Holidays in Thessaloniki (Greece): photos and reviews. Museum of Byzantine Culture. The price includes

Thessaloniki from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews about Thessaloniki.

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The second largest city in Greece and the capital of Central Macedonia, Thessaloniki (Greek is more correct "Thessalonica") is today the cultural capital of the country: the city is known for its festivals and events. In addition, it is also a city with more than 3,000 years of history, where the imprints of the Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman empires, as well as the once dominant Jewish population, have been preserved. old center The city, located north of the modern center, was miraculously not damaged by the great fire of 1917. Now it is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The history of Thessaloniki begins in the 4th century BC. e., when King Cassander decided to found a city in honor of his wife, half-sister of Alexander the Great. But life and culture originated in this place much earlier, as evidenced by numerous archaeological excavations, during which traces of Neanderthals were found, which are considered the most ancient on the entire European continent.

In the 90s. In the 20th century, Thessaloniki was awarded the title of European Capital of Culture.

How to get to Thessaloniki

Walking tour of Thessaloniki

Cuisine and restaurants of Thessaloniki

As in all of Greece, the cuisine in Thessaloniki is based on olive oil, vegetables, herbs and cheeses. It is worth trying moussaka - eggplant baked with potatoes and minced meat, as well as the "melizanosalata" salad, which is based on the same eggplants. Unusual dish "kolokifoanfi" - stuffed zucchini flowers. But the Greek salad is familiar to everyone, but here it will be much tastier than at home. Of the desserts, the most popular are "loukoumades" - very sweet and very fatty donuts.

Among the different types of food, tourists are attracted by taverns where Greek cuisine is presented. Lunch per person with a glass of homemade wine in such places will cost 15-20 EUR. By the way, the Greeks themselves are very fond of taverns and can sit in them for hours. It is better to go where the locals eat - it will definitely be delicious. There are ordinary taverns, meat, fish and the so-called "mesedopolio", that is, snack bars.

Prices in restaurants are higher: you can have a hearty dinner for 25-30 EUR, portions are very large everywhere, you can take one for two. For light snacks, pizzerias and pastry shops are suitable; you will pay no more than 10 EUR in them. You can visit the "tiropitadiko" bakeries to try puff pastries with a variety of fillings. From fast food, the most interesting are gyros (something like our shawarma) and souvlaki (small kebabs in a tortilla) for 3-5 EUR.

Tourists usually do not go to establishments called “kafenio”, and local women are not allowed there either. These are kind of clubs for older Greeks, where they drink, smoke and communicate with each other.

In Thessaloniki, you can pay by card almost everywhere, but it’s better to clarify this. Tips are usually included in the bill, just rounding it up. If desired, you can leave another 5-10% on top.

The best photos of Thessaloniki

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triumphal arch of Galerius.

Those who are interested in archaeological sites will appreciate the ancient city of Dion, dedicated to Zeus, Heptapyrgion - a Byzantine and Ottoman fortress and the Archaeological Museum, which many tourists consider the most interesting not only in the city, but throughout the country.

Most travelers begin their acquaintance with the resort from the White Tower. This is part of the defensive wall erected by the Turks, where prisoners were kept. The White Tower began to be called after it was covered with whitewash. Now there is a museum inside, and at the top there is a cafe from where you can admire the city. The monument stands next to the embankment - wide, long and laid along the line where the walls of the city passed in ancient times. From the tower you can see the top of the famous Olympus - the mountain on which the ancient Greek Gods lived.

Churches

Almost all religious buildings of the resort during their history managed to stay and Orthodox churches, and Muslim mosques, and then again "converted to Christianity." True, some of them were built in the pre-Christian era. Of particular interest are the church of St. George, built in the 4th century, the church of St. Sophia, which is more than a thousand years old, once it was the main temple of the city, the church of St. Nicholas of Orphan with amazing frescoes, the basilica of St. Dmitry, built by one of the first in the city and badly damaged by time, and the former temple of Zeus - the Church of Rotunda, which is only slightly younger than the Parthenon.

3 things to do in Thessaloniki

1. Meet the sunset at a table in a cafe on the White Tower.
2. Visit the International Film Festival.
3. See with your own eyes Olympus and the ancient city of Zeus.

Thessaloniki for children

Since you can’t swim in Thessaloniki itself, the resort is considered not the best place for families with children. But because of the abundance of entertainment for kids, families willingly come here, staying in nearby villages and towns. First of all, the Waterland water park deserves attention - one of the largest European water amusement parks. You can get to it from Aristotle's Square by a special bus. Another favorite place for children is Magic Park amusement park. It is located on the outskirts of the city, near the Ikea store.

