander the Great, and soon after the death of Caesar, Octavian's legionnaires defeated the troops of Cassius and Brutus here. Unlike many ancient monuments, of which only names and legends have been preserved, there is something to see in Philippi, so you should definitely pay a visit here.
The first Christian community in Europe was founded in Philippi by the Apostle Paul.
It is interesting to visit the monastery of the Virgin Ikosifinissa, which is located in the village of Nikisyan, 35 km from Kavala, on the slope of Mount Pangeon. The monastery was founded in the 10th century by St. Herman. There are many cells, unique paintings and an iconostasis with a unique decor.
The beaches and cuisine of Kavala
Kavala is also a wonderful holiday on the azure seashore, where you can find a hotel or boarding house. These places are famous for their beaches, and there are quite good ones even in the city itself. You can taste fish or meat prepared according to old recipes by visiting restaurants or coffee houses on Caraoli Square. Nearby there is also a pier, from which it is easy to go on an excursion to the nearest islands on a tourist ship.
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