Gorgeous scenery, fascinating historical monuments, superb beaches,
plus all the services and facilities accompanying sound tourist development, await
the visitor to Kavala, one of the gems of
eastern
Macedonia.
A city with a distinguished past, Kavala occupies the site of the
ancient Neapolis. Its buildings
rise like the tiers of an amphitheatre up the slopes of Mt. Simvolo, overlooking
the picturesque harbour. The area has been settled since Neolithic times (3.000
B.C.), while Antisara, covering the present villages of
Kalamitsa
and Kipoupolis just outside town, was founded in the 5th century B.C.
Neapolis,
of some what later date, knew great prosperity thanks to its strategic location
in the region: its proximity to the gold mines on
Mt.
Pangeo, on the one hand, and its position on the main trade route uniting
East and West on the other. Much later, in commemoration of St. Paul’s visit,
Neapolis was renamed Christoupolis.
Over the course of time, the region of Kavala had a turbulent history
of invasions, wars and oppression before evolving into the important commercial
centre it is today. Besides having an active port, Kavala is the capital of the
tobacco industry in
Greece.
Although a modern buisiness centre, Kavala is amply endowed with charms
to attract and captivate any visitor, for it has managed to hold onto many features
of its former appearance, resulting in a graceful balance of old and new. The
spacious squares, contemporary constructions, shops and warehouses on the West
side of the city blend harmoniously with the old houses with their gardens and
enclosed balconies that jut out over the flagstones of the narrow alleyways on
the east side. Traditional and modern meet and merge both in Kavala’s architecture,
and its layout.
Furthermore, its up-to-date facilities for tourists, its nightclubs
and its tavernas provide all the amenities while offering endless possibilities
for a most pleasant stay.
Kavala’s harbour is particularly beguiling, filled with dozens
of brightly coloured fishing caiques bobbing up and down at the quay before set
out at twilight, lamps lit for the night’s adventure.
This text (extract) is cited August 2003 from the Greek
National Tourism Organization tourist pamphlet (1988).