Those who love nature will be interested in the zoo "Zoologikos Kipos Thessalonikis" and the Museum of Natural History, and in the neighboring village of Lengochori, children are given lessons in horse riding, archery, basketball and football.

Holidays

One of the most important local celebrations is the festival of Dmitry, dedicated to the patron saint of the city, St. Dmitry of Thessalonica. Today, the event has been celebrated since 1966, but there is historical evidence that it was founded during the time of the Byzantine Empire.

In November, the International Gastronomic Festival takes place in the northern capital of Greece, which brings together the best chefs from all regions of the country to show their skills. In mid-December, the Afro-Cuban dance festival Salsa Cubana is held here, and in February, the Road of the Bells festival, which represents the culture of different regions of the country during the carnival procession.

September

October

november

December

The climate in Thessaloniki is Mediterranean, the sun often shines. The season suitable for travel lasts the entire warm half of the year (from approximately April 15 to October 20), and the water in the resort suburbs is suitable for swimming from the beginning of June. Sometimes snow falls in winter, but it melts in just a couple of hours, in general, the cold period is rainy, but not frosty. The last two months of the year are considered the wettest, but from the middle of summer it can be very dry and hot.

The second largest city in Greece, Thessaloniki (Thessaloniki, Salonica) - the capital of Greek Macedonia, a major industrial center and "the most Balkan city in Greece" - lies on the northeastern shore of Thessaloniki Bay of Thermaikos Gulf, at the very base of the Chalkidiki peninsula.

It is believed that the city was founded by the Macedonian king Cassander in 315 BC. e. and named after the wife of Thessaloniki (Thessaloniki) - the half-sister of Alexander the Great. Thanks to its advantageous strategic position, the city quickly grew into a major cultural and commercial center and even minted its own coin. In 146 BC. e. Macedonia becomes a Roman province and Thessaloniki becomes its capital. A high road passed through the city, linking Rome via Brindisi with Byzantium and Eastern countries. It is Thessaloniki that can be considered the point of formation of Christianity in this region - the famous Thessaloniki decree of Emperor Theodosius (4th century AD) is considered the official end of the pagan period in the life of the empire. Thessaloniki (in ancient Russian sources - Thessalonica) is considered the birthplace of Demetrius of Thessalonica (III century AD, is still the patron saint of the city), as well as the enlighteners Cyril and Methodius (IX century), one of the centers of Orthodoxy, competing on equal terms with Constantinople, as well as a major political center - until the arrival of the Turks (XIV century), remaining part of the Latin Empire. The Ottomans made great efforts to assimilate the local population, specifically encouraging the immigration of Jews from Spain. By the time the Turks arrived, more than three hundred thousand people lived in the city, mostly Slavs, Greeks, Vlachs and Thracians, but by the end of the 19th century, more than half of the population were Spanish Jews, and Ladino (!) became the main language of the city. Only the outflow of Turks after the country gained independence, refugees from Asia Minor and the events of World War II led to the fact that the city began to regain its "Greek face". However, even today Thessaloniki is a metropolis with the most heterogeneous population in the country - representatives of more than 80 peoples live here, not counting small ethnic groups.

Attractions

Despite its ancient history, the city almost did not preserve the old buildings - a devastating fire in 1917 literally wiped out not only most of the buildings of the labyrinth of lanes of the Ottoman period, but also completely destroyed the Jewish quarter with its 32 synagogues and the old seaside areas. Over the next eight years, the city was rebuilt according to the plan of French architects almost anew - with a clear grid of blocks of Art Deco houses and wide main streets that run parallel to the coastline.

Most of Thessaloniki's main sights lie within literally half an hour's walk on either side of Egnatia Street and Aristotelous, which runs perpendicular to it. The dividing line between the old and new quarters runs along the seaside zoo park with his white tower (Lefkos-Pyrgos) is the main symbol of the city. Originally built by the Turks in the 16th century as a defensive structure for the Kalamaria Fort, the 27-meter-high tower was used as a prison for a long time. After the demolition of the city walls and the lower fort, the tower was painted white (now it looks more like ivory) and transferred to the Byzantine Museum, and is currently under restoration.

Myself Byzantine Museum(Museum of Byzantine Culture, opening hours the same as the Archaeological Museum, €4) is located nearby in a beautiful brick mansion on Stratou 2 and contains a fine collection of early Christian mosaics, frescoes, paintings and engravings. But, despite the richness of the collection and impeccable lighting, most of the exhibits will be of more interest to specialists than to ordinary tourists.

