Hello everyone! Today I will write to you about a city in northern Greece. Since I live near Greece, I spent most of my summers in this beautiful country and I got to know most of Greece.Kavala is truly a hidden gem of northern Greece. It resembles a large horseshoe that curves around the bay, which is perhaps where its name comes from.I started my tour of Kavala early in the morning, as the city slowly woke up. I walk down towards the Port and notice the fishing boats that have already docked. People are unloading their nets, talking, drinking coffee while standing. I walk along the shore and watch the houses climb the hill, one above the other. The city has a clear layout: the sea below, the old part above, the fortress at the top.I head towards the old town, the Panagia quarter. The streets become narrower and the steps slower. The stone underfoot demands attention. The houses are close together, with small courtyards and gates. Flowers can be seen in the occasional window, and the smell of food wafts from open doors.I stop several times, not because of fatigue, but because of the view that opens up to the sea. The port remains below me, and the ships seem smaller than before.I stop several times, not because of fatigue, but because of the view that opens up to the sea. The port remains below me, and the ships seem smaller than before.
I reach the fortress. I enter and walk along the walls. I look at the city from a height and clearly see the directions of the streets, the squares and the coast.








Kavala consists of two parts: Palia Poli (old town) and Nea Poli (new town). Once there was only Panagia, but during the Turkish rule, Christians asked for permission to start building outside the walls. Today, most of the inhabitants live in the new part, but the soul of the city is the old part with its small streets and houses under the Kastro castle.










Panagia is almost impossible to drive through because the streets are very steep and narrow. The Kamares Aqueduct is the trademark of Kavala. Initially, it was used to bring water from nearby rocks, it uses a slope rather than the principle of connected vessels, its current appearance was given to it by the Turks sometime in the 16th century and it is still impressive 500 years later. It has 60 arches.Imaret
A fascinating building, an exceptional example of Ottoman architecture, was built by Muhammad Ali, a Turkish commander, as a tribute to his hometown in 1817. It served as a school for the study of Islam. It was built to be a center of spiritual life for Muslims, later converted into a refugee shelter, and today is a hotel.Halil Bey Mosque
Built on the foundations of the Orthodox Church of Saint Petka, which can be seen through the glass bottom on the floor, it testifies to the changes that took place here.Muhammad Ali House
In fact, it is a square that is also located in the old town. The house is also a great example of Ottoman architecture. It consists of the men's quarters, the Pasha's private room and the guest room. In the second part, there were women's quarters, a hammam and a sofa.On the square there is a monument to Ali Pasha where the sword is symbolically sheathed, which would mean that Pasha is returning home. In Egypt there is a similar statue with a drawn sword on his way to glory. The Church of the Virgin is also located on this square. Saint Nicholas Church
A monument that marks the place where the Apostle Paul stepped, who came to preach Christianity at the invitation of the local population.














I reach the central part of the city, where there are cafes and shops. I sit in a cafe near the sea. After a break, I continue my walk along the coast. The road leads to the part where the beaches are located. I don't go swimming, but I approach the water and look at the rocks and waves. Some people are sitting on benches, some are walking their dogs. Everything works everyday.I sit on a wall next to a street and watch the lights come on in the houses below. The port gets a different look, and the ships are illuminated.
I find dinner in a small tavern. I order fish and salad. I'm sitting outside, at a table near the wall.At night I descend once more to the coast. The city is quieter than during the day, but not empty. I walk more slowly than before. I think about everything I saw during the day. Kavala remains to me as a city that is easy to get to know, step by step, without the need to rush. I leave feeling like I've actually been through it, not just visited.

Thanks for reading my post
Dragan