| Kavala Καβάλα | ||
 | ||
| State | Greece | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Eastern Macedonia | |
| Altitude | 0-53 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 351 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 70.501 (2011 census) | |
| Prefix tel | 30 2510 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 65x xx | |
| Time zone | UTC 2 | |
Position
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| Tourism site | ||
| Institutional website | ||
Kavala it's a city Greek located in the region of Eastern Macedonia.
To know
City and port of the Eastern Macedonia, Kavala is considered "picturesque" because of its Balkan-looking houses clinging to the slopes of Mount Simvolo overlooking the harbor full of colorful boats. In its surroundings there are some nice beaches such as those of Paliò and Kalamitsi.
Background
The city changed its name several times. In Hellenistic and Roman times it was known as Neapoli and was the port of Philippi where the silver extracted from the nearby mines of Monte Pangeo was loaded. The city was visited by San Paolo. In the Byzantine era it became known as Christoupoli, the city of Christ.
The Ottomans conquered Christoupoli in 1389 and destroyed it three years later. A century later it was rebuilt and given its present name.
The prosperity of the city dates back to the late 18th century, when it became an important tobacco export port. In 1769 he was born there Mehmet Ali, founder of a dynasty that ruled the fate of Egypt until 1952.
How to orient yourself
Kavala: full screen map.How to get
By plane
- 1 Kavala International Airport (IATA: KVA). Kavala Airport bears the official name of "Alexander the Great" ("Megas Alexandros" in Greek) and is located about thirty km east of the center and 10 km from the beach and the port of Keramoti from which ferries leave for the nearby island of Thasos.
- Some of the airlines operating at the Kavala airport in 2020 were the following:
- Germanwings - Seasonal flights from Colony/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Munich, Stuttgart.
- Neos - Seasonal flights from Milan–Malpensa e Verona.
- TUI Flights - Europe's largest tour operator operates seasonal flights from various cities in the UK and also of the Belgium and gods Netherlands.
By car
Kavala is served by the highway Via Egnazia or 
which runs from the port of Igoumenitsa on the Ionian Sea (530 km in just over 6 hours) at the Kipi border crossing with the Turkey (190 km in two hours). The A2 also touches Thessaloniki, located 160 km to the west. Athens Kavala is 653 km away.
Hydrofoils depart from Kavala (passengers only) to the island of Thasos. The ferries instead leave from the port of Keramoti, close to the airport.
By bus
- 2 Intercity bus station, Mitropolitou Chrisostomou, ☎ 30 2510 222294, 30 2510 223593. Frequent rides to / from ThessalonikiAthens and from the other centers of the Western Thrace.
How to get around
What see
Archaeological Museum
- 1 Archaeological Museum (Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Καβάλας), Eritroù Stavroù 17, ☎ 302510222335.
Tue-Sun 08:00 - 15:00. The permanent exhibition "Neapolis - Christoupolis - Kavala" aims to illustrate the history of the city through the exhibits. It begins with a series of finds from a Neolithic settlement discovered in Dikili Tas.
Tue-Sun 08:00 - 15:00. The permanent exhibition "Neapolis - Christoupolis - Kavala" aims to illustrate the history of the city through the exhibits. It begins with a series of finds from a Neolithic settlement discovered in Dikili Tas.- An important piece is the statue of the goddess Parthenos, tutelary deity of the city in the pre-Christian era. The temple that housed the statue was a majestic Ionic temple from the 5th century BC. made of white marble of Thasos. In the museum, architectural fragments of the temple are exhibited, among which two of its very high columns stand out.
Mehmet Ali House Museum
- 2 Mehmet Ali House Museum (Μουσείο Μωχάμετ Άλη), Platia Mehmet Ali, ☎ 30 2510 620515. Summer opening hours: 09:00 - 15:00 and 18:00 - 21:00. The birthplace of Mehmet Ali, founder of a dynasty that reigned in Egypt until the Second World War, has been transformed into a museum that evokes an atmosphere of the eighteenth century. The building was built between 1780 and 1790 and was at the time considered one of the most brilliant examples of Ottoman architecture. At the end of the nineteenth century, restoration work was carried out which also concerned the garden and the surrounding areas with funding from the Egyptian state and the Egyptian royal family.
- In Mehmet Ali's house, the principle of separating men's and women's quarters was strictly applied. In the southern part is the "selamlik", which includes the areas reserved for men while in the northern part there is the "haremlik" for women, with the most private spaces for the whole family.
- The museum is located on the tip of the promontory that borders the port, in a position that offers panoramic views from all sides.
- 3 Tobacco Museum (Δημοτικό Μουσείο Καπνού), K. Paleologou 4, ☎ 30 2510 223344. Winter opening hours (October - May) Mon-Fri: 08: 00-16: 00. Sat: 10: 00-14: 00. Summer time (June - September) Mon-Fri: 08: 00-16: 00. Sat-Sun: 10 am-2pm. Museum whose collections include machinery, objects and archival material designed to illustrate the cycle of tobacco production and its marketing.
- The museum is temporarily housed on the ground floor of the National Tobacco Organization building. It is an industrial building, built between 1957 and 1962.
- Folklore Museum (Δημοτικό Λαογραφικό Μουσείο).
- 4 Kavala fortress. It was built in 1530 on the site of another older Byzantine era that was completely destroyed during the siege and the capture of the city in 1391.
- 5 Roman aqueduct.
