Posted on February 05, 2013 by sguese

 

Rising from a beautiful harbour, you can spot Kavala in the distance with its huge Byzantine fortress, standing out like a not so sore thumb. One of the most attractive of Greece’s bigger cities, Kavala was laid out on the ancient city of Neopolis. While an important ferry hub for the northeastern Aegean Islands, Kavala should just a port pit stop. The city impresses through its colorful old quarters and former famous residents such as Ottoman Pasha Mehmet Ali, the last royal dynasty founder of Egypt.

 

The Museums

With such a rich past, you can expect to be impressed by Kavala’s Archeological Museum. The museum displays sculpture, jewelry, terracotta figurines and cases from the ancient Amphipolis. Amphipolis was the Athenian colony west of Kavala. Travelers should also pay a visit to the Municipal Museum of Kavala. The museum not only displays contemporary Greek art but also boasts a folk art collection. Within the folk art collection of the museum, you can see costumes, jewelry, handicrafts and other household items and tools on display.

The Beaches

You are in Greece after all. Kavala boasts some of the best beaches in the area. Many enjoy visiting Rapsani Beach, just two kilometers west of the city. Good for swimming, the beach fills up in the summertime. Others prefer to soak their toes on Batis Beach, a little bit further away from the city, but more frequented by locals.

The Panagia Quarter

Part of the reason Kavala is regarded as a beautiful stems from the Panagia quarter. This section of the city presents narrow and tangled streets, lined up with pretty pastel homes. It makes for a good evening or daytime stroll. Don’t forget to take a peek at Imarel, the 18^th century preserved domed structure overlooking the harbor. It was originally built as a hostel for Islamic theology students.

 

The “Great” Day Trips

If you hire a car while in Kavala, you can cruise on to Pella, within reach of the city by day. Pella is the site of the birthplace of Alexander the Great. The site contains spectacular mosaics for it held great importance as Macedon’s capital under King Archelos.