Alexandropolis or Alexandroúpoli (Greek: Αλεξανδρούπολη Alexandroúpoli) is a city in Western Thrace, northeast of Greece.
Understand
Alexandropolis is a small city with a port and an airport. Although the Lonely Planet guide describes it as "dusty", it has a rocky beach, and a typical Greek nightlife.
Alexandropolis is the last major Greek town before the border with Turkey on the road to Istanbul.
To get
By plane
There are four flights each day that link the city with Athens (Olympic airlines Y Aegean Air).
By train
There are several trains of Thessaloniki. Slow trains take 6 hours (€ 9), and fast trains ICs They take only 4 1 / 2h (€ 16).
Train connections are relatively frequent in the rest of the country, despite the fact that the rail connection to Bulgaria via Dikea It has been canceled until further notice. Trains are running only as far as Dikea, 15 km from the Bulgarian border. There are no buses from Dikea to the border town of Svilengrad, the taxi and the hitch-hiking they are the only options to access Svilengrad and Bulgaria's extensive railway network at the moment.
By bus
National Bus Network or KTEL It has buses to all the main cities in the country. The buses Shutle they go out twice a day at Athens (approximately 8-9 hours) and there are connections every hour with Thessaloniki.
OSE, the national railway operator, has established a daily bus service to Istanbul It leaves the main station early (around 7) every morning. Tickets are generally easy to find and can be reserved at the box office.
By car
Alexandroupolis is on the highway and has 2 exits, west and downtown.
Boat
The most important connection is the ferry to Samothrace. For sailboats, the port is also suitable. The number of bunks is very limited.
Travel
Since the city and especially the center is small and flat, you can easily walk to explore the city - for views outside the city, a vehicle is essential.
Watch
- Lighthouse
- Alexandropolis Cathedral (Church of San Nicolás), Plaza Metropoleos. Inaugurated in 1901 and dedicated to the patron saint of sailors. Next to the church, a museum displays sacred artifacts dating back to the 16th century.
- 2 Agii Theodori Cave Church The rocky church of Agioi Theodoroi, with frescoes from the 10th century AD, stands in a magnificent location after the Byzantine fortresses of Potamos and Avanta.
- 3 Castle of Avanta (Potamos) (Boz-Tepe) (outside the town of Avanta, 10 km from Alexandroupolis). The castle is on the provincial road that connects Alexandropolis with Avanta. From afar you can see the three impressive medieval towers of the Potos River. They are square and are surrounded by a double wall. It is believed to have been built in the 13th century by the Gatelouzos, the Genoese conquerors of the area, on a site occupied in the prehistoric, ancient Greek and Byzantine periods. The ascent to the castle of Avanta (or Potamos), from the west side of the hill, takes about 20 minutes. A grandiose gate is preserved, with two high towers on both sides and the castle walls, with the stairs that lead there. The view of the entire plain from the warriors fully justified the construction of Avanta Castle at this point. The ruins that the visitor sees today date back to the 13th century, although there are finds from the Mycenaean period.
- 4 Tsepel Kagia Hill On Tsepel Kayan Hill, now called Mytero or Monastery Hill, 4 km north from Avantas village to Aisymi, there are rocks carved in the shape of chairs and tables, as well as murals depicting constellations. Ruins and traces of buildings have been discovered, which is likely to be a place of worship of the Kikonon tribe of ancient Thracians. The climb to the hill is easy and you can walk following the old path.
- 5 Agios Theodoros Church The 10th century frescoed church of San Teodoro stands in a unique location, after the Byzantine castles of Potamos and Avanta. Not just the stone church itself, the trail is well worth the trip.
- 6 Traianoupolis. The city was founded by the Roman Emperor Trajan (reigned 98-117) and was famous in Roman times for its baths. In the 4th century, it became the capital and metropolis of the Roman Thracian province of Rhodope. Despite a checkered history, the city remained the metropolis of the ecclesiastical province of Rhodope until its decline in the 14th century. The area was destroyed in 1322 by Bulgarian raids and 1329/30 by Turkish troops. Ruins of old bathing facilities and parts of the city wall are on display. You should definitely combine a visit with a visit to the modern bath, because even today, the place is a spa.
- 7 Mesimvria Mesimvria was a colony of inhabitants of the island of Samothrace, built at the end of the 7th century BC. C. The city flourished in centuries V and IV a. However, during the period of Macedonian and later Roman rule it began to gain importance, as the construction of roads in the interior diminished the importance of the coastal city. At the excavation site, the remains of the fortress wall with towers, private houses, a road network, public buildings, a sanctuary of Demeter and a temple of Apollo were found. The most important monuments of the excavation site are: The Sanctuary of Demeter. Inside the building, silver, gold, silver and gilt relief panels were found, all related to the cult of Demeter. Dated in the 4th century BC. The archaic temple of Apollo. It was part of a larger building complex (35 x 45 m) with a paved central courtyard, surrounded by a stoa. Many ceramic fragments with engraved inscriptions were found inside the temple from the 6th and 5th centuries BC.
- 8 Panagia Kosmosoteira The remarkable ancient Panagia Kosmosotira monastery was built in 1151 by the Byzantine Emperor Isaas I Komnenos according to the plans of Hagia Sophia and survived wars and riots for 900 years in very good condition.
- 9 Evros Delta It is a natural wetland reserve at the mouth of the Evros or Maritsa river. The main channel of the river is the border with Turkey: there is no legal crossing point, but smugglers and migrants often try to cross. Therefore, you may find access restricted.