Events and parties
What to do
Beaches
For many, the real gem of Kavala is the beaches that open onto its very long coastline, both east and west of the center. In summer they can all be reached by city buses of lines 8 and 11, or with the interurban ones directed to Nea Peramos. Most of them have free parking. Below is a review:
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Rapsani beach
- 1 Rapsani (Ραψάνη) (1 km from the center). Beach near the center, reachable on foot. It is in fact located close to the municipal park of Faliro. It has cabins and showers.
- 2 Batis beach (Μπάτης) (4 km from the center, also accessible by city buses of line 8 or with the interurban ones directed to Nea Peramos). Located in a picturesque cove, Batis is an equipped beach, awarded the Blue Flag for its clear waters. There are swimming pools, pool bars, beach bars, restaurants and playgrounds. Batis also has a campsite with 100 spaces and free car parking.
- 3 Toska (6 km). A quiet and very pleasant beach overlooked by a 4-star hotel of the hotel chain Bomo Hotels.
- 4 Perigiali (3 km. Bus line 11). An unpretentious, partially equipped beach at the eastern entrance of Kavala. It is surrounded by shrubs that provide natural shade and is equipped with taverns offering snacks (mezedes) based on fish accompanied by the inevitable ouzo that the Greeks usually consume immediately after bathing. Perigiali does not have hotels but simple rooms can be rented.
- 5 Kalamitsa (Καλαμίτσα) (3 km. Bus lines 8 and 4). It is the organized beach managed by the Municipality of Kavala at the western entrance of the city and is the one preferred by the residents, especially the young people of the city in particular. Free admission and free parking. Kalamitsa is equipped with cabins, showers and fields for the practice of various sports. Around there are several bars and restaurants.
- 6 Palio (Παληό) (9 km. Intercity buses to Nea Peramo). Palio is an amphitheater-like beach on a slightly high stretch of coast and much appreciated for its beauty. Around the main beach there are others that open into smaller coves among rocks with crystalline waters.
- 7 Nea Iraklitsa (Νέα Ηρακλείτσα) (14 km from the center. Bus to Nea Peramo). Nea Iraklitsa is a village / suburb of Kavala with a small marina. It is located on a high stretch of coast where there are small coves with beaches.
Nea Peramos
- 8 Nea Peramos (18 km). A town that has a long coastline with a series of beaches.
- 9 Vrasida promontory (Akrotiri Vrasida / Ακρωτήρι Βρασίδα) (22 km). A series of small beaches that open at the base of the promontory that borders the cove of Nea Peramos. To reach them, take the dirt road that begins at the point where the ruins of a Byzantine fortress are located.
- 10 Ammolofi (Αμμόλοφοι). Beyond Nea Peramos you will find the exotic beaches of Ammolofi (Literally: the dunes). They are white beaches that end in waters of exceptional transparency. In Ammolofi, young people from all over the region meet Eastern Macedonia who linger there until late at night to celebrate their parties.
- 11 Pirgos Apollonìas (Πύργος Απολλωνίας) (37 km). The beach that extends for a long stretch of the old Kavala-Thessaloniki state road, between the mouth of the Strimona river and the Elefteron gulf. If you follow the dirt road that is immediately after the tower, you will reach a beach that is not equipped but which in return offers calm and serenity.
- 12 Keramoti (35 km. Direct intercity buses to Xanthi). Equipped beach in the immediate vicinity of the airport. It is a strip of sand (Ammoglossa) that juts out into the open sea towards the islet of Thasopoula. In the center there is a small pine forest. The relatively shallow and calm waters make Ammoglossa the ideal beach for families. At the eastern end of the beach on the nudist beach.
Shopping
How to have fun
In Kavala there is a permanent amusement park.
Where to eat
Moderate prices
- 1 Low-end, medium-low range premises (western side of the promenade at the foot of the fortress). Simple sandwiches and gyros can also be found here.
Average prices
- 2 Medium, medium-high range premises (seafront at the foot of the fortress). Frequented by young people for an aperitif but also with chic restaurants.
Where stay
Imaret Hotel
Moderate prices
- 1 Camping Batis (At km 4 of the old Kavala - Thessaloniki highway), ☎ 30 2510 245918, fax: 30 2510 245690, @[email protected].
Large car tent 2 adults electricity: 30 €. Noisy because it is located directly under the road which is frequented by cars and motorbikes even at night. Important presence of mosquitoes. It practically has no convenience store. Connected with the campsite there is an equipped beach with swimming pool etc. The pitches are all of the same fixed size.
Large car tent 2 adults electricity: 30 €. Noisy because it is located directly under the road which is frequented by cars and motorbikes even at night. Important presence of mosquitoes. It practically has no convenience store. Connected with the campsite there is an equipped beach with swimming pool etc. The pitches are all of the same fixed size.High prices
- 2 Imaret Hotel, 30-32, Theodorou Poulidou, ☎ 30 2510 620151-5. Hotel with 18 rooms obtained from an Ottoman-era hospice (imaret).
Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
Ancient Theater of Philippi
- 3 Philippi - Archaeological site of an ancient city where in 42 BC a battle took place between the troops of Octavian and Antonio against those of the killers of Julius Caesar, Brutus and Cassius, who were defeated. It retains a theater still used today for summer performances.
- Filippi was also an important center in the Byzantine era; it was occupied by the Latins during the IV crusade and later abandoned.
- 5 Pangeon forest village - Bungalow complex immersed in the woods of Mount Pangeo. It is managed by the state forestry corps. Information and reservations on the site forestvillage.
Useful information
- Tourist information office (Kentro Pliroforisis Episkepton / Κέντρο Πληροφόρησης Επισκεπτών), Platia Elefterias (On the central square), ☎ 30 2510 231011, @[email protected]. Mon-Sat 08: 00-20: 30.
