Kavala
| Kavala Καβάλα | ||
|---|---|---|
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Panoramic view | ||
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  Kavala | ||
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Location within the region  | ||
| Coordinates: 40°56′N 24°24′E / 40.933°N 24.400°ECoordinates: 40°56′N 24°24′E / 40.933°N 24.400°E | ||
| Country | Greece | |
| Administrative region | East Macedonia and Thrace | |
| Regional unit | Kavala | |
| Area | ||
| • Municipality | 350.61 km2 (135.37 sq mi) | |
| • Municipal unit | 112.6 km2 (43.5 sq mi) | |
| Highest elevation | 53 m (174 ft) | |
| Lowest elevation | 0 m (0 ft) | |
| Population (2011)[1] | ||
| • Municipality | 70,501 | |
| • Municipality density | 200/km2 (520/sq mi) | |
| • Municipal unit | 58,790 | |
| • Municipal unit density | 520/km2 (1,400/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) | |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) | |
| Postal code | 65x xx | |
| Area code(s) | 2510 | |
| Vehicle registration | KB | |
| Website | http://tourism.kavala.gov.gr/web/guest/home | |
Kavala (Greek: Καβάλα) is a city in northern Greece, the principal seaport of eastern Macedonia and the capital of Kavala regional unit. It is situated on the Bay of Kavala, across from the island of Thasos. Kavala is located on the Egnatia motorway and is a one and a half-hour drive to Thessaloniki (160 kilometres (99 miles) west) and a forty-minute drive to Drama (37 km (23 miles) north) and Xanthi (56 km (35 miles) east). Its nickname is The cyan city (Η γαλάζια πόλη).
History
Antiquity
The city was founded at about the end of the 7th century BC by settlers from Thassos, who called it Neapolis (Νεάπολις; "new city" in Greek). It was one of the colonies that the Thassians founded along the coastline in order to take advantage of the rich gold and silver mines of the territory, especially those located in the nearby Pangaion mountain (which were eventually exploited by Phillip the Second of Macedonia).
The worship of "Parthenos", a female deity of Greek–Ionian origin, is archaeologically attested in the archaic period. At the end of the 6th century BC Neapolis claimed its independence from Thassos and cut its own silver coins with the head of Gorgo (γοργὀνειο) on the one side. At the beginning of the 5th century BC a large Ionic temple made from thassian marble replaced the archaic one. Parts of it can now be seen in the archaeological museum of Kavala.
In 411 BC, during the Peloponnesian War, Neapolis was besieged by the allied armies of the Spartans and the Thassians but remained faithful to Athens. Two Athenian honorary decrees in 410 and 407 BC rewarded Neapolis for its loyalty.
Neapolis was a town of Macedonia, located 14 km (9 mi) from the harbor of Philippi. Neapolis was a member of the Athenian League; a pillar found in Athens mentions the contribution of Neapolis to the alliance.
Roman Era
The military Roman road Via Egnatia passed through the city helped commerce to flourish. It became a Roman civitas in 168 BC, and was a base for Brutus and Cassius in 42 BC, before their defeat in the Battle of Philippi. (Appian, B.C. iv. 106; Dion Cass. xlvii. 35.). The Apostle Paul landed at Kavala on his first voyage to Europe (Acts, xvi. 11).
Byzantine Era
In the 6th century, Byzantine emperor Justinian I fortified the city in an effort to protect it from barbaric raids. In later Byzantine times the city was called Christoupolis (Χριστούπολις, "city of Christ") and belonged to the theme of Macedonia. The first mention of the new name is recorded in a taktikon of the early 9th century. The city is also mentioned in the "Life of St. Gregory of Dekapolis". In the 8th and 9th century, Bulgarian attacks forced the Byzantines to reorganize the defense of the area, giving great care to Christoupolis with fortifications and a notable garrison. In 926 the Byzantine general (strategos) Basil Klaudon reconstructed the fallen walls of the city, ("τα πριν φθαρέντα και πεπτωκότα τείχη") according to an inscription that is now in the archaeological museum of Kavala. Due to the location of Christoupolis, the city experienced an economic resurgence, securing the contact between Constantinople and Thessaloniki. During the Norman raid of Macedonia in 1185, the city was captured and burned. In 1302, the Catalans failed to capture the city. In order to prevent them from coming back, the Byzantine emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos built a new long defensive wall ("το παρά την Χριστούπολιν τείχισμα"). In the 13th century the Byzantine Greek historian George Akropolites writes that the city and the area around the city is highly populated with Bulgarians and this makes it more difficult to keep the city as a part of Bizantium.[2] In 1357 it is mentioned that the Byzantine officers and brothers Alexios and John controlled the city and its territory. Recent excavations have revealed the ruins of an early Byzantine basilica under an old Ottoman mosque in the old part of the city (Panagia peninsula). This Christian temple was used until the late Byzantine era, as the also recently revealed small cemetery around it shows. The Ottoman Turks first captured the city in 1387 and completely destroyed it in 1391, as a Mount Athos chronicle testifies.
