KAVALA

The Prefecture of Kavala situated in the centre of East Macedonia. It is only 100 km away from Thessaloniki and within a stone's throw from Thrace and is for the tourist, a pole of attraction for its 2,500 years of history, the harmonious coexistence of modern with the old, the combination of the mountain with the sea, the varied cultural events, which are held in modern and such ancient places theatres as in and the chances for several excursions to the nearby bright green island of Thassos and the archaeological area of Filippi. With the new administrative divisions the Prefectures of Kavala and Drama compose Eastern Macedonia and belong to the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. Kavala is stretched between the Nestos River from the east and Strimonas River from the west. Bordering the Prefecture in the north is the Prefecture of Drama and in the northwest is the Prefecture of Serres. From the south, Kavala is bordered by the Aegean Sea. Also, included in the prefecture are, the islands of Thassos and Thassopoula.

The mainland part of the Prefecture of Kavala is 1,720,000 acres and Thassos 380,000 acres. Consequently, its total area is 2,100,000 acres, which represents 1.6% of the country Kavala is separated into 4 Provinces: The Province of Kavala with its capital, Kavala. The Province of Pageo with its capital, Eleftheroupoli. The Province of Nestos with its capital, Chrisoupoli. The Province of Thassos with its capital, Thassos. There are, also, 7 municipalities and 67 villages.

History
Kavala has always been an important port on the Balkan Peninsula. Neapolis - Christoupolis - Kavala are its historical names. It has been inhabited since the Neolithic age. In the 7th century BC it was a Thassian colony called Neapolis and later it joined the Athenian Alliance. It gains great prosperity during the Macedonian rule, after Philip II has annexed it, its harbor serving Filippi. The Romans upgraded the major commercial port by having Via Egnatia run through it but at the same time it was made the target of Goth and Hun raids. Apostle Paul comes to Neapoli to preach the Christian faith in Europe.

Liberated in the early twentieth century, international centre of tobacco trade and hub of cultural activity, Kavala gains greater prosperity thanks to the Greek refugees from Asia Minor.

Sightseeing
unique opportunity to meet the past and vanish in the present. From the blue expanse of the west coast to the Orphic surroundings of mystical Mt. Pangaion and from the scenic routes alongside the river Nestos to the bustling city of Kavala. Thassos, n island where pine trees sweep along toward the sea is facing Kavala; touring round the island can fill the eyes with lovely images. This land awakes the senses and every step is a unique experience. It has always been a crossroad of culture and a stop for great travellers and army leaders, from Philip II, Alexander the Great and Mark Antony to Paul the Apostle.