Suggested Cultural Monuments Route in the Nestos Straits & the Aesthetic Forest of Nestos

The settlement of Stavroupoli is one of the best-preserved traditional villages in the area, notable for its Macedonian architecture. The well-maintained Macedonian-style houses, impressive mansions, and uphill cobbled streets create an atmosphere that transports visitors to the early 20th century. 
Stavroupoli has been an important commercial and administrative center, a fact reflected in its architecture and urban layout. The settlement offers unique opportunities for exploration, with significant cultural points of interest, such as the Holy Church of Evangelistria and the Folklore Museum. 
Today, Stavroupoli is a popular destination for visitors wishing to experience traditional Thracian architecture, enjoy local hospitality, and explore landscapes of unparalleled natural beauty.

The Holy Church of Evangelistria in Stavroupoli is one of the most significant religious monuments in the area, dating back to 1858. The church is notable for its unique architecture, which combines Byzantine and neoclassical elements, as well as for its interior, which features a wood-carved iconostasis and high-aesthetic value hagiographies. 
The church has been a focal point of the religious and social life of Stavroupoli, playing an important role in the community's religious rituals and celebrations. Today, it remains an active place of worship, attracting visitors interested in the history and the ecclesiastical art of the region

The Folklore Museum of Stavroupoli is housed in a restored traditional building and serves as an important cultural center that preserves and showcases local history and tradition. Through exhibits that include traditional costumes, tools, furniture, and everyday objects, visitors can gain insight into the lives of the residents of Stavroupoli during the 19th and 20th centuries. 
The museum is a significant site of cultural preservation, allowing visitors to discover local cultural heritage and understand the social and economic structure of the area over time.

The Fortress of Kalyva is one of the most important fortification works in the area, built in the 4th century BC by Philip II of Macedonia. The fortress, located at an altitude of 650 meters, played a strategic role in controlling the passage from Macedonia to Thrace, serving as a crucial point for the defense and security of the area. 
Its ruins reveal the architecture of Macedonian fortifications, while its location offers panoramic views of the Nestos Valley. The fortress is an important historical landmark, attesting to the significance of the area in antiquity and the expansion of the Macedonian Kingdom to the East.

The Macedonian tomb at Komnina is one of the most impressive funerary monuments of the Hellenistic period in Thrace. The vaulted tomb, located near Stavroupoli, is a typical example of Macedonian funerary architecture, featuring an imposing entrance, chamber, and antechamber, according to the typology of royal tombs in Macedonia. 
Its location indicates the strategic importance of the region during the Hellenistic period, when Thrace was under the influence of the Kingdom of Macedonia. Its construction and preservation suggest the economic prosperity and the status of the deceased, possibly a member of the upper social class. The tomb is now an important archaeological site, contributing to the study of burial customs of the time.

The Dryades Cave is located near the village of Livera in the prefecture of Xanthi and is surrounded by dense forest, making it difficult to locate its entrance. Its total area is 1,150 square meters, with corridors extending over a length of more than 300 meters. The main chamber has a steep incline, featuring an impressive natural column in its center. Various chambers surround the column, such as the "Hidden Compartments," the "Catacombs," and the "Stone Forest," adorned with a rich natural decoration of stunning stalagmites and stalactites.