The so-called "blue city" of Kavala is located just two hours away from Thessaloniki. The city invites you to discover it and assures you that its beauty will captivate you and lead you to its known and unknown beauties. The friendly and romantic atmosphere, the quiet and at the same time the vitality of the city are some of its main characteristics.
Kavala appears for the first time in the 7^th century BC under the name Neapolis, a colony of the people of Thassos. The port of Neapolis was used as the basis and starting point of the Romans, during the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC. Philippi is known for this battle, between, Octavian and Mark Antony versus Brutus and Cassius, the assassins of Julius Caesar. The port of Neapolis was an important trading post during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, as it connected Philippi with the Orient. In 49 AD Paul the Apostle arrives in Neapolis, after having passed by the “ Via Egnatia” road and ends up at Philippi, in order to spread the new faith to the locals. He founds the first Christian church in Europe and baptizes the first European Christian lady, Lydia, who gave her name to the homonymous village of Kavala.
In the 8^th century, Neapolis was renamed by the Byzantines to Christoupolis (“the town of Jesus” in Greek), due to the strong presence of Christianity in that region. In 926 the new city walls of the city were built, while in 1307, Andronikos II Palaiologos built a long wall, which managed to prevent the return of the Catalans in the city. In 1391, the beginning of the Ottoman rule, the Turks took over Christoupolis and destroyed it. The city turned into a Muslim colony and the Ottoman period lasted until 1912, with significant consequences to the Greeks of the region and the Christianity of the locals. At the same time, from 1903 to 1909, the Greeks took part in the Macedonian Struggle against the Bulgarians, boosting their spirits and their patriotic feelings. After a turbulent period and the Balkan wars, the Bulgarians were forced to leave Kavala that took its current name in modern history. Kavala joined the modern Greek State with the Treaty of Bucharest on July 28, 1913. It remained free until 1916, when the Bulgarians appeared once again and held the city until 1918, when they were forced to sign the Treaty and retreat.
Kavala is a city of about 54,000 inhabitants (based on the last counting) that stands out for its natural beauty, clean beaches and amphitheatrical architecture. Wandering around the port, the pedestrianized streets, the shops of Agios Nikolas, the Lighthouse and the parks of Kavala, will reveal to you the uniqueness of this place. If you come to visit Kavala, leave nothing unexplored. Visit the museums, learn about the history and the traditions, walk through the streets of Old Town, visit the house of Mehmet Ali, admire the oriental architecture of Imaret Hotel, enjoy a coffee or a drink in the famous cafeterias that offer a breathtaking view to the city, go down Vrahakia Panagias and gaze at the beautiful sea under the moonlight.
Save some energy and climb up to the Castle, the fortress-symbol of the city, and watch theatrical performances and musical events that take place mostly during summer. Do not forget to stop by Dasaki Panagoudas, just behind the courthouse; it is a lush oasis where you can have a drink literally surrounded the nature.
Of course, we encourage you to give in culinary temptations, which are recommended by the city itself. Taste fresh fish at the seaside taverns, drink wine and the Greek alcoholic beverage “tsipouro” at the traditional tavernas, try local products and take part in the cultural events of the city. After visiting this city, you will admit to everyone that indeed “Kavala is a great city”.