Ottoman Era
Kavala was part of the Ottoman Empire from 1387 to 1912. In the middle of the 16th century, Ibrahim Pasha, Grand Vizier of Suleiman the Magnificent, contributed to the prosperity and growth of Kavala by the construction of an aqueduct.[3] The Ottomans also extended the Byzantine fortress on the hill of Panagia. Both landmarks are among the most recognizable symbols of the city today.
Mehmet Ali, the founder of a dynasty that ruled Egypt, was born in Kavala in 1769. His house has been preserved as a museum.
Modern Kavala
Kavala was briefly occupied by the Bulgarians during the first Balkan War in 1912, but was finally captured by Greece in 1913 during a successful landing operation by the Greek Navy that was commanded by the famous admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis. During World War I Kavala suffered from the Bulgarian military occupation with many victims among its Greek population. After the Greco-Turkish War of 1919–1922, the city entered a new era of prosperity because of the labour offered by the thousands of refugees that moved to the area from Asia Minor. The development was both industrial and agricultural. Kavala became greatly involved in the processing and trading of tobacco. Many buildings related to the storage and processing of tobacco from that era are preserved in the city.
During World War II and after the fall of Athens, the Nazis awarded Kavala to their Bulgarian allies in 1941, causing the city to suffer once again, but finally was liberated in 1944.
In the late 1950s Kavala expanded towards the sea by reclaiming land from the area west of the port.
In 1967, King Constantine II left Athens for Kavala in an unsuccessful attempt to launch a counter-coup against the military junta.
Etymology
In antiquity the name of the city was Neapolis. During the Middle Ages it was Christoupolis. The etymology of the modern name of the city is disputed. There are some explanations, either from the Italian cavallo (=horse), or from the Hebrew Kabbalah due to the large Jewish population of the city.
Climate
Kavala has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification "Cfa") that borders on an semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification "BSk" or "BSh" depending on the system used) with annual average precipitation of 460 mm (18.1 in). Snowfalls are sporadic, but happen more or less every year. The humidity is always very high
The absolute maximum temperature ever recorded was 38.0 °C (100 °F), while the absolute minimum ever recorded was −5.8 °C (22 °F).[4]
| Climate data for Kavala | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 9.9 (49.8) |
10.5 (50.9) |
12.8 (55) |
16.8 (62.2) |
21.1 (70) |
26.8 (80.2) |
29.7 (85.5) |
29.5 (85.1) |
25.9 (78.6) |
20.9 (69.6) |
14.6 (58.3) |
11.0 (51.8) |
19.6 (67.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 6.8 (44.2) |
7.2 (45) |
9.3 (48.7) |
13.4 (56.1) |
17.7 (63.9) |
23.0 (73.4) |
26.5 (79.7) |
26.3 (79.3) |
22.4 (72.3) |
17.2 (63) |
11.4 (52.5) |
8.0 (46.4) |
15.8 (60.4) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 3.0 (37.4) |
3.5 (38.3) |
5.4 (41.7) |
8.7 (47.7) |
12.6 (54.7) |
17.0 (62.6) |
20.3 (68.5) |
20.4 (68.7) |
16.4 (61.5) |
11.4 (52.5) |
6.7 (44.1) |
4.2 (39.6) |
10.8 (51.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 17.9 (0.705) |
28.6 (1.126) |
37.9 (1.492) |
57.1 (2.248) |
32.8 (1.291) |
27.0 (1.063) |
28.0 (1.102) |
17.5 (0.689) |
10.4 (0.409) |
25.9 (1.02) |
67.4 (2.654) |
52.7 (2.075) |
403.2 (15.874) |
| Avg. precipitation days | 5.9 | 7.0 | 8.5 | 10.5 | 9.3 | 8.5 | 5.5 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 7.3 | 10.2 | 9.3 | 91.1 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 64.9 | 65.0 | 66.6 | 65.8 | 67.8 | 67.8 | 68.4 | 68.8 | 67.7 | 65.8 | 66.1 | 67.7 | 66.9 |
| Source: Greek National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
Education/Research
- TEI of Kavala: The Technological Educational Institute of Kavala (Greek: ΤΕΙ Καβάλας) is a public institute providing education at university level in the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. The main campus of the institute located in St. Lukas, Kavala and is approximately 132,000 m2 with buildings covering an area of 36,000 m2.The campus is home for 2 faculties (Faculty of Engineering Sciences and Faculty of Business and Economics) with totally 9 departments.
