Η Καβάλα είναι πόλη της Ανατολικής Μακεδονίας με μόνιμο πληθυσμό 55.000 κατοίκους. Είναι χτισμένη στους πρόποδες του όρους Σύμβολο και είναι η τέταρτη μεγαλύτερη πόλη της Μακεδονίας. Απέχει 650 χλμ. από την Αθήνα και 160 χλμ. από τη Θεσσαλονίκη. Πιθανολογείται ότι το όνομα της πόλης προέρχεται από τον αρχαίο οικισμό "Σκαβάλλα", τη σημερινή Παλιά Καβάλα, από την οποία πιστεύεται ότι ήρθαν οι πρώτοι κάτοικοί της. Η Σκαβάλλα αναφέρεται από το 470 π.Χ. ως σύμμαχος των Αθηναίων. Με την πάροδο του χρόνου, ο οικισμός καταστράφηκε από επιδρομές βαρβάρων και οι κάτοικοί του μετακινήθηκαν στη Χριστούπολη για μεγαλύτερη ασφάλεια. Με την εγκατάσταση των νέων κατοίκων, η πόλη άλλαξε όψη, έπαψε να λέγεται Χριστούπολις και αναφερόταν πλέον ως "Νέα Σκαβάλα".
Ιστορικές Ονομασίες της Καβάλας:
- Νεάπολις (7ος αιώνας π.Χ. – 746 μ.Χ.)
- Χριστούπολις (746 μ.Χ. – 1470 μ.Χ.)
- Καβάλλα (παλαιά γραφή) ή Καβάλα (1470 μ.Χ. – σήμερα)
Άλλοι ιστορικοί υποστηρίζουν ότι η πόλη πήρε το όνομά της από τους Γενουάτες Ιταλούς που κατοίκησαν εκεί. Όταν πρωτοείδαν την πόλη από τη θάλασσα, τους θύμισε το σχήμα αλόγου και την ονόμασαν "Cavallo" (στα ιταλικά σημαίνει "άλογο"). Με την πάροδο του χρόνου, το όνομα αυτό εξελίχθηκε σε "Καβάλα".
Kavala is a city in Eastern Macedonia with a permanent population of 55,000 residents. It is built at the foot of Mount Symbolo and is the fourth-largest city in Macedonia. It is located 650 km from Athens and 160 km from Thessaloniki. It is believed that the city's name originates from the ancient settlement of "Skavalla," which corresponds to present-day Old Kavala. The ancient inhabitants of Skavalla are thought to have migrated to Kavala. Historical records mention Skavalla as an ally of the Athenians around 470 BC. Over time, it was destroyed by barbarian invasions, leading its residents to seek refuge in Christoupolis for greater security. With the arrival of new settlers, the city transformed and was no longer called Christoupolis but referred to as "New Skavalla."
Historical Names of Kavala:
- Neapolis (7th century BC – 746 AD)
- Christoupolis (746 AD – 1470 AD)
- Kavalla (old spelling) or Kavala (1470 AD – present)
Some historians argue that the city’s name was given by the Genoese Italians who settled there. When they first saw the city from the sea, its shape resembled a horse, leading them to call it "Cavallo" (Italian for "horse"). Over time, this name evolved into "Kavala."
The 5th Gymnasium of Kavala (16 Th. Poulidou Street in the old town), which was built between 1902 and 1908 by the Turkish tobacco merchant, Patschatzik, as a residence, housed the Police before World War II. The Bulgarian Security, the notorious Okhrana, also operated there. In the basement of the building, hundreds of Kavala residents were imprisoned and tortured during the occupation. The Okhrana's cells were discovered on December 3, 2005, during renovation work on the school building.
The Imaret of Kavala is a religious and educational complex dating back to 1817-1821. The Imaret (poorhouse) was built by Mehmet Ali Pasha, the governor of Egypt.
In Mehmet Ali Square, on the Panagia Peninsula in Kavala, stands the house of Mehmet Ali along with his statue. The statue was donated to the city of Kavala by the Greeks of Egypt and was sculpted by Konstantinos Dimitriadis, depicting him as a mounted military leader.
The residence of Mehmet Ali, also known as the House of Muhammad Ali, is a historical monument in Kavala. It was the largest house in the city when it was built. Although Mehmet Ali was not born there, he grew up in this house from 1787, and it is believed to have been constructed seven or eight years earlier. The building has two floors, a hammam, and heating facilities. It is strategically positioned to offer a panoramic view from all sides. From its entrance, one can gaze at the port of Kavala, while the opposite side overlooks a beautiful bay. The house features a large garden, where a piece of the tomb of Mehmet Ali’s mother, originally located in Eleftherias Square, is still preserved today. The architectural design follows the traditional separation of men’s and women’s quarters (selamlik for men and haremlik for women). The southern section houses the selamlik, which includes the men’s living and working areas, as well as the reception rooms for visitors. The northern section contains the haremlik, which was dedicated to the women’s quarters, including household facilities and private family spaces.
The Holy Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos is located in the historic district of "Panagia," within the walls of the peninsula. During the period of Ottoman rule, half of the residents and families living in the area were Greek Orthodox Christians. The current church is relatively new, built in 1957 on the same site where the old church had stood since the 15th century. The original structure had become dilapidated over time. The bell tower belongs to the old church building and was integrated above the narthex of the new church.
The Kavala Fortress is an Ottoman fortification. A Byzantine castle previously stood on the site but was destroyed during the city's conquest in 1391. During the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent (1520-1566), the old walls were restored, and the newly built castle was constructed.
The Kavala Aqueduct, known as "Kamares," is the old water supply system of the city. It was built between 1520 and 1530 by Grand Vizier Ibrahim Pasha.
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