Kavala, Greece

Kavala is a lovely hillside town in Greece’s Bay of Kavala, across from the island of Thassos. It is defined by a mix of whitewashed buildings overlooked by an imposing Byzantine and Ottoman fortress. Winding through town, Kavala’s spectacularly preserved aqueduct boasts three tiers of arches, with houses charmingly tucked into some of the lower openings. The nearby archeological site of Philippi, a city founded in the fourth century BC by Philip II of Macedonia, derived its enormous wealth from the mining of gold. In this once-majestic walled metropolis, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, lie vestiges of a grand theater, a stately forum, opulent mansions, and an early basilica decorated with mosaics. Stroll along lively Megalou Alexandrou Street and pause at a café for a sampling of local meze such as grilled octopus and fresh clams paired with local wine or a glass of invigorating ouzo. Kavala’s white-sand beaches, nestled in the serene bay, have received “Blue Flag” status for their pristine waters, perfect for swimming and diving. Kavala is your gateway to the town of Xanthi, which entrances visitors with its elegant nineteenth-century architecture, a legacy of the prosperity brought by the tobacco trade. You can canoe or hike at the National Park of the Nestos River Delta, where an abundance of wetlands attracts bird species and other fauna, including flamingos and otters.