• Home
• Destinations
• Hotels
• Car rental
• Pictures
• Contact

Thessaloniki Greece

THESSALONIKI.The capital of Macedonia and second largest city of Greece. It was first established in 316 RC. by Kassandros and named after his wife, Thessaloniki, sister of Alexander the Great. It is here that Paul, the Apostle of Nations, first brought the message of Christianity (50 AD.) and that Demetrius, a Roman officer died in martyrdom, thus becoming the holy patron of the city for ever. (303 AD.) Thessaloniki becomes the second important city of the Byzantine Empire, next to Constantinople, ornamented with numerous majestic and glamorous architectural works that display all forms of Byzantine art. After this illustrious era, the enemies take over. But each time, after every catastrophe, Thessaloniki reexalts her splendour, dressed in her eternal garment of ancient and Byzantine glory.

Places of interest in Macedonia (the 13 prefectures)

Thessaloniki, Halkidiki (Chalkidiki), Kavala, Drama, Serres, Kilkis, Pella, Imathia, Pieria, Florina, Kozani, Grevena and Kastoria.

Thessaloniki, THE MODERN CITY

Today Thessaloniki with its University and the international Trade Fair - a crossroad for peoples' friendship and collaboration- is a lively modern city bustling with life and movement. Large avenues, parks and squares, lines of trees that frame commercial streets with showy shop-windows. Old houses, neoclassical buildings, modern dwellings. Yesterday meets today at old taverns, "ouzeries", restaurants next to hotels and luxury bars, "bouzouki halls" (Thessaloniki is the cradle of modern Greek popular song, "rembetiko"), cinema halls, theatres and confectioner's shops that arrange their seats and tables on street pavements and squares. Small family run taverns and basement pastry shops offer a delicious variety of famous Macedonian specialities, next to stalls of ice-cream sellers for busy passers by. And then, peace. After the lively city, a different world: The Upper City (Ano-Poli), full of poetry and charm. Old neighbourhoods with narrow streets and lovely small gardens. Yards with clothes-lines and children playing jauntily in front of wide open doors. Popular songs and the sweet smell of night flowers. At every step you can hear the heart of Thessaloniki throb. A heart that is immortal both in sorrow and in joy. A friendly heart to all - the Greek and the foreign alike...

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

The Palace of Galerius (300 AD.) at Navarino Square.
The Roman Market and Theatre: Ruins standing at the Law Court Square (Dikastiria).
Roman Baths: North of the church of Agios Dimitrios.
Nymphaion: An elegant monopteral, circular building.

MONUMENTS - CHURCHES of THESSALONIKI

Galerian Arch (Kamara) erected short before 305 AD.
The Rotonda, a domed building of early 4th century AD., destined to serve as a Pantheum or as a Mausoleum for emperor Galerius.
The Ahiropiitos (middle 5th century AD.) and the cruciform church of Ossios David (late 5th century AD.), the chapel of the Latomos Convent, are the two early Christian churches that still stand in Thessaloniki. The Walls were erected during the time of Theodossios the Great to give the city from Democracy Square of nowadays across Eptapyrgio up to the site later occupied by the White Tower, a work of the architect Sinan (first half of 16th century).
Agios Dimitrios, was completely rebuilt in 1948 according the original plans. The church has been destroyed twice before by fire. The Crypt, the most easterly section of the Bath, is the place where St Demetrios was imprisoned, tortured and buried.
Agia Sofia (8th century) marks the transition from the domed basilica to the domed cruciform church.
Panagia Halkeon, a cruciform church, was built in 1028 AD. according an inscription of that era.
Agia Ekaterini (13th century) is very well preserved externally, with traces of frescoes inside.
Agii Apostoli (14th century) retains a rich decoration bath externally and in the interior, dating at the time of the Byzantine Paleologos imperial dynasty.
Agios Nikolaos Orfanos (14th century), 20 lrodotou Str. richly decorated with frescoes became in the 17th century the chapel of
Vlatadon Monastery. lts farm has been greatly changed since the time of its erection.
Profitis Ilias was built in 1360 upon the ruins of a Byzantine palace by the monk Makarios tloumnos. The post Byzantine era has also left in Thessaloniki an important number of churches.

MUSEUMS of THESSALONIKI

Archaeological: HANTH Square, Displaying sculpture of the archaic, classical and Roman periods- A special wing houses the impressive unique foundings of Vergina.
New museum of Byzantine Culture 2 Stratou St.
Ethnological and Popular art: 68, Vas- Olgas, displaying costumes and objects of the last 250 years of Greek national life and culture.
Museum of the Macedonian Struggle: 23, Proxenou Koromila Str Exhibits from the years of local national resistance 1878-1912.
White Tower Museum: An exhibition of the history and art of Byzantine Thessaloniki covering the period between 300 and 1430 AD.
Gallery-of Fine Arts: 1, Nic. Germanou Str. inside the building of the National Theatre Important works of Greek and foreign painters.
Municipal Gallery: 162, Vas. Olgas,
Museum of the Crypt: Inside the church of Agios Dimitrios
Museum of the Society for Macedonian Studies: 1, Nic. Germanou Str.
Northern Greece Cultural Centre: 108, Vas. Olgas Str
Macedonian Centre of Modern Art: International Trade Fair grounds
Technical Museum of Thessaloniki: Thessaloniki Industrial Area, 2nd Streel, Building no 47

Worth visiting are also the two concert Halls, the National Theatre, National Orchestra, the Society for Macedonian Studies, the Foundation for the Emos Peninsula Studies and the unique in the world Foundation for Patristic Studies, the University Institutes, the International Trade Fair of Thessaloniki grounds and the Macedonian Press Agency. The forest, rather a large park, and the sites of Hortiatis, Panorama and Oreokastro are worth a visit. A variety of fishermen's town lets as well as populous beaches of Aretsou, Perea, Nei Epivates, Agia triada, Nea Mihaniona, Epanomi, Asprovalta by the Thermaikos Gulf can offer a special atmosphere and an unforgettable sunset.

The Macedonian map   Links: Hotels, hostels, apartments, villas in Thessaloniki Thessaloniki (dutch) Thessaloniki (belgian) Alexander the Great Text source: Greece National Tourism Organisation