- Fisheries Research Institute:[5] Fisheries Research Institute (F.R.I) is one of the five specialized research institutes of N.AG.RE.F, being responsible to conduct research and to promote technological development in the fishery sector. The Institute is located 17 km (11 mi) away from Kavala, in Nea Peramos, at the centre of a marine area with rich fishery grounds and high biodiversity in the surrounding lagoons, lakes and rivers.
- Institute of Mohamed Ali for the Research of the Eastern Tradition (I.M.A.R.E.T.):[6] I.M.A.R.E.T. is a registered NGO with the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was established several months ago by concerned citizens in Kavala, Greece. Its aims include the study of the Egyptian influence in Greece and vice versa. The intra-cultural exchange and dialogue, as well as the promotion of art as a means of intra-cultural understanding. The first major co-operation partner is Cultnat of Bibliotheca Alaxandrina with the aim of documenting and digitizing the architectural heritage of the Mohamed Ali era in Egypt and Greece. Most important event that take place every year at the institute is the International Roman Law Moot Court Competition.
- Historical & Literary Archives of Kavala:[7] It is purely a non-profiteering, public utility foundation. The foundation of the Historical & Literary Archives of Kavala is not subsidized by the Greek State, neither by any other enterprise of the private sector. Its operational cost is covered only by its founders and by infrequent aids of the local self-government.
- Egnatia Aviation:[8] It is a private training college for pilots that started training in Greece in July 2006. The facilities of Egnatia Aviation mostly located in the former passenger’s terminal of the Kavala International Airport "Alexander the Great".
Culture
Festivals and events
Kavala hosts a wide array of cultural events, which mostly take place during the summer months. The top festival is the Festival of Philippi,[9] which lasts from July to September and includes theatrical performances and music concerts. Since 1957, it has been the city's most important cultural event and one of the most important of Greece.
Cosmopolis is an International Festival held in the Old Town of Kavala that offers an acquaintance with cultures around the world through dancing and musical groups, traditional national cuisines, cinema, and exhibits at the kiosks of the participant countries.
Giannis Papaioannou’s Festival includes concerts and music seminars.[10]
Ilios ke Petra (Sun and Stone)(July): a Festival held in “Akontisma” of Nea Karvali. The event is of folkloric character, with the participation of traditional dancing groups from all over the world.
Wood Water Wild Festival:[11] Wood Water Wild is an outdoor activities festival, inspired by nature. It includes live bands & DJ sets, body&mind activities, a book fair, outdoor theatre, ecology, camping, and debates.
Kavala AirSea Show:[12] An annual air show, which takes place during the last days of June
Besides, various cultural events are held in all municipalities of Kavala during the summer months.
Cuisine
Fish and sea food, as well as the products of the local livestock breeding and agricultural sectors are the prevailing elements of Kavala courses. In Kavala, the traditional local recipes have been influenced by the cuisine of the refugees from Pontos, Asia Minor and Kappadokia. Fresh fish and sea food, salted food, mackerel "gouna" (sun dried mackerel on the grill), sardine pantremeni, mussels with rice, herring saganaki, anchovies wrapped in grape leaves, Stuffed eggplant: these are some very renowned recipes in Kavala and the coastal settlements of the region. The grapes, wine and tsipouro produced in the area, as well as the kourabiedes (sugar-coated almond biscuits) from Nea Karvali are particularly famous.
