East Macedonia and Thrace
East Macedonia and Thrace is one of the 13 Greek peripheries, situated in the northernmost end of the country. It comprises a narrow strip along the Aegean coast and the southern part of the Rhodope mountains and borders Bulgaria to the north, Turkey to the east and the region of Central Macedonia to the west. A couple of picturesque islands also belong to the periphery. The leading tourist attractions here include the archaeological sites on the mainland, a row of fine beaches and the historical towns of Komotini, Kavala, Xanthi and Drama. The capital Komotini boasts a long history and today is a prestigious university centre with charming ambience and bustling nightlife. Kavala is even larger than Komotini and is a prime transportation and industrial centre, offering many heritage sites, the oldest of which dates from around 600 BC. The region also boasts protected nature areas and biosphere reserves, where rare flora and fauna species can be observed in their natural habitat.