Kavala: Old Town, Acropolis and Tobacco History

Kavala offers several ways to shape your stay: the cobbled streets of the Old Town, historic buildings and a multifaceted tobacco history. These themes provide a guiding thread for your plans—whether you are particularly interested in the townscape and architecture or want to explore different aspects of cultural history.

Old Town, Aqueduct and Acropolis

The streets in the Old Town are paved with cobblestones. Most houses have wooden balconies, fragrant gardens and courtyards. Together, the cobbles, balconies and courtyards shape the character of the neighbourhood; it is worth paying attention not only to individual façades but also to these recurring details.

A suggested walk through the Old Town ends at the Kamares, the old aqueduct. It marks the boundary between the old and modern parts of the city. The endpoint of the walk thus links a specific landmark with an important distinction in the townscape. The Acropolis offers another historical perspective: it was built largely in the first quarter of the 15th century. The Old Town, Kamares and Acropolis therefore offer different ways of looking at Kavala—through its street scene, the transition between parts of the city and its architectural history.

Tobacco History at the Museum and Cultural Venue

The Tobacco Museum of Kavala displays objects and archival material about the cultivation, production and agricultural and commercial processing of tobacco. The collection therefore covers several aspects of the subject, from cultivation to different forms of processing. Anyone interested in the city’s history will find concrete objects and archival material here rather than just a general overview.

The Municipal Tobacco Warehouse also serves as a cultural venue. It hosts permanent and temporary exhibitions, as well as events such as concerts and conferences. While the Tobacco Museum focuses on tobacco through objects and archival material, the Tobacco Warehouse hosts exhibitions and events of various kinds. Individual programmes vary; if you are planning to attend a specific event, check the event details in advance.

The Tobacco Workers’ Monument in Kapnergatis Square depicts two men and a woman who were involved in the tobacco workers’ movement. The depiction adds a specific dimension to tobacco history: alongside cultivation and processing, it also highlights the workers’ movement. Together with the museum’s content, the monument offers another way to explore this subject, although the different sites do not all serve the same purpose.

Architecture and Mementos

The Konaki of Mohammed Ali in Kavala is a surviving example of 18th-century Ottoman architecture. Its architectural significance differs from the subjects of the tobacco museums and the workers’ monument. For travellers interested in architectural styles, it adds a specific example from a particular period to the city’s other historical themes.

The Museum of Greek Refugees preserves mementos that refugees brought from their homeland. These include religious images, embroidery, everyday objects, books, documents and photographs. The collection brings together personal belongings and written and visual mementos. This allows visitors to consider different kinds of objects side by side, rather than limiting remembrance to a single category.

Planning Your Stay

The Kavala Visitor Information Centre is centrally located at Eleftherias Square and provides information about visiting and staying in the city. Before visiting, it is worth checking its location and the information it offers.

When looking for a holiday rental in Kavala, the main focus of your trip may also help: would you like to explore the Old Town and historic buildings above all, or are you particularly interested in tobacco and the history of remembrance? This question helps you focus on the themes that matter to you, without assuming that every stay follows the same itinerary.

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