I spent the warm days in Kavala enjoying the beach and walking around the city center, and as a "must do" I planned a tour of the most impressive building in the city, the fortress that rises above the old town Panagia.
One evening, when the sun had set below the horizon and the temperature was pleasant for walking around the steep old town, I strolled up to the very entrance of the fortress, but it was not open to visitors at that time.
The ideal time would be early morning, but again, even then the fortress is not open.
Day after day passed, and I postponed going to the fortified city above Kavala.
One day, just before returning home, sky had mercy on me.
Although very warm (as you can tell from my wet t-shirt), a few clouds appeared in the sky and called me: "Now is the time, go to the fortress".
I took the now familiar path and at the junction where I had gone downhill towards the harbor the other day, I chose the climb.
From the cliff next to the church, I saw an even shorter shortcut, but the width and steepness of those steps dissuaded me from the idea of ever going that way.
I walked slowly through the narrow steep streets, looking at the colorful facades and the parked cars with incredible precision.
I again passed the church and museum dedicated to Mehmet Ali Pasha, as well as a mosque, which doesn't even look like a mosque because it doesn't have a minaret.
A few minutes of hard climbing and I was at the entrance to the fortress.
Unlike the other evening, when I reached the fortress easily, without sweating and out of breath, now it was hard for me, probably because it was quite warm even under the clouds.
I bought a ticket and entered the interior of the fortress, between the walls of the Byzantine Acropolis of Christoupolis.
The entire fortress consists of several units.
Before entering the central area, where there is a high tower, an ammunition magazine, a water tank and a prison, there is an open stage.
There is also a cafe where you can refresh yourself, as well as approach the walls.
On a plateau, on the side of the open sea, the view towards the open sea and the island of Thassos is beautiful.
On the other hand, a beautifully arranged open-air stage with seats is certainly a beautiful setting for all the events that take place here over the summer.
The open stage is surrounded by high walls.
Access to them is possible, but care must be taken because the stones on the paths near the walls are sharp and slippery.
From the lower part of the fortress, from the stage, through the gate one enters the upper part of the fortification.
The first in line is a high stone tower.
The construction of the stairs and platform on the tower is such that 7 people can be at the top at the same time.
Due to low attendance (on such a hot day), there were no crowds on the stairs leading to the top of the tower.
The first part of the stairs leads to the first floor, where there is a space with very small windows, and to get to the second floor, you have to go up a steep and very narrow stone staircase.
The exit from the stairs is very narrow that I was worried, how will I get back? I know, I will move laterally 😀
Going up another floor and I found myself on a round platform above which the Greek flag flew.
The view from this place to the whole city was fantastic.
On one side is the center of the city and the port, on the other is the pier, on the third is the open sea, and during that time, behind the back, on the fourth side, the Aqueduct "Kamares" goes towards the fortress.
I am quite sure that standing on that platform I was well above sea level, with a fantastic view and a pleasant wind that cooled me down.
When I leave the tower, I come across the ruins of a water tank.
I bypassed them by climbing the walls to get a better view over the ramparts of the city and thus passing over the roof of the food and ammunition warehouse.
I got off the walls at the opposite end of the tower, next to the building that was the prison.
Unlike a water tank. this building has not been demolished, but it is still not open to visitors because it is in the reconstruction phase.
But that is why it is not the last object that can be visited in the reconstruction phase.
A warehouse for food and ammunition, dug into the ground with a stone roof.
When I went down the stairs and stepped into this large empty space I felt a pleasant refreshment.
Stone walls, stone roof, temperature as if there is a set air conditioner.
The massive wooden beams that support the roof, restored, will give this building many years to come.
That space is so big, that I barely noticed a strange crowd in the farthest corner.
I came closer and realized that they were cannon balls.
Heavy metal balls of different diameters and weights, such as I saw for the first time in my life and held in my hand more than once in my life.
Only one cannon is missing and the setup would be complete.
A little later I found the cannon in the yard, installed next to another pile of cycads, on a plinth, as if ready to defend the fortified city.
I thought that these metal balls (old-fashioned grenades) could be juggled, but actually they are so heavy that it is hardly possible to throw them in the air.
I walked a little more through the inner grove, took pictures of the view from the ramparts, walked along the walls around the open stage, took pictures of the aqueduct and afterthen he headed downhill, through steep and narrow streets, through a stone gate, to the foot of the ancient aqueduct, next to the fortress, the second landmark of Kavala.
By visiting these two witnesses of history, I ended my visit to Kavala and I can say that this was a very fulfilling vacation for me, active and totally different from the classic summer vacations, when, due to the great heat, I only think about swimming and lounging.
This time, I saw something, and I'm sharing it with you, in our favorite #worldmappin community.