By Nicolas Bard
Komotini, the capital of the prefecture of Rodopi with more than 50,000 permanent residents, stands out for its great history, its multicultural identity and the student vibes it exudes wherever you stand in the city center. It has been inhabited since the late antiquity and due to its strategic position it has been established during the Ottoman period, when it evolved into a large administrative center of the area. The city was incorporated into the free Greek state in 1920, and its liberation is celebrated every year on May 14th. The modern city is characterized for its particular diversity and the intense Muslim element, which is visible from architectural influences to buildings, to social life and bazaars.
The Byzantine name of the city was Kumoutzina, or Komotini. As for the origin of the name, the view has been expressed that this was described as the estates of some cakes in the area: Comet> Komotona> Komotzina> Koumoutzina. The first use of the name “Guumuljina” in Turkish “Gümülcine” has been recorded in an Ottoman source of 1344 AD. The name Komotini was officially defined in 1920 with the liberation of the city, and is the words of the name of the name Koumoutzina, which Katakouzenos used in the middle of the 14th century.
The tour of Komotini starts from the central square of Agia Irini. It is a meeting point for residents, but it is also the place with most cafes, restaurants and bars. From there you can start a picturesque stroll which, from Ioannina Street, will take you to Ermou’s paving. Make a side in the picturesque shops, the so -called “Tennekesidika”. This was called the old district of the city that borrowed its name from the Tenneketsi profession that was repairing and manufacturing household utensils. Just behind Ermou is the municipal market. In the center of the city you can also see the iconic clock tower, built in 1884. The tower is part of the well -known mosquito mosque, whose appearance is one of the most characteristic and recognizable corners of the city.
Of course, it is not meant to be in Komotini and not go to the old market, dating from the Ottoman period. The characteristic of the old market is its extremely small shops in the miniature limit. Do not forget to try local cuisine, with delicious appetizers and syrupy sweets, abundant in the picturesque cobbled streets of the market. The flavors and intoxicating aromas of the East will take you to other places!
The walk in the city ends with a visit to the largest and oldest monument of Komotini built in the 4th century by Emperor Theodosius I: the Byzantine Wall. Part of the castle was destroyed by Turkish raids and its stones were used to build the mosques in the area. In 1910, its destruction was completed by the Bulgarians, who demolished much of the wall and its 16 towers. The historic church of the Dormition of the Virgin, dating from 1,800, is also in the ruins of the city’s fortress. It is rumored, in fact, that the temple was built on an earlier post -Byzantine church of 1548. Finally, in the archaeological museum of the city you will see great exhibits dating from the Neolithic period to the Byzantine period, demonstrating its importance.
The modern city of Komotini is a rare multicultural bourgeois mosaic, which combines in a harmonious way of different cultures and cultural elements that defined it, and gave it the form and identity over the years. From the Christian temples and the mosques, to the Byzantine walls and the old market the city is found by historical elements and contrasts, and there is its special charm. It may not be particularly popular as neighboring Xanthi, but it’s worth giving her a chance and getting to know her!
Source :Skai
I am Frederick Tuttle, who works in 247 News Agency as an author and mostly cover entertainment news. I have worked in this industry for 10 years and have gained a lot of experience. I am a very hard worker and always strive to get the best out of my work. I am also very passionate about my work and always try to keep up with the latest news and trends.