A little to the west is a recently restored Archaeological Museum(from April to October open on Mondays from 13.00 to 19.30, from Thursday to Sunday - from 8.00 to 19.30; from November to March - on Mondays from 10.30 to 17.00, from Thursday to Sunday - from 8.00 to 15.00; 6 euros) - undoubtedly the leading museum of the city. In addition to unique finds from the graves of Sind (Sindos, an ancient city a few kilometers north of modern Thessaloniki) and the palaces of the Macedonian nobility of the era of Alexander the Great, here you can see a rich collection of objects from the Hellenistic and Romanesque periods, and on the ground floor there is an exhibition dedicated to even more ancient finds.

Survived from the Roman period triumphal arch of Galeria(297 AD) and nearby rotunda of Agios Eorios(III-IX centuries, rebuilt into the church of St. George, although it was never used for its intended purpose, since it was created as a chapel over the tomb of Galerius) with mosaics of the 4th century, Roman forum above Platia Dhikastirio square (open daily, in summer - from 8.00 to 19.30, in winter - from 8.00 to 15.00; admission is free, but limited by the number of people present at the same time), the largest basilica in Greece - Agios Dimitrios(IV century, rebuilt in 629-634) with the relics of Demetrius of Thessalonica, the basilica of Achiropiitos (V century, one of the oldest structures of this kind that have survived to this day) and Latomu monastery with the tiny church of Osios David (V-VI centuries, known for its beautiful mosaics).

The most amazing of the many old churches in the city - Hagia Sophia. This is one of the rarest examples of temple structures of the so-called "iconoclastic period", built in 690-730 on the site of an earlier basilica destroyed by an earthquake. Its simple architecture simply has no analogues in Europe, and the surviving mosaics (also an interesting element, clearly borrowed from Hellenistic culture) also carry many unconventional interpretations. Together with the rest of the Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki, the church is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, but is surrounded by quite modern residential high-rise buildings, the balconies of which almost rest against the vaults of the temple.

Equally original buildings include a church surrounded by a small grove of cypresses and pines. Panagia Halkeon(XI century, open daily from 7.30 to 12.00) in the southwestern corner of Platia Dhikastirion. Like many other Christian churches, it was rebuilt into a mosque during the period of Turkish domination, so the once beautiful frescoes have survived only in fragments. To the west of the Church of Achiropiitos rises Dodeca Apostles(VII century) with magnificent mosaics of the XIV century, and to the east - Agios Nikolaos-Orfanos (XIV century), which is considered the most accessible and expressive in the city (this applies, rather, to its frescoes, because the church itself was rebuilt several times and little resembles the original).

Above Odhos Kassandhrou street, parallel to Ayiou Dhimitriou, the so-called upper city, or Ano Poli, - the main Ottoman district of Thessaloniki. Over the past few years, many of the area's old buildings have been converted into prestigious condominiums and nightclubs, which is why it is now considered one of the centers of nightlife. The most famous monument in the area is Trigonion, or Tower of Chains, is one of the last remnants of the city's medieval fortifications. Several fragments of the wall also survive around the area of ​​Eptapyrgio (Eptapirgio, "Seven Towers"), which occupies the site ancient acropolis and subsequently built here fort Edi-Kule. From the south side old wall overlooks Odhos Eptapyrgiou street and is framed by an alley with a park - a good place to just sit and look at city blocks from above. Below, already within the Bazaar district, rises a beautiful mansion of the early 20th century, once owned by a wealthy Jewish family, and now given Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki(open on Wednesday and Thursday from 11.00 to 14.00 and from 17.00 to 20.00, on Friday and Sunday - from 11.00 to 14.00, 3 euros). In the middle of its courtyard rises a replica of the fountain that once stood in the city's synagogue.

The best examples of architecture from the Ottoman period can be found within a radius of literally 5 blocks from Platia Dhikastirion. IN east corner the square itself are inactive, but well-preserved Bay Ham Baths, or Paradisos(open from Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 21.00, on Saturday and Sunday - from 8.30 to 15.00; admission is free), - the oldest Turkish bath in the city (1444, was used for its intended purpose until 1968).

To the south begins the main bazaar area, bounded by the streets of Egnatia, Dhragoumi, Ayias Sofias and Tsimiski. A very interesting part of the area is a quiet oasis of a network of lanes between Ayias Sofias and Aristotelous, almost entirely given over to artisan shops. And very close you can find a traditional Turkish indoor Bezesteni market, an indoor jewelry market on the corner of Venizelou and Egnatia, Hamza Bay Tzami Mosque(XV century, like other mosques of the city - rebuilt from an older Christian church), baths Yeni Hamam(XVII century, now - a summer cinema and a music venue).

Closer to the Castra quarter, in the lower part of the Upper City, is the beautiful complex of the Turkish consulate. In a nineteenth-century pink mansion behind the main building, Kemal Atatürk, the founder and first president of modern secular Turkey, was born in 1881. Now the consulate maintains the house as a museum, access to which is open daily from 10.00 to 17.00 (admission is free, but prior approval of the time of the visit with the consular staff and a passport is required).

