Sitting on a hillside along the coast of the Aegean sea lies an overlooked Greek seaside city waiting to be explored.
Kavala, in northern Greece, has beautiful secluded beaches and breathtaking views without the crowds.
Split between the Palia Poli (Old Town) and the Nea Poli (New Town), Kavala is situated on the Bay of Kavala across from the island of Thassos and on the Egnatia motorway, a one-and-a-half-hour drive east of Thessaloniki.
Known as the “blue city” Kavala has crystal-clear coasts, world heritage monuments, ancient sites and glorious mountains.
The city has enchanting flower-filled courtyards, traditional villages that remain untouched by tourists and pretty tavernas dot the coastline.
Kavala is renowned for processing and trading tobacco. Many buildings here are related to the storage and processing of tobacco and are preserved in the city.
Municipal Tobacco Warehouse, a three storey tobacco warehouse, is a must visit whilst you are in the city. It was built in 1910 by the businessman and tobacco merchant Kiazim Emin and has since been refurbished to hold a variety of events such as exhibitions, symposia, workshops, lectures.
As you wander around the city you can easily lose yourself in the picturesque lanes of the Old Town on the peninsula of Panagia, which looks as if it is straight out of the illustrated pages of a fairytale book.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Philippi just a few miles away from Kavala and played a key role in the history of Macedonia, Rome, and Early Christianity. The church remains are an exceptional testimony to the area’s rich history.
The site is connected to many important historical figures and events that shaped the world as we know it, including the Apostle Paul, Caesar’s assassins, and the Battle of Philippi.
Kavala’s cuisine features a variety of fresh seafood, often caught daily from the Aegean Sea and you can also expect to find all your traditional Greek dishes from souvlaki to moussaka.
If you have a sweet tooth then you will be pleased to hear that the city is also also known for its sweet treats including ourabiedes (almond cookies) and bougatsa (a pastry filled with custard or cheese).
