Cowbright: April 19, 2024 - Thessalonica/Philippi/Lion of Amphipolis/Kavala

April 19, 2024 Thessalonica/Philippi/Lion of Amphipolis/Kavala

Itinerary Notes: We begin the day by following the massive battlement Byzantine wall to the citadel for a panoramic view of the city. Next, we will visit Philippi, Lion of Amphipolis, and Kavala. Kavala is Greece's prettiest mainland port with a most elegant harbor. Paul landed here with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. Luke, the Evangelist, also came here from Troas. This ancient city of Neapolis was later renamed Christoupolis because it was the first European city to accept Christianity. Imagine walking on the same sod as these men of the Bible! We will see the Roman Aqueduct and the ruins of the Acropolis in this beautifully located city, known since the 5th century as Kavala. Continue on to Philippi where Paul preached his first evangelical sermon and baptized the first Christians on European soil. We will view the baptismal site where Lydia surrendered her life to Christ and visit a crypt, dating from the Roman period that is thought to have served as a prison for Paul. See the famous Acropolis, the Market Place, Basilica, and the Theatre. We return to Thessalonica and visit St. Demetrius Basilica, dedicated to a distinguished member of the Roman army and a martyred Christian convert, before returning to the hotel for our final night.

Jan's notes:

Today was a great last day! After breakfast, we drove to the Archaeological Site of Philippi, another UNESCO World Heritage site where excavations began in 1914. It was a huge area and there is still much work to be done there. Red poppies grow wild all over the ruins so it is beautiful to see! Here's a link with lots of information about this site if interested. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1517/

Have I mentioned that the weather was fabulous the entire time we were there? As I've mentioned previously, this trip was physically challenging for me with all the walking and climbing on rocky, uneven and sometimes slippery surfaces. I can't imagine having to do what we did in the hottest part of the summer. If you're ever interested in visiting these places, be sure to do it in the spring!