Alexandroupoli
Alexandroupoli or Alexandroupolis is the city in Greece & the capital of the Evros regional unit. it is the largest city in Western Thrace as living as the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace. It has 57,812 inhabitants and is an important port and commercial center of northeastern Greece.
The city was number one settled by the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century and grew into a fishing village, Dedeağaç. In 1873, it became a kaza and one year later, it was promoted to a sanjak. Thus, the city developed into a regional trading center. Later, it became a element of Adrianople Vilayet. During the Russo-Turkish War 1877–1878, it was briefly captured by the Russians. Ottoman direction ended with the First Balkan War, as the city was captured by Bulgaria in 1912. In the Second Balkan War, Greece took the controls of the city. However, with the Treaty of Bucharest 10 August 1913, the city intended back to Bulgaria.
With the defeat of Bulgaria in World War I, the city came under Greek control for thetime. In 1920, the city was renamed to honour the King of Greece, Alexander. With the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923, Alexandroupoli became an official factor of Greece.
According to Herodotus the sophisticated city is almost the site of ancient Sale, a colony of Samothrace. The zone of Alexandroupolis, as living as the whole area from the Evros Delta to Lake Vistonida and the foothills of Rhodope Mountains, was inhabited by Cicones. Cicones were Thracian people, with whom, according to mythology, Odysseus and his comrades clashed on their return from Troy.
Alexandroupoli benefits from its position at the centre of land and sea routes connecting Greece with Turkey. Landmarks in Alexandroupoli include the city's lighthouse in the port, the archaeological sites of the Mesimvria Zone, the city's waterfront the centre of commercial activity, the Ethnological Museum of Thrace, the thermal springs Hana of Traianoupoli, the cave of the Cyclops Polyphemus and the nearby Evros delta.