Municipality
The municipality of Kavala was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 2 former municipalities, that became municipal units:[13]
| Municipal unit | Population |
|---|---|
| Kavala | 58,790 |
| Filippoi | 11,711 |
The population of the new municipality is 70,501 and the area is 350,61 km2. The seat of the municipality is in Kavala. Some of the most important communities inside new municipality are:
| Community | Population |
|---|---|
| Kavala | 56,371 |
| Krinides | 3,365 |
| Amigdaleonas | 2,724 |
| Nea Karvali | 2,225 |
| Zygos | 2,057 |
Subdivisions
Kavala is built amphitheatrically, with most residents enjoying superb views of the coast and sea. Some of the regions inside Kavala are:
| Agia Varvara | Agios Athanasios | Agios Ioannis | Agios Loukas | Chilia |
| Dexameni | Kalamitsa | Kentro | Neapolis | Panagia |
| Perigiali | Potamoudia | Profitis Ilias | Timios Stavros | Vyronas |
Province
The province of Kavala (Greek: Επαρχία Καβάλας) was one of the provinces of the Kavala Prefecture. Its territory corresponded with that of the current municipality Kavala, and part of the municipal unit Eleftheroupoli.[14] It was abolished in 2006.
Transport
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Highway Network
European route E90 runs through the city and connects Kavala with the other cities. The Egnatia Motorway (A2) lies north of the city. One can enter the city from one of two Junctions; 'Kavala West' and 'Kavala East'.Kavala has regular connection with Interregional Bus Lines (KTEL) from and to Thessaloniki and Athens.
Airport
The Kavala International Airport "Alexander the Great" (27 km (17 mi) from Kavala) is connected with Athens by regularly scheduled flights and with many European cities by scheduled and charter flights.
Port
Kavala is connected with all the islands of the Northern Aegean Sea with frequent itineraries of various ferry lines.
Bus
The city is connected with all of the large Greek cities such as Thessaloniki and Athens. All of the local villages are also connected via bus lines. The cost of tickets is very cheap. There is also a shuttle bus in Kavala with these lines : 1. Vironas - Kallithea 2. Dexameni 3. Cemetery 4. Kipoupoli - Technological Institute 5. Agios Loukas 6. Profitis Ilias 7. Stadium 8. Kalamitsa - Batis ( only in summer ) 9. Agios Konstantinos 10. Neapoli 11. Hospital - Perigiali
Sports
- Kavala F.C.: AO Kavala (Greek: Athlitikos Omilos Kavala, Αθλητικός Όμιλος Καβάλα), the Athletic Club Kavala, is a professional association football club based in the city of Kavala, Greece.The club plays in the Municipal Kavala Stadium "Anthi Karagianni".[15]
- Kavala B.C.: Enosi Kalathosfairisis Kavalas (Greek: Ένωση Καλαθοσφαίρισης Καβάλας - Basketball Union of Kavala) is a Greek professional basketball club that is located in Kavala, Greece. The club is also known as E.K. Kavalas. The club's full Greek name is Ένωση Καλαθοσφαίρισης Καβάλας. Which means, Kavala Basketball Union or Kavala Basketball Association in English. The club competes in the Greek League.
- Kavala '86: A women football club, founded in 1986, with panhellenic titles in Greek women football.
- Kavala Chess Club:[16] Chess is very popular in Kavala and the local chess club ranks top in Greece, enjoying plenty of success both domestically and internationally. The highlight has to be the club's annual International Open, that takes place every August in Kavala and attracts the biggest names in chess from all over the globe
- Nautical Club of Kavala (1945, Ναυτικός Ομιλος Καβάλας, ΝΟΚ). Sports of sea (swimming, yachting,water-polo,diving e.t.c.)
- Kavala Titans (2009, Τιτάνες Καβάλας). Rugby Union
International relations
Twin towns – Sister cities
Kavala is twinned with:
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Partnerships
Postage stamps
Austria opened a post office in Kavala before 1864.[18] Between 1893 and 1903, the French post office in the city issued its own postage stamps; at first stamps of France overprinted with "Cavalle" and a value in piasters, then in 1902 the French designs inscribed "CAVALLE".
