Alexandroupolis,
the capital of Evros, possesses the leader position in the geographical
area of E. Macedonia and Thrace, as it composes the connection’s
basic gate among the European Community’s countries and the
Mediterranean countries, Asia’s and Black Sea’s zone.
It has been distinguished as the major internal border comb of
the European Community.
Alexandroupolis is build by the sea and has a coast line, which
is 35km long. The town is accessible by airplane, train, car and
ship.
 It
is 840km far away from Athens, 350km from Thessaloniki, 43km from
the border and 300km from Konstantinoples.
You can travel by train to Athens, Thessaloniki, Konstantinoples
and Orestiada. Five trains are traveling daily to Thessaloniki,
three local trains (9 hours and 30 min) and two intercity (5 hours
and 30 min).
There are four flights daily from here to Athens and the trip
takes nearly 50 min. By ship you can reach all the east Aegean
island and there is daily connection for Samothraki as well.
 The
city of Alexandroupolis follows quick rhythms in the financial
development. The harbor and the rail station compose the important
centers in the transit trade. After the new cottages placing in
and the “I.Kapodistrias” plan put into practice, the
Municipality of Alexandroupolis was distinguished in a very important
tourist center, which offers the ability to combine the sea tourism
with the spa tourism and also the Eco tourism.
Not only the shores cottages of the Municipality of Alexandroupolis
- such as Macri, Mesimbria, Dicella - but also the mountainous
cottages - such as Potamos, Avantas, Aisimi, Leptocaria, Kirki,
Sikorachi - offer to their visitors the courses of a unique natural
beauty. Furthermore, Alexandroupolis, is being located very close
to Dadia, which is a very important place - from ecological side
-, Delta of Evros river and the spa of Traianoupolis.
The city of Alexandroupolis, which is populated of 50,000 dwellers,
offers a high quality of life, ensured the environmental balance
and the continuous cultural upgrade, disposed live artistic and
spiritual life and offering a lot of entertainment’s choices.
The
lighthouse, which is considered to be the most characteristic
symbol of Alexandroupolis, was built by the French company ‘Faron
and Faron’ for the Ottoman Empire. It was constructed almost
simultaneously with the introduction of the railway system into
the city and the creation of the small harbour.
The Lighthouse:
It began functioning on June 1, 1880. It has a height of 27 meters
above the sea and includes a rotating light beam.
Visibility
under normal weather conditions reaches 23 miles. It is entirely
manufactured by boulders and in the interior there are stone covered
stairs.
Until
1973, the Lighthouse functioned with a combination of air and
petrol. The older system was replaced by a newer one including
gas and electricity.
One
of the most important and oldest neo-classical buildings in Alexandroupolis,
as well as an important monument is the Zarifeios Pedagogique
Academy, which was named after its founder, George Zarifis, a
wealthy businessman from Constantinople.
In
its 60 years of education, thousands of students have graduated
from the Academy under the guidance of top instructors, including
the well-known professor Evangelos Papanoutsos. The graduates
have entered various fields. Some have stayed in Alexandroupolis
while others have established themselves in other parts of Greece.
 The
tasteful instruction room with its glass roof and crystal floor
remind one of the birth-place of its founder, Constantinople.
A statue of George Zarifis with a marble bust, created by the
sculptor Nikos Perantinos can be found in the courtyard of the
Academy.
Holy
Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Nicolas:
The cathedral of St. Nicolas was first in stimulating the development
of Alexandroupolis. Initially in 1850 a similar church was built
in the same area with the contributions of the few navymen and
fishermen of the coastal settlements.
In
the construction of today’s large church, the citizens of
Ainos of Alexandroupolis for its aesthetic improvement transferred
from the beautiful gate of the city of Ainos valuable icons, the
gold-plated Sacred Icon which is used in the formal procession
on Good Friday and other sacred items which today are located
in the Ecclesiastical Museum. The Church was completed in 1900
and the formal inauguration occurred in 1901 by the Metropolitan
Bishop Germanos of Ainos.
In
1908, with the contribution of Vlassios Souchour of Samos, consul
of Austria-Hugary in Alexandroupolis, the construction and the
raising of the two belfries took place. The church was renovated
in 1947 under the auspice of Metropolitan Bishop Ioakim Kaviris.
The
Church is dedicated to the city’s patron saint, Saint Nicolas.
It is tree-portioned with a dome, two belfries and other assorted
architectural elements.
All
the local people and also the visitors, can rest and enjoy the
nature in any of the big natural parks of Alexandroupolis.
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