At the beginning of the 16th century, after almost all the Jews were expelled from Spain and Portugal, many of them settled in Thessaloniki. The Turks deliberately encouraged this process, considering the Sephardim as a counterweight to the powerful Slavic community of the city, so by the beginning of the 20th century, almost half of the inhabitants of Thessaloniki (more than 80 thousand people) were Jews. And although the vast cemeteries east of the city center were built up with university complexes and shopping districts after World War II, and Jewish-owned mansions were given to other needs, there are many Jewish monuments in the city. In the very heart of the ancient Jewish quarter (before 1942 Thessaloniki did not have a ghetto), the "modiano" (kosher market) still operates, there is a synagogue and the already mentioned Jewish Museum, and numerous mansions are the decoration of the city.

You can also visit Cinema Museum, modest photography museum, State Museum of Modern Art(open daily from 10.00 to 14.00 and from 18.00 to 22.00; admission is free) and Folk Ethnological Museum in an elegant mansion of the early 20th century.

Around the city

The main salvation from the heat in Thessaloniki is the hills and beaches of the Halkidiki peninsula, but in order to get to it the best shores, it will take a lot of time. Therefore, many citizens prefer small resort villages around the city, although they do not have very good conditions for recreation, they are easily accessible.

On the slopes of the Kisos mountains, 11 km southeast of Thessaloniki, lies the closest resort village - Panorama(Panorama), whose name very accurately reflects his specialization. Carefully restored after the Second World War, it is a picturesque complex of villas, shops, coffee houses and taverns, with beautiful views of the city and the bay from almost everywhere.

50 km southeast of Thessaloniki, among the picturesque low mountains near the village of Petralona, ​​lies Cave of Kokines Petres("Red Stones"), in which traces of prehistoric people were found. Many of the finds are displayed right there in a small museum right at the entrance to the underground galleries, open, like the museum, daily from 9.00 to sunset (an organized tour costs 5 euros, photography is prohibited).

And on May 21, on the Day of Saints Constantine and Helena, the inhabitants of the town Langadas(Langadhas, 20 km north of Thessaloniki), hold a festival of the same name, widely known for the traditional ritual of dancing on coals. Thousands of people from all over Greece and abroad gather for this holiday, besides, the nearby lake Koronia allows you to relax by the water before getting acquainted with the ceremonies (the holiday takes place in the evening).

Thessaloniki is more of a commercial and industrial center than a resort oasis, but the city has something to keep guests busy for at least two or three days. Numerous churches together give a picture of the development of Orthodox architecture over the centuries, however, there is also an opportunity to look through the years and centuries into the everyday life of the Ottoman life - the Upper City surrounded by powerful ramparts, and in the grid of modern streets lined with a ruler, there are isolated inclusions of Ottoman buildings, many of which, including those that are rightfully considered monuments of Islamic architecture, miraculously survived the fire of 1917.

The latest Greek architecture is represented by examples of Art Deco, accumulated in the glorious days that the city knew in the 20th century, during the first international trade fair in 1926. Much had been restored by 1997, when Thessaloniki's turn came to represent the Cultural Capital, although many old buildings from the Byzantine and other eras that were damaged by the devastating earthquake of 1978 are still painstakingly restored.

There are many museums in the capital of Macedonia, revealing, often excellently, one or another side of the wealth inherited by the city: Byzantine culture, the history of Thessaloniki Jewry, folk life, musical instruments, Ataturk (he was born here), up to modern art and photography. But for most visitors to the city, the most important thing is the Archaeological Museum, and it remains outstanding, although somewhat impoverished, since many exhibits associated with the tomb of Philip II of Macedon were returned to Vergina, closer to the royal burials.

A Brief History of Thessaloniki (Greece)

When the king of Macedonia, Cassander, founded this city in 315 BC on the site of the ancient Greek village of Therma, he gave it the name of his wife, half-sister of Alexander the Great, and she was named Thessalonica in honor of the victory (nike) of the Macedonians over the Thessalians (Thessaly Nike), won by under the leadership of Philip II, the father of the newborn. The new city soon developed into a regional cultural and commercial center and even minted its own coin. Macedonia in 146 BC became a Roman province, while Thessaloniki, thanks to its favorable strategic position both on the land side and on the sea, became the capital.

The wealth and importance of the city increased even more with the construction of the Via Egnatia, the great road that connected Rome (through Brindisi - the ancient Brundisium) with Byzantium and the east of the empire. The road contributed to the growth of many other cities that stood near it, including the Macedonian Amphipolis, Philippi and Naples (current). Christianity instilled in Thessaloniki with difficulty: the Apostle Paul visited the city twice, and the first time he was expelled from the city - his preaching caused outrage in the local Jewish community. The second time, in AD 56, he stayed long enough to found the Thessalonian church, to whose adherents he later wrote two letters (the Epistles to the Thessalonians or, in Church Slavonic, to the Thessalonians).

