Didymoteicho: The jewel of the Evros at the edge of Greece

At the point where the Erythropotamos (ancient Erigon) meets the Evros, in a strange “expansion” of the land, it spreads its neighborhoods Double wallone of the most atmospheric cities in Greece. The unspoiled city retains all its atmosphere and tells us its multicultural history. It is also this “blues” by Lavrentis Mahairitsa, “Double Wall Blues” which simply takes us on a journey…

There are two versions for the name of the city. The first one wants the city to take its name from the double walls of Kale Castle, while the second version says the name comes from the two opposite fortified cities – today’s Kale and the opposite hill of Agia Petra.

Didymoteicho has always been an important crossroad in the West-East passages. Not only did it give birth to the emperors John III Vatatzis and John V Paleologos, but it was also the seat of Byzantine emperors (Andronikos III Paleologos and John VI Kantakouzinos), while for centuries it was the rampart of Constantinople. Later, it became the first capital of the Ottoman Empire on European soil. All this is visible in the city.

Historical review

The history of the city starts from the Neolithic era, as evidenced by the archaeological findings. Prominent among the finds are the sealed amphora handles with the names and marks of city lords or merchants.

In the 2nd century BC is founded on the hill of Agia Petra n Plotinopolisby the Roman emperor Trajan (98-117 AD) in honor of his wife Plotinus and since then it has been an economic and ecclesiastical center, up to Byzantium. From the Roman era it played an important role in the region, while it was also the capital of the Byzantine Empire. During the Ottoman period, it became the first Ottoman capital in European territory. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Greek element began to develop in Didymoteicho and it was officially liberated in 1920 with the Treaty of Sevron. Forty-nine buildings have been declared as Monuments of Art and are subject to protection status.

A tour of the city

Didymoteicho has important Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman monuments. You will come across them if you wander the cobblestone streets of the city. Among folk, stately, neoclassical, refugee houses, all with wonderful architectural and decorative details. There is the church of Agios Athanasios with an impressive iconostasis, capitals, wooden columns, episcopal throne and interesting landscapes.

The Art Gallery is also nearby, in an urban house from the interwar period, painted entirely by the Didymoteichi painter, Dimitris Nalbantis, while another wonderful house, the Tarabolous Jewish house, on Theophilou Street, is one of the few wood-paneled houses that have been preserved. However, what captivates every visitor are the famous bagpipers. A company that gets the whole city on its feet every now and then.

In the center of the city dominates the magnificent Muslim mosque. It is considered the largest and oldest Muslim mosque in Europe. Of course, the remains of the walls that are scattered everywhere remind of the centuries-long Byzantine presence in the area. Other important attractions of the city are the baths of Feridun Ahmed Beg and the baths of Oruch Pasha, known as the “Baths of Love”, as well as the Byzantine castle of Pythia.