Bastion of a blue city At the peak of the Old Town proudly stands the fortress, a landmark of Kavala and one of its most stunning sights. The peak of the peninsula of Panagia is dominated by the Acropolis of Kavala, the largest part of which was built in the first quarter of the 15th century AD. It succeeded the Byzantine Acropolis of Christoupolis (an older name for Kavala), which had been destroyed in 1391, the ruins of which were incorporated into its construction. The purpose of the fortress was to control and protect the critical route of the Via Egnatia. The fortress was built on a position with excellent natural defences and in a period when wars were fought with weapons of “cold steel” and not with missile weapons of mass destruction. The Acropolis was used for the last time during the Second World War by the occupying forces. The successive repairs and intervention to its fortifications, from the Byzantines to the Venetians and the Ottomans, can be seen on this imposing building. The entire acropolis has been built using unworked local granite blocks, mixed in with pieces of brick and marble. Entering through its central entrance, we can see that it is divided into an inner and an outer precinct by a transverse wall. The inner precinct was the most important part of the acropolis as it contained all the essential areas for its defence. Today, the visitor can see: The central circular tower, which was the last line of defence The gunpowder and food store, which was later converted into a jail The garrison, a space suitable for the quarters of the officers or guards The water cistern Two square and one polygonal tower can be seen in the walls of the outer precinct of the acropolis, while in its inner precinct there is an open-air theatre for cultural events and a cafe for visitors. From the upper level of the central circular tower, a wonderful view over the whole of the town of Kavala can be enjoyed.