However, it took another three centuries for the new faith to take root. When Diocletian established a tetrarchy in the Empire (the reign of four emperors), thus initiating a split between Rome and Byzantium, Galerius became the second Eastern emperor, to whose reign almost all late Roman monuments that survived in Thessaloniki, including the Rotunda and the Arch bearing the name of Galeria. He also tortured St. Demetrius of Thessalonica, who became the patron saint of Thessaloniki. The first Christian Thessalonian emperor was Theodosius (reigned 379-395), who, after his conversion, issued the Edict of Thessaloniki, a decree officially ending paganism.

During the reign of Justinian (527-565), Thessaloniki became the second (current) city of the Byzantine Empire after Constantinople and remained so, despite the constant pressure of the Goths and Slavs, until it was sacked by the Saracens in 904. Today there are more Byzantine monuments in the city than Roman ones, and they are undoubtedly better. The series of historical storms was continued by the Sicilian Normans (1185) and the Fourth Crusade (1204), after which the city became the capital of the Latin Kingdom of Thessaloniki. But the Byzantine Empire of Nicaea took the city from the invaders in 1246, and a "golden age" of Thessalonian culture followed, accompanied by theological strife and political revolts, and lasted two centuries, until the Turkish conquest of the city and its incorporation into the Ottoman Empire in 1430.

Thessaloniki was the first city of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans, while remaining a backwater. The population has changed as the region has changed, but Orthodox Greeks have always been a significant minority. In addition to the Ottoman Muslims who settled here in 1430, a generation before the conquest of Constantinople, and who believed that they lived in the city of "Selanik", there were Slavs (who knew and still know that this is "Thessalonica"), Albanians, Armenians and, after their expulsion from the Iberian peninsula in 1492, the Jews - the Thessaloniki Jewish community was at that time the largest in Europe.

The current appearance of the city and its other features are largely due to the terrible fire of 1917, which destroyed most of the old houses clinging to each other in the labyrinths of Ottoman streets, including the entire Jewish quarter with 32 synagogues, so that 70 thousand people lost their homes - about half of the city's population . Thessaloniki rebuilt, acquiring its own version of Art Deco, and the French architect and archaeologist Ernest Ebrard looked after the 8-year-long work on building the city “in a box”. Wide central avenues were laid, parallel to the embankment, and the intersections were in the shade of densely planted trees.

Ebrar also tried to ban the construction of buildings that are too tall, but this restriction did not last long, and twenty years later they safely forgot about it. The city's well-being is evidenced by the elegance of its citizens and the prosperity of its tailors, but the tidal wave of prosperity that Thessaloniki has enjoyed since the 1990s, both due to economic resilience and perhaps thanks to EU subsidies, has given rise to a new and extremely fluid class, with dramatically different lifestyles. from the inertia of the unlucky inhabitants of houses dutifully floating on the sea of ​​life, huddling close to the port.

There, the Pontic Greeks sell third-rate goods in street markets, while unemployed Albanians and refugees from of Eastern Europe vegetate on the pennies earned for smuggled cigarettes or wiping the windshields of other people's limousines. Since around 2000, Africans have swelled their ranks, selling bootleg CDs. Both visitors and native citizens are annoyed by all sorts of inconveniences, the same as in other big cities Mediterranean: dumping of industrial and domestic waste into the bay (something improved slightly in the 21st century), traffic jams on the main avenues, although there seems to be a convenient one-way traffic system with a ring road, and so on.

Arrival, information and public transport in Thessaloniki

Getting to Thessaloniki is nowhere easier: the railway station is on the western side of the city, and many bus routes approach it, there is a good taxi park nearby, the center and the harbor are within easy reach. Long-distance buses arrive at the main bus station (it is called, as you might guess, "Macedonia"). The station is located several west of center, at Yiannitson 194, from where buses No. 1 and 78 will take you to the railway station, and No. 78 will take you to the airport, while No. 31 goes along Egnatia.

Macedonia Airport is located 15 kilometers south of the city center. Amenities include all kinds of kiosks and windows for tourists, working on a limited schedule, and ATMs at the cafe on the ground floor at the "Departure" level. City bus No. 78 runs between the airport and the KTEL bus station once or twice per hour between 06:00 and 23:00. In the city center, the bus stops at the Museum of Folk Life, the White Tower, at the Dimokratias Plateau and the railway station, passing through Tsimiski on the way to the airport, and on the way back through Mitropoleos. A taxi to the airport will cost 12 € plus surcharges. All ferries arrive at the passenger port at the western end of the waterfront, a short walk from the train station.

