Alexandroupolis today is modern town that is continuously developing. The town has more then 50.000 inhabitants and is the capitol of the county. 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.
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 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.
This extract is cited Sept 2003 from the Development Company of Alexandroupolis URL below, which contains images.
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.
This extract is cited Sept 2003 from the Development Company of Alexandroupolis URL below, which contains image.
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.
This extract is cited Sept 2003 from the Development Company of Alexandroupolis URL below, which contains image.
The Ecclesiastical Museum of the Holy Metropolitan Cathedral of Alexandroupolis is located in the former ‘Leontarideios Greek Urban Boys School’ in the square of Saint Nicolas. It was built in 1909 with the contricution of Anthony Leontaridis, a wealthy businessman from Maronia of Rodope, who upon return from Russia, established himself in Alexandroupolis. The exhibits in the museum are of exceptional importance and value for the history and culture of Thracian Greeks. The exhitits include icons, vestments, sacred vessels, wooden pieces, coins, etc. The hand-written minutes defining the liberation of the city in 1920 are of great historical value. The ecclesiastical Museum of Alexandroupolis is one of a kind in the area of Thrace. It welcomes foreign, as well as, local visitors year round. Tours to groups are given in cooperation with Holy Metropolitan Cathedral.
This extract is cited Sept 2003 from the Development Company of Alexandroupolis URL below, which contains images.
The Museum of Flora and Fauna of Evros Delta is without a doubt one of the most important sights in Alexandroupolis. It was established in 1985 by the Municipality of Alexandroupolis with the use of the embalmed bird and animal collection of Mr. Chris Goudner, a citizen of Alexandroupolis and expert on the Evros Delta and its fauna. At the museum a visitor can admire the large assortment of birds and animals exhibited in a way which portrays the natural environment in which they live. This is done with the necessary changes to the area so that with the appropriate use of materials and the adequate decoration and lighting, the wetlands of the Evros Delta are represented as they actually are. Wetlands of mountainous areas are also represented with animals such as the wild boar, the fox, the wolf, the partridge, etc. The image of the museum is made complete with the photography exhibit including photographs taken in the Delta, which can also be found in the museum.
This extract is cited Sept 2003 from the Development Company of Alexandroupolis URL below, which contains image.
The ‘Association of the Friends of Antiquity and Cultural Inheritance of the Prefecture of Evros’ created the Folklore Museum in the heart of Alexadroupolis. The museum operates as an exhibition place.
He was born at Alexandroupolis(1952).He studied decoration and he
was a student of Dimitris Cretas. Apart from painting , he was scenarist until
1990.
Since 1987, he lives and works at Makrinitsa
- Pelion Mountain - Volos
1903 - 1985
1909 - 1982
Vangelis Karafillidis was born in 1971 in Alexandroupolis.
In 1989 he was admitted to the Department of Physics of Aristotle University of
Thessaloniki on scholarship. His thesis was based on artificial neural networks.
He received his Physics degree in 1996.
While a University student he also studied music. After studying under
Demetris Athanasiades at the Macedonian Conservatory, he received his Fugue degree
with honors in 1992. From the same Conservatory, after studying under Nicolas
Astrinidis, he received his Piano Diploma with honors and 1st prize, voted unanimously,
in 1994. After studying under Alkis Baltas at the Music College, he received his
Diploma of Composition voted unanimously with honors in 1996. He has attended
seminars by Athanasiades, Antoniou, Lapidakis and Kalogeras. His works have been
performed in Thessaloniki, Alexandroupolis, Xanthi, Berlin and Wuppertal. As a
pianist he has given performances in Thessaloniki and Xanthi.
His compositions served as research paper material in the class "Introduction
to Modern Greek Music" in the Music Department of Aristotle University of
Thessaloniki. At the festival "Thessaloniki, Cultural Center of Europe 1997"
he took part in a concert with works of Greek composers and David Gompper (President
of the Union of American Composers) with the dual attribute of pianist - composer.
He has composed music in various styles. Among his works are included:
Variations for String Quartet, Variations for Wind Quintet, "The Darkness,
the Death ..." for choir and chamber orchestra (in free atonal style). In
some of his works the influence of post-romanticism is obvious (Toccata for piano)
or even the Greek tradition and national schools: "Variations on an Island
Dance", "Micrographies", Concertino for Violin and Orchestra. For
the works "Variations on an Island Dance" and "Micrographies"
he won the 1st and 2nd prize respectively in the 1st competition for piano composition
organized by the House of Education and Arts in the Municipality of Xanthi.
He has taught Music at the Macedonian Conservatory (1995-97) and the
Municipal Conservatory of Kalamaria (1999-2000), Physics at the Music School of
Thessaloniki (1997-1998 and 1999-2000) and Form and Structure of Modern Music
and Modern Music Performance Techniques during the winter semester 1999-2000 at
the Cultural Professional Training Institute of Thessaloniki.
This text is cited Apr 2003 from the Friends of Music Society "Lilian Voudouri" URL below, which contains image.
The Urban Pilot Project of Alexandroupolis, which had been submitted for approval on April 1996, is one of the two Programs, which are taking place in Greece in the framework of the second round of Urban Pilot Projects (UPP) according to the article 10 of the ERDF. The receipt of the Grant Letter on July 1997 had followed the signature of a relevant agreement between the Municipality of Alexandroupolis and the European Commission. The Municipality of Alexandroupolis for the implementation of the Program moved forward in the development of an Implementation Agent, which is the Development Company of Alexandroupolis SA (AN.ET.A. SA). The last one allocated as the responsible body for the realization and operation of the works. On April 1998, this was confirmed by an agreement between the above agents.
This extract is cited Sept 2003 from the Development Company of Alexandroupolis URL below.
Tel: +30 25513 56200
Tel: +30 25510 66200, 66380, 37380-1
Tel: +30 25510 37440, 66140-1
Tel: +30 25510 37352, 66310, 66320
Tel: +30 25513 50405
Tel: +30 25510 64100
Fax: +30 25510 26264
Tel: +30 25513 50571
Fax: +30 25513 50408
Tel: +30 25510 88340, 88341
Fax: +30 25510 88342
Tel: +30 25310 21975
Fax: +30 25310 31016
Tel: +30 25510 33220
Fax: +30 25510 88136
Tel: +30 210 3247512
Tel: +30 25510 33220
Fax: +30 25510 88136
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