Historical population
| Year | Town | Municipal unit | Municipality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 44,517 | 44,978 | - |
| 1971 | 46,234 | 46,887 | - |
| 1981 | 56,375 | 56,705 | - |
| 1991 | 56,571 | 58,025 | - |
| 2001 | 58,663 | 63,293 | - |
| 2011 | 54,027 | 58,790 | 70,501 |
Notable figures
- Muhammad Ali Pasha of Kavala, the Albanian Wali (governor) of Egypt between 1805–1848 and founder of the modern state of Egypt
- Theodore Kavalliotis, Greek Orthodox priest, teacher and a figure of the Greek Enlightenment
- Vassilis Vassilikos, Greek writer and diplomat
- George Georgiadis, Greek footballer
- Giorgos Heimonas (1938–2000), writer and translator
- Nikos Karageorgiou, (born December 9, 1962) Manager of Greek football team Ergotelis, based in Heraklion, Crete
- Anthi Karagianni, silver medalist in the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games; the city's Municipal stadium is named after her
- Vasilis Karas, Greek singer
- Nikos Kourkoulis, Greek singer
- Mitsos Partsalidis, first elected "red" (communist) mere in modern Greek history, back in 1.4.1934
- Antigone Valakou, actress
- Despina Vandi, a Top Greek singer
- Thanasis Euthimiadis, a Greek actor
- Anna Verouli, 1982 Gold Medalist, European Championship, javelin thrower
- Zisis Vryzas (born November 9, 1973), former footballer, currently vicepresident of PAOK FC
- Theodoros Zagorakis (born October 27, 1971), former footballer, captain of national team of Greece-European champion 2004, currently president of PAOK FC
- Anna Gerasimou, a Greek tennis player
- Kleon Krantonellis, Αrchitect
Gallery
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Ionic capital of the Goddess Parthenos Temple (6th BC, Archaeological Museum of Kavala)
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Remains of the Byzantine Basilica in "Panagia" old town
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Old town street
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Panoramic view
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View to the aqueduct
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Church of Virgin Mary
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View from the port
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Megali Leschi
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Holocaust memorial
See also
References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "article name needed". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
- ↑ "Detailed census results 2011" (in Greek).
- ↑ http://macedonia-history.blogspot.com/2006/10/blog-post_116227375630877965.html
- ↑ Kiel, Machiel (1971). "Observations on the History of Northern Greece during the Turkish Rule: Historical and Architectural Description of the Turkish Monuments of Komotini and Serres, their place in the Development of Ottoman Turkish Architecture and their Present Condition". Balkan Studies 12: 416.
- ↑ "EMY-Εθνική Μετεωρολογική Υπηρεσία". Hnms.gr. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ (Greek) Φεστιβάλ κλασικής μουσικής «Γ. Α. Παπαϊωάννου»
- ↑ Wood Water Wild Festival
- ↑ Kavala AirSea Show
- ↑ Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (Greek)
- ↑ Detailed census results 1991 PDF (39 MB) (Greek) (French)
- ↑ "Anthi Karagianni Stadium".
- ↑
- ↑ Die Poststempel auf der Freimarken-Ausgabe 1867 von Österreich und Ungarn, Edwin Mueller, 1930, # 6814
- ↑ Handbook of Austria and Lombardy-Venetia Cancellations on the Postage Stamp Issues 1850-1864, by Edwin MUELLER, 1961, p.215
Bibliography
- Koukouli-Chrisanthaki Chaido, Kavala. Αrchaeological Museum of Kavala, Kavala: D.E.T.A., 2002 (in Greek).
- Stefanidou Emilia, The City-Port of Kavala during the Period of Turkish Rule. An Urban Survey (1391-1912), Kavala: Historical & Literary Archive of Kavala, 2007 (in Greek).
- Karagiannakidis Nikos - Likourinos Kyriakos, Neapolis-Christoupolis-Kavala, Kavala: Municipality of Kavala, 2009 (in Greek).
- Koutzakiotis Georges, Cavalla, une Échelle égéenne au XVIIIe siècle. Négociants européens et notables ottomans, Istanbul: The Isis Press, 2009.
- Roudometof Nikolaos (ed.), Notebooks of Bulgarian Occupation. Eastern Macedonia 1916-1918. v. 1, Kavala - Chrisoupoli - Eleutheroupoli, Kavala: Historical & Literary Archive of Kavala (in Greek).
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kavala. |
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Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Kavala. |
- Official website (in Greek, English and Russian)
- The official website of the prefecture of Kavala – online since 1996
- Official Blog of students of ATEI Kavalas
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