The
peaks of Falakro, running water, tall trees which cover springs
and brooks, the quiet way of life in the neighbourhoods and the
parks, hospitable and pleasant people, all go together to make
up the image of the city which lies at the heart of the prefecture,
which is too the starting point for most of our explorations of
the surrounding countryside.
At the archaeological museum which lies close to the Public Park,
an area full of greenery and running water, the visitor can find
information on the history of Drama from prehistoric times up
to the period of Turkish occupation and the inter-war years all
gathered in one place.
 The Ayia
Barbara park covers approximately 60,000 m2 and throughout time
has been an identifying feature of the city and a pole of attraction
for tourists. Here one can clearly see the city's wealth in running
water as well as much of the more recent history of Drama. Water
springs up from various points forming small lakes and waterfalls
under the shade of ancient trees. In some places the water creates
impressive sounds, in others it flows calmly and quietly as it
branches out and covers the whole park.
One can see traditional watermills here and multi-storey tobacco
storehouses from the inter-war years ret1ected in the calm waters
and in the depths of the lake are the remains of an Orthodox church.
The Mill of Zonke stands out from all the other mills, which are
located at the south side of the park. In the north side of the
park lies a multi-storey tobacco storehouse which dates from 1925
and recalls the golden age of the city when hundreds of workers
filled the halls of the tobacco factories and produced tobacco
of the highest quality. Exactly in front of it are the ruins of
the Joseph Faratzis tobacco storehouse where the Jews from Drama
were imprisoned in 1943 before their tragic end in the Polish
concentration camps. A monument in their honour stands in the
centre of the park. Around this monument are houses from past
times which have been declared national monuments.
 A special
day in the park is the eve of the feast day of the city's patron
saint, Ayia Barbara, held on the 3rd of December, when hundreds
of children leave small boats lit up on the calm waters of the
lake, providing those present with a wonderful sight in the twilight.
The Cathedral of Drama stands part of the old Cathedral of the
Presentation of the Virgin built in1834 by Bishop Philippos Germanos
which contains exceptional works of woodcarving inside dating
too from the 19th century. Exactly opposite the Cathedral are
the restored building of the old city cinema, the one time "Mega"
dating from 1913 and town houses from the beginning of the 20th
century.
A short distance from the cinema lies the Byzantine church of
Ayia Sofia dating from the l0th century. The church was remodelled
during Byzantine years as well as during the Turkish occupation
when it was converted into a mosque.
In the same area, one can go in search of the remains of the city's
Byzantine walls. Among modem town houses dating from the inter-war
years one can find the remains of six towers from the walls which
in total covered a length of roughly 850rn and an area of approximately
40,000 m2.
The Byzantine Chapel of the Archangels dating from the period
of the Paleologian emperors is a single-aisled basilica, which
leans up against the Byzantine walls near the eastern gate to
the city. On the side of the church there is an impressive upside-down
latin inscription embedded in the wall while inside the church
there are wall paintings from the cycle of the Passions of Christ
with the Archangels and the forms of two hierarchs in the conch
of the Saturday.
 The
modern commercial centre of Drama has well-preserved narrow streets.
At the junction of Armen St. and Agamemnon lies a mosque, with
noteworthy wall paintings on its northern side which depict the
city of Drama during the period of Turkish occupation.
If one makes the short excursion to the north of the city one
can visit the hill of Korylovo which is a point of reference for
the city. Nature lovers can enjoy a walk and get some exercise
at any time of the year among the pine forest which cover the
slopes of the hill. After driving or climbing 4km to the peak
which lies at an altitude of 600m the visitor will be greeted
with a panoramic view of the whole of the lowlands of Drama and
the surrounding mountains. There visitors will find places to
relax and to exercise at the place.
The city of Drama today with its 40,000 residents, apart from
being an economic and commercial centre with the opportunity to
promote its products at an important annual commercial exhibition,
is a hive of cultural and athletic activity. Every year there
are literary and artistic events held here with many exhibitions
with artists from other Balkan countries. At the end of June,
residents and guest artists participate in the city festivities
known as the Eleftheria, the most characteristic event being the
well-established choir meeting.
In a city where football is loved thanks to the historical team
"Doxa Dramas" and in which volleyball, basketball and
hockey are fast-growing sports, athletics is a way of life for
many. Sports fans can work out and train in facilities such as
the National Stadium or enjoy peaceful walks on Korylovo among
the pines or in the city's parks. Moreover there are municipal
facilities for tennis and private facilities for mini football
and places on Korylovo where one can learn or practice gliding.
There are go-kart facilities too, in the east of the city. It
is nightlife, though, that Drama is particularly renowned for
as the people of the city are famous for their joie de vivre and
their talent in both song and dance. Beginning in the taverns
which offer traditional and local dishes, or the city's coffee
shops with their distinct sense of finesse, one can get to know
a little of the intense night life in the city either in open
air summer places or winter venues which offer a wide range of
fun things for the visitor to choose from regardless of age.
|
