3.5 h. tour (Private tour)
(private transportation + local guidance + visit of the archeological site of Philippi + visit of the Lydia's baptistery + free time)
Your driver will be waiting for you next next to where you disembark your cruise ship and you will board your private vehicle in order to start your private tour.
On your way to Philippi you will be able to admire the unique landscape of the valley and the mountain of Pangaion, from which most of the Macedonian gold was mined, as well as traces of the ancient "Via Egnatia", the road the Romans built to connect the west with the east and enhance their commerce.
After about 20 minutes you will arrive in Philippi, one of the region's most important archaeological sites which was originally colonized in 360 B.C. by the people of Thasos and later renamed Philippi by Philip II, the king of Macedonia. This is the place where in 49 AD Apostle Paul founded the first Christian church on European soil and baptized the first Christian, a woman named Lydia, right by the Gagitis river, where a famous baptistery and a modern church exist today and you will be able to visit on this tour.
In the archaeological site of Philippi you will be able to see the collection of artifacts and buildings which have been unearthed and restored, including the Roman forum, the commercial agora, the part of the Via Egnatia that was passing next to the agora of Philippi, the cell where St. Paul was imprisoned, tombstones, mosaic pavements, and an impressive Greek theater with remainings of architecture showing that in the Roman times it was used as an arena. After your guided tour, you will be able to enjoy some free time in order to take pictures or have a drink at the small cafe that is located there.
Returning to Kavala you will be able to enjoy a short scenic drive around the city, catching a view of the very impressive two stories high ancient aqueduct and Byzantine castle, the walls of the old town, Imaret which is a monument of Islamic architecture built by Mehmet Ali, the founder of the Egyptian empire, the aqueduct (Kamares) and the house where Mehmet Ali was born, as well as the old port with the several wooden fishing boats and famous fish taverns.
The tour will end at the port of Kavala where you will embark your cruise ship.