• Useful information about Thessaloniki (Greece)

Finally, a worthy office of the national travel agency EOT appeared in the city, which is located on Tsimiski 136 (summer daily 9:00-21:00, winter Monday-Friday 8:00-15:00, Saturday 8:00-14:00), where you can get good city center maps and some pamphlets. In case of difficulty, contact the tourist police: Dodecanissa 4, at the Dimokratias Plateau (daily 8:00-14:00; additionally Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 17:00-21:00).

Of the detailed maps of the city, the best is issued by Emvelia - this is not only a plan of Thessaloniki, but also a map of the surroundings and the Chalkidiki peninsula. The same publisher also offers a fold-out map of the city if you don't need an atlas with a subject index. Many bookstores sell a recently reprinted and very useful book by Apostolos Papayiannopoulos in English with a fold-out map of "Monuments of Thessaloniki" (Apostolos Papayiannopoulos, Monuments of Thessaloniki).

• Public transport in Thessaloniki (Greece)

The city has a system of convenient local buses. Tickets cost 0.50 € at the kiosk, and 0.60 € at the machine already on the bus, you can buy a ticket for 2 € for 24 hours and for 10 € for a week. Among the routes to remember are Nos. 10 and 11 - both run the full length of Egnatia/Karamanli. From Platia Eleftherias (just behind the embankment), buses initially follow Mitropoleos, route number 5 will take you to the archaeological and ethnographic (folklore) museums, and numbers 22 and 28 go north, through Kastra, to those quarters in the upper part of the city that are called Eptapyrio. There are a lot of taxis (blue and smart white ones) and they are not bad, but the drivers do not go where they are "uncomfortable".

If you are by car, it is better to park it in special parking lots and pay a fee, for example, at Eleftherias Square, where money will be taken from you at the entrance to the payment. Trying to find another option is a hopeless venture, even in the suburbs. Having managed to squeeze your car in somewhere, you are required by the rules to buy cards with blue and red stripes at the nearest kiosk, which you must redeem (for 1 hour - 1 €) - buy as many cards as you need and attach all redeemed cards to windshield of your car. Duties are paid: Monday-Friday 8:00-20:00 and Saturday 8:00-15:00. If you intend to drive around the city, get a map showing where and how the one-way traffic system works - for example, the plan published by the state travel agency EOT is suitable.

Accommodation in Thessaloniki (Greece)

From Easter until the end of August, it is easy to find a hotel room at a reasonable price, however, with a good location, the shelter is much more difficult. But hotels will seem very expensive for Greece, even in Athens prices for the same amenities and services are lower, moreover: it seems that every year there are a couple of new luxury hotel offers, and usually they meet the highest international standards. And when the city hosts the International Trade Fair (September) or the Autumn Festival (October and November), hotels are allowed to add a 20% surcharge to their regular rates.

The time from June to August is considered the “low season”, and at this time of the year Thessaloniki earns more from tourists than from business people, and although it can be quite hot in the city in summer, ordinary air conditioning is considered almost a luxury in local hotels. As for the lower limit of prices for accommodation, we simply have no right to advise at least one hotel from those requesting less than 25 € per night (for moral reasons). Let's just say that the hotels are more modest, and very simple, and more comfortable, concentrated at the southeastern tip of Egnatius - however, many of these establishments are not protected from street noise in any way.

Others have chosen Singru Street and the back streets and alleys closest to it, it is somewhat quieter there, you can also settle in a more pleasant area between Eleftherias and Aristotelous squares. The nearest campsites are in the small resorts of Ayia Triada, 24 kilometers from the city, and Ormos Epanomis, 33 kilometers. Both belong to the state travel agency EOT, and the one that is farther away is better because the beach is next to it. Bus number 73 runs to Ayia Triada - from Dikastirion Plateau, and bus number 69 to Ormos Epanomis.

• East Egnatia and Singru area

1). Atlantis Hotel“Bathrooms are mostly shared, the best rooms face the side street. Location: Egnatia 14;

2). Atlas Hotel– A hotel in the center, very friendly, but also the most remote of all hotels in Lower Egnatia from the railway station. There are rooms with bathrooms, but those facing the front are very noisy. Location: Egnatia 40;

3). Bill Hotel- A real find: the hotel is located on a quiet, tree-lined street, although it is slightly shabby. Rooms with balconies, bathrooms were built as part of the rooms (just do not settle in those rooms where there are no bathtubs - it is high time to repair, update and generally remake them). Location: Syngrou 29, at the crossroads with Amvrossio;

