It was originally founded by settlers from Paros in about the 6th century BC, who called it Neapolis ("new city"). Gold mines in the Pangaion hills nearby made it prosperous. It became a Roman civitas in 168 BC, and was a base for Brutus and Cassius in 42 BC, before their defeat in the Battle of Philippi. The Apostle Paul landed at Kavala on his first voyage to Europe, and in Byzantine times the city was renamed Christoupolis.
Kavala was part of the Ottoman Empire from 1371 to 1912. Mehmet Ali was born here in 1769. Some of it's most recognisable landmarks is a Venecian castle, in the hill of Panagia, and an aquaduct built by Suleiman I during his reign. The later serves still today as a city logo.
It is a twin city of Nuremberg.
Between 1893 and 1903, the French post office in the city issued its own postage stamps; at first stamps of France overprinted with "Cavalle" and a value in piasters, then in 1902 the French designs inscribed "CAVALLE".Postage stamps