Kavala unveiled

The Blue City, as it is sometimes called, is an intimate yet lively place. Shaped like an amphitheatre, it embraces the coast. A picturesque home port to many traditional wooden fishing and sailing boats which look like white doves breezing in and out. (https://linksmagazine.com) From the imposing old town, right down to the waterfront, small bars and cafes are scattered around waiting to be discovered in an evening’s stroll.

Kavala has a cosmopolitan atmosphere, attesting to its unique geographical location as a crossroad between east and west. A sense one also gets when walking on the cobblestoned streets of the old town descending from the Byzantine fortress or when encountering the stone Aqueduct as it was last erected in the Ottoman era. It is also an important religious site as it is the place where the first Christian in Europe, a woman named Lydia, was baptised by Saint Paul. For centuries Kavala’s wealth was attributed to the production of its tobacco; whose factory, now the tobacco museum, is worth a visit both for its historic and aesthetic interest.

With beautiful spots on shore and in the mountains, Kavala lends itself as an attractive summer and winter destination. Its sandy beaches justifiably grant the city its title as an azure destination in the Mediterranean. A few minutes’ drive outside Kavala lies the Ancient Theatre of Philippi, an UNESCO heritage site, which hosts a theatre festival every summer. A half hour drive towards the East lies the delta of River Nestos which is among the largest ones in Europe. Nestos’s beautiful wetland expansions are protected by Europe’s Natura network as they are home to all kinds of wildlife such as flamingos, cormorants, jackals, rare sea eagles and many more. It’s an unmissable opportunity for a day-trip with lots of activities, such as kayak or trekking, for families and nature enthusiasts.

Looking over towards the south, what seems like a blue mountain emerging from the sea is none other than Thassos island. It is a place of beauty as rich in vegetation as it is in magnificent beaches and archaeological sites. We, of course, recommend Makryammos beach one of Thassos’ most alluring destinations and home to Makryammos Bungalows.

The culturally inclined will be glad to find that Lucy Hotel hosts the Lucy Art Residency, a residency program for artists, which has received national and international acclaim. Interested guests can audit the residency’s lectures and view the artists’ works.