4). Kinissi Palace Hotel- Undoubtedly, the most sophisticated hotel in the area, and not to say that for the quality (undoubted) they wring a completely outrageous price. The comfortable rooms are built like modernist structures, but the bathrooms are a bit small and the air conditioners are very noisy. But there is a sauna, hammam, massage, as well as an attractive bar and decent restaurant Averof. Location: Egnatia 41 and Singrou;

5). Nea Mitropolis Hotel- Very clean good quality and excellent business management, and even though Egnatia is not far away, not very noisy. Location: Singrou 22;

6). Pella Hotel“A tall, narrow, modern hotel on a moderately quiet street. Pleasant, spotlessly clean rooms and modern bathrooms. Location: Ionos-Dragumi 63;

7). The Tobacco Hotel– Well-maintained rooms with double-glazed windows, modern decoration, almost Spartan, but comfortable. Good air conditioning, courteous staff and healthy breakfasts in a deliberately "rural" salon on the mezzanine. Despite the name of the hotel - it is located in a former tobacco warehouse from 1922 - you can ask for a non-smoking room. Location: Ayio Dimitriou 25.

• Other parts of Thessaloniki

1). Capsis Bristol Hotel– So far the only boutique hotel in Thessaloniki: 20-year-old furnishings in an impeccably restored 1870 house. Plus amenities like Dhipnosofistis Restaurant and Medusa Bistro. Abundant Buffet. Location: Oplopiou 2 and Katun;

2). Egnatia Palace Hotel“An elegant hotel in a modern building with some Art Deco flourishes and spacious rooms that are both flamboyant and very stylish. Wellness Paradise Spa is inspired by the seemingly non-functioning Turkish baths across the street, but the comparisons end there. Location: Egnatia 61;

3). Electra Palace Hotel- The hotel is in one of the most honorable places in the city - but it can be noisy if some events are held on the square. Inside - like in a palace: spacious rooms, a luxurious dining room, although everything is somewhat old-fashioned. Location: Platia Aristotelous 9;

4). Les Lazamstes Hotel– New and beautiful hotel opposite art complex"Moni Lazariston" is located in a rebuilt tobacco factory, far from the center, but if you have your own car, it's still very convenient (free parking). Beautiful, as in a glossy magazine, interiors, every detail is accounted for, there is a luxurious swimming pool. Locals are also drawn to the Fred and Ginger restaurant - the cuisine is exquisite, which is recognized by the most sophisticated gourmets. Location: Kolokotroni 16, Stavroupoli;

5). Macedonia Palace Hotel– Thoughtfully elegant and spacious rooms and suites in the hotel, which is urban, also beckon with the best sea views. The Porphyra restaurant is also excellent, famous for its Sunday brunch (breakfast plus lunch). Location: Megalu Alexandru 2;

6). Orestias Castorias Hotel“Almost all the rooms in this 1920s building now have baths, so this is a natural option if you value friendliness and quietness. Recommended in advance. Location: Agnosto Stratiot 14, at the intersection with Olimbu;

7). Le Palace Hotel– Art Deco and extremely high class hotel: spacious rooms with modern bathrooms and double glazing windows (although it is worth asking for a room that does not face the street). Peculiar common areas, including a mezzanine lounge, a cafe downstairs and a restaurant. The price of the room includes the cost of a good breakfast - it is served in the buffet. Location: Tsimiski 12;

8). Tourist Hotel– A welcoming, uncluttered Belle Epoque (World War I eve) palace with parquet in the lounges, a breakfast room and a 1920s Swiss elevator, rooms refurbished in the 1990s with ensuite bathrooms. However, there are only two rooms designed for one person. It is necessary to book a room in advance. Location: Mitropoleos 21.

Attractions Thessaloniki (Greece)

Once in the center lined with cells, you will not get lost: the bay is visible from almost everywhere, and there are few main shopping streets: Ayiou Dimitriou, Egnatia (the main business street), Tsimiski and Mitropoleos. All of them are parallel to the embankment, but, approaching the eastern “addition to the city”, attached to Thessaloniki after the Middle Ages, they bashfully change their names - and confuse visitors. For the most part, locals are concentrated nearby, and many are even on Egnatia, on both sides of the pavement.

Perpendicular to the avenues and partly given over to pedestrians, the Aristotelous are Italian-style porticos and freshly painted ochre-coloured buildings that house offices, shops, and institutions like post offices or the national railway bureau. It goes downhill from Egnatius and at the end, which is closer to the embankment, “flows” into the completely pedestrian Aristotelus platform, from where it is visible in clear weather. The border between the new and the old parts of the city is additionally marked by exhibition areas and the border of the seaside park, which everyone calls the Zoo and over which the White Tower (Lefkos-Pyrgos) reigns.