Do
- Bird watching. You can go to observe groves, a rare species of bird that has resided for years in the Balkans.
Beaches .From the west of the city to Panorama there are beautiful almost continuous sandy beaches with many beach bars and restaurants, but also unmanaged areas, for those who prefer a quiet bath.
Birdwatching in the Evros Delta
A very interesting lagoon landscape, ideal for bird watching, especially at the time of the annual bird migration. Fresh water and sea water mix here to form a rich wetland area, which is an important resting place for waterfowl. Of the 400 species of birds in Greece, 300 fly through this area. 46 species of fish, 7 amphibians, 21 reptiles and more than 40 mammals live in the river.
Beaches
In the west of the city there are almost continuously beautiful sandy beaches up to Panorama with many beach bars and restaurants, but also unmanaged areas, where there is much less activity. Only the best known are described here.
- 1 Petrota Beach. Quiet beach of fine sand with loungers and showers and a poolside snack bar
- 2 Beach of ancient Messimvria. long sandy beach, quiet
- Third Messimvria-Dikkela Beach. very long sandy beach with beach bars, sun loungers, restaurants
- Quarter Dikela - Agia Paraskevi Beach. Excellent sandy beach with several cafes and grill restaurants. It is a bit difficult to get to as the roads are narrow and winding. 5 Makri Beach. beautiful, not so full of sand and pebbles
- Sixth Nea Chilis Beach. long sandy beach with all amenities
- Seventh EOT Beach. Nice sandy beach close to the town around the campsite.
Excursions
- Samothraki : beautiful mountainous island that is not crowded with tourists
- Rhodope mountains - Unique mountain and nature landscape with lots of sights
- Dadia National Park : known for the presence of many species of birds of prey
- Maroneia Aechaeological site in a beautiful landscape:
- 1 Didimoticho(?? d? µ? te ???? ß ???,Didiymoteicho). The place was founded as Plotinoupolisin the 7th century A.D. By the Romans. Due to its strategic location, the place was heavily fortified, especially during the Eastern Romano-Byzantine period. The place received the name of Didymoticho due to the double wall of the city (in Greek didymos tichos d? D? Μ ?? te ????, twin wall '). The decline of the city began with the crusades and destruction, among others by Emperor Barbarossa, and in the following period with the destruction of the Bulgarian and Byzantine troops until it finally fell into Ottoman hands in 1361. Didymoticho later belonged to the Ottoman Empire Without interruption until 1912, it changed hands during the 2 Balkan Wars and arrived in Greece in 1919. Agia Petra is born between the city's train station and the Erythropotamos and Evros rivers. Excavations revealed that this place was part of theis the ancient city of Plotinoupolis . The ruins of the ancient settlement can be seen there today. Excavations are ongoing and the finds are on display in the Komotini Archaeological Museum. Top attractions include the Castle and the fortifications of the medieval Didymoticho with the tower of the Princess . During the Ottoman rule, the Christian population, that is, Greeks, Armenians and Bulgarians, lived "above" (= inside the castle), while the Muslim residents of the city lived "below", around the mosque. Within the city walls is the old town. The Byzantine Church of San Ekaterini and the historic Church of San Georgios Palaeokastritis are located here. The mosque Çelebi Sultan Mehmed , whose construction began under Murad I (1326-1389) and was completed under Bayezid I (1347-1402), is the oldest mosque in Europe. You can also visit the complex of hammam 15th century Turkish and the mausoleum de Oruç Pasa (???? t?? as?), which is located directly behind the current city hall. The Byzantine Museum , the Museum of the Folklore and the military Museum they are also worth a visit. the stalactite cave from Vouva, at the beginning of the Didymoteicho route to Mount Koufovouno with unique bat colonies.
- Pythion Castle (Empythion). Pythio Castle, one of the most important and best-preserved examples of military architecture in Greece, was also called Empythion in Byzantine times and was famous for its impregnable walls. It is located on a low hill on the northeast edge of the town of Pythio, near the river Evros, very close to the border with Turkey. Built between 1330 and 1340, it was of little use to the Byzantines. It was one of the first fortresses that the Turks conquered when they invaded Europe. Later a village was built around the castle.
To buy
In the city center and on the arteries, all the large Greek supermarket chains have branches that also serve to supply rural areas. Many specialty shops and shops for daily needs are located between the seafront and Leof.Dimokratias street.
To eat
Along the harbor promenade and in the area between the Promenade and Leof.Dimokratias street there is a wide variety of restaurants and fast food.
- 1 Macdonald , 382, Av. Dimokratias.
Go out and drink
Due to the university and the large number of young people, the nightlife is quite good for the size of the city. Most of the cafes and bars are located in the district on and on the promenade and in the city park.
- 1 Thema , 8 Souliou Street, ? [2551 025255]. Wine bar (updated February 2016 | edit)
- 2 Kybernio , 2A, "Nikiforou Foka" street, ? [2551 037160]. Night bar
Sleep
There are no cheap youth hostels, but there are a couple of mid-range hotels by the sea. Backpackers often just stay on the beach, near the train station, there is also a campsite located right on the beach.
Next destination
- Ferries to the island of Samothrace, in the south of the city they leave twice a day but irregularly. There is a fast one (takes an hour and costs € 17.70 per person), and a slower one also for cars (takes 3 hours and costs € 8.80 per person). Tickets have to be bought at a travel agency near the port.
- One of the reasons to visit Alexandropolis is to take the train to the border station of Pythion and transfer to train Istanbul.