OVERVIEW
Rhodope regional unit is part of the region of East Macedonia and Thrace. Its name is derived from the Rhodope Mountains, which cover the northern part of its territory. A place of legendary natural beauty, Rodopi boasts a rich natural and cultural heritage. Fertile plains, forests, rivers, lakes, wetlands and beaches compose a fascinating mosaic for the visitor. The capital of the regional unit is Komotini, a multicultural city and one of the main administrative, financial and cultural centers of northeastern Greece where the European and oriental elements are perfectly combined. The suburban forest of Nymphaea, north of Komotini, the ancient Maronia, the most important city in ancient times, the seaside villages Fanari and Lake Vistonida, which circumscribes a unique ecosystem with several types of fish, mammals and birds, are some of the regional unit’s sites of interest.
.ADMINISTRATION
The regional unit Rhodope is subdivided into four municipalities.
.MUNICIPALITIES
KOMOTINI ARRIANA IASMOS MARONEIA-SAPES
.MUNICIPALITY OF KOMOTINI
Area: 644.93 km2 Population (2011): 66,919 Density: 100/km2
.HISTORY
Komotíni was founded in the 4th-century A.D. During the Roman age it was one of the several fortresses along the Via Egnatia, the Roman trunk road which connected Dyrrhachium with Constantinople. The city was conquered by the Ottoman Empire between 1361 and 1362/3 and during the Turkish occupation it continued to be an important hub connecting Constantinople with the European part of the Empire. The 19th century saw the city expand and considerable architectural activity, with the renovation of old and the construction of new buildings. The Balkan Wars marked the liberation of Komotini but it did not join Greece until May 1920. A great number of refugees settled in Komotini in 1922-1923. The element of multiculturalism is reflected in the city’s corners and streets, traditional products, customs and traditions, and local gastronomy.
.POINTS OF INTEREST
Byzantine Walls: Dating back to the 4th century they are the largest and oldest monument of the city. Emperor Theodosius I (379-395 AD) fenced Komotini because it was considered as a point of strategic importance since from here Via Egnatia was passing.
Tower Clock (Yeni Mosque): Built in 1884, the Ottoman clock tower, was gift of Sultan Abdul Hamid II to the city of Komotini. In the 1950s, architectural interventions were made and took its current form.
Central Heroon “The Sword”: The 15 m-high WW2 Heroes’ Memorial, locally known as ‘The Sword’, is an impressive structure covered by white marble with a vertically mounted replica of a giant sword on its surface.
Irini Square (Square of Peace): The central square is surrounded by streets with shops and cafes and is a meeting place for locals.
The Old Courthouse: Built by a Dutch architect around 1870 for Sultan Abdul Aziz and his successor Abdul Hamid II on behalf of the Ottoman Administration, the building until recently housed the courthouse of Komotini.
Mansion Dermertzoglou: A one-storey building with an eye-catching facade which boasts a variety of Greek neoclassical features.
Tsanakleios School: Built in 1906 from funds provided by Nestoras Tsanakleios, a large tobacco trader from Komotini, this used to be an all-boys school that later turned into an Orphanage (1919), the General Administration of Thrace (1922-1945), the Prefecture of Rhodope (1945-1972) and Rector of the Democritus University of Thrace in 2000.
Tobacco Warehouse: Declared artwork and historical monument as it represents one of the few examples of tobacco warehouses that remain in the city of Komotini, which progressed financially due to the processing and trade of tobacco.
.GASTRONOMY
Kavourmas: a Greek version of Pork Confit, Kavourmas is chunks of pork cooked slowly in fat and spiced with freshly chopped herbs.
Syrupy sweets: Saragli, kataifi,
Sudzouk lokum: Turkish delight coated with coconut or sesame.
Nuts: especially “stragalia”dried chickpeas
.WINES & DRINKS
-Fragrant Greek freshly roasted coffee
-Maronite wines
.SHOPPING
Old market of Komotini: Cobbled streets and old, traditional shops with some of them dating back to the Ottoman era. Antique treasures waiting to be discovered.
. FEASTS, FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
Various cultural events are organized by the Municipality of Komotini (Music Day, three-day Fanari Festival, Guitar Festival, summer cultural events on the coastline) or other organisations. Traditional festivals are also held mainly on the villages of the Municipality.
.RELIGIOUS SITES
Metropolitan Church of the Assumption: Built during the Ottoman rule, the 150-years old Greek Orthodox church lies almost half a meter under the current street level, as there was a building height regulation stating that anything Greek built during the days of the Ottoman empire should not be on a higher level than the Turkish building.
Yeni Mosque: The Clock Tower stands next to the Yeni Mosque (New Mosque) and ironically, opposed to what its name suggests, is in fact the oldest mosque in the city dating back to 1585 and also the biggest one. It is the only surviving structure in Greece to feature Iznik tiles from the 1580s.
Eski Mosque: The Eski Mosque (Old Mosque) dates back to 1608. According to the 1892 Ottoman salname, the mosque featured an inscription in a “non-Ottoman” language, hence it is possible that the mosque was built on the site of a former Byzantine church.
.TRANSPORT
Komotini is a midland city without a port. It is served by two airports, one in Alexandroupoli (65 km), and the other in Kavala (80 km). Is its served by railways. In terms of highways, European route E90 runs through the city and connects Komotini with the other Greek Continental cities. The Egnatia Motorway (A2) lies south of the city.
.KEY MUSEUMS
Archaeological Museum: Inaugurated in 1976, its exhibitions are centered on the human presence and cultural activity in the most strategic coastal sites of Thrace from the Neolithic period until the Byzantine era.
Folklore Museum: Housed in the 18th-century mansion of Peidis in St. George str.,
which is a characteristic example of local traditional architecture, the museum’s collection includes traditional folk costumes, domestic items and especially embroidery.
Military Museum: Located in 21st Armoured Brigade, at Mouziopoulou Camp, its indoor exhibition covers the history of modern Greece and the outdoor one includes military vehicles, weapons, weapon systems and airplane.
Ecclesiastical Museum: Its holdings include ecclesiastical objects such as post-Byzantine icons, 500-year-old printed gospels, silver ceremonial crosses, gold embroidery, priestly vestments, etc.
Museum Konstantinou Karatheodori: A Greek mathematician, one of the leading of his time, Karatheodori spent most of his professional career in Germany. The museum is a home for his books, handwritten letters to and from Albert Einstein, Rosenthal, Kneser, authentic documents, photographs of Karatheodori family.
.MAJOR EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS
Democritus University of Thrace, founded in 1973.