IN best museum Thessaloniki - Archaeological - you will see some of the brilliant treasures of Vergina - the pride of Macedonia. Smaller museums dot the center and introduce the curious to Byzantine culture, musical instruments, modern art and photography. One of the most outstanding churches (and in Thessaloniki there are enough places of worship, including numerous Byzantine monuments) - Hagia Sophia - is famous for its excellent mosaics, in which it competes with the converted Roman mausoleum, today called by its original Latin name Rotunda.

Other striking sights are Turkish bazaars and other monuments of the Ottoman era and what is left of the Jewish city, to which an interesting museum is also dedicated. If you venture into the eastern regions, you will find several beautiful mansions of the early 20th century, one of which houses the Ethnographic (Folklore) Museum, and the Yeni Jami Cathedral Mosque (modern Greek name - Yeni Dzami) - in this beautiful, Art Nouveau, The building is now an art gallery.

• Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki

Although many of the most brilliant exhibits have returned "to their place of birth", in Vergina, the Archaeological Museum on N.A.M.T. (summer Monday 12:30-19:30, Tuesday-Sunday 8:00-19:30; winter Monday 10:30-17:00, Tuesday-Sunday 8:30-15:00; 6 €), beautifully converted to 2004 and at the same time fully opened to visitors, undoubtedly the leading museum of the city.

The central gallery, opposite the entrance, is occupied by rich finds from the burials of ancient Sindos, which is a few kilometers north of the present city, while the left wing is given over to the art of the Hellenistic and Roman eras - curious blown glass birds found in burials (tumbes), of which there are many on the plain near the city. Below is an exhibition of prehistoric objects found in Thessaloniki and the immediate surroundings, but this is not for everyone.

But all this is just appetizing appetizers to the main "dish" - and to some disappointment with the aftertaste of such - a fabulous exhibition of Macedonian gold in the southern hall, which exhibits (with clear explanations in Greek and English) many objects found in the royal tombs of the times Philip II (father of Alexander the Great), and other finds from the ancient capital of Aegea (Aigai), on the site of which is now Vergina. There is an unthinkable amount of gold and silver: masks, crowns, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, all products are very skillfully made, beautiful and practical, many things are made of bronze and ivory.

Examples include a silver strainer for straining wine with goose-head handles, a bronze lampshade dotted with holes, and a huge bronze “crater” (a bowl for mixing wine with water) decorated with scenes from the myths of Dionysus - images anticipate the Baroque. Keep in mind that the exhibits, which for quite a long time were the decorations of the collection - “larnakos”, that is, the golden ossuary for the bones of Philip II, and the same burial vessel for his wife, and the accompanying golden crowns, are also supposed to be transported to Vergina. By the way, there are no royal bones in the "larnaks" - the royal remains were symbolically reburied in Vergina.

• Museum of Byzantine Culture Thessaloniki

Every now and again the awarded Museum of Byzantine Culture (summer Monday 12:30-19:00, Tuesday-Sunday 8:00-19:00; winter Monday 10:30-17:00, Tuesday-Sunday 8:30-15:00) occupies a pretty brick building on Strata 2, just east of the Archaeological Museum, and is doing a good deed by exhibiting early Christian burials being excavated in the city. Among the exhibits are examples of rescued murals depicting, among other things, Susanna and the Elders. Another fresco depicts a naked rower surrounded by sea creatures. All this is wonderfully illuminated and skillfully placed, but all the exhibitions are more interesting for specialists than for leisurely tourists and casual curious.

• White tower in Thessaloniki

At the edge of the eastern tip of Leoforos Nikis, a place beloved by the townspeople, rises the elegant symbol of the city - the White Tower (Lefkos-) - for many years its silhouette has been the logo of the nightly television news. At first, the tower was called the Lion, or the fortress of Kalamaria, and was included as a fort on the corner of the defensive wall surrounding the city, but at the end of the 19th century, almost all the Byzantine and Ottoman ramparts were demolished.

Before this happened, the tower was Bloody - inside it languished in captivity, the Janissaries who were at fault, and in 1826 there was a mass execution of prisoners. In 1890, one Jewish prisoner contracted to whitewash the entire tower in exchange for release, after which the current name appeared - the White Tower. It was fixed, although the old whitewash had long since peeled off. By the 2300th anniversary of Thessaloniki, celebrated in 1985, the tower was restored.

• Arch of Galeria and Rotunda in Thessaloniki

The arch of Galeria is another symbol of the city, albeit a Roman one, dominating the pedestrian square at the eastern end of Egnatia. Together with the neighboring Rotunda, the Arch was part of a complex of Roman buildings, which at first was more extensive and also included palaces and a hippodrome. The powerful arch is just a surviving section of the arcade crowned with a dome, which served as a covered passage to the palaces. These structures were erected in honor of the victories over the