Sightseeing in Kavala - what to see. Complete travel guide

Kavala is a small port town that has just recently won love of tourists due to its magnificent beaches, well developed infrastructure and rich choice of entertaining and excursion programs.

Kavala was founded yet in the 6th century; after this the town was ruled by the Roman Empire. In 14 century it was added to the territory of the Ottoman Empire and only in 20 century Kavala became a part of Greece. To the service of guests of this wonderful place are opened several beaches that are 6 kilometers long. Most prestigious and luxurious hotels are located along the coast line. The town’s embankment is most favorite place for walking among locals and tourists. This place is particularly attractive on evenings when it is lightened by neon signs and street lamps.

The majority of streets starts from the embankment and goes high into mountains. While walking on boulevards and valleys you can see large number of shops, restaurants and taverns. Once here were located fishing taverns that are now turned into prestigious restaurants. Cafes and taverns with open terraces are traditionally most popular among tourists as they feature stunning looks of the coast.

Any street in Kavala will bring you to the top of Simbolo Mountain. The main sight of the town – a Byzantine fort – is located there. This fort is interesting not only by its medieval halls and high towers but also by a spacious park that surrounds the building. Numerous old houses can be found is the old part of the town. Everything in Kavala simply dives in greenery and flowers. Among architectural sights of the city we should also mention Imaret built in the beginning of the 19th century by the order of Ottoman ruler Muhammad Ali. A part of the imaret is turned in to a hotel, while the second part is used to store the exhibits of Archeological Museum. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

There are a lot of interesting architectural monuments in the city. The intriguing construction is the Kamares Aqueduct. It is a very beautiful three-level arched bridge that connects the historic quarter with the new one. Looking at the majestic bridge now, it is difficult to imagine that it was built in the 16th century. The bridge was erected by order of Sultan Suleiman the First. It has a length of 280 winds, and a height of 25 meters. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the aqueduct was used to supply the city with water. Recently it underwent a large-scale reconstruction.

Among the religious monuments, one of the most interesting is the Baptistery Saint Lydia, located in a very picturesque area, on the banks of the River Gaggiti. The main artifact of this church is the ancient marble font, which is still used for its intended purpose. The ancient church is an important pilgrimage site. A few years ago, a kind of modest hotel in which pilgrims can stay for a few days, was opened on its territory.

An incredibly fascinating event will be a trip to the Kavala Lighthouse, located at the highest point of the city. The lighthouse looks more than modest. It is a small white turret, on top of which is installed a lantern. Around the lighthouse is equipped with a spacious area, which tourists use as a viewing platform. On certain days, tourists are allowed to go inside the lighthouse and see its structure.

In the vicinity of the city there are several interesting archaeological districts. Here you can see the ruins of the ancient city of Amphipolis. It was founded in the 5th century BC. The city was very rich; precious metals were mined on its territory, and also forests for the construction of ships. During a study, scientists discovered unique works of art and crafts made of precious metals, which are now represented in major museums of the country. Visitors to the archaeological area will have the opportunity to admire the ruins of the once majestic palaces, and also, carefully restored antique mosaics.

Among the special attractions is the Tobacco Museum. The variety of its exhibits is striking; from old photographs, to the very first cigarette packs in the world. In the 19th century, the growth of Kavala was largely achieved through the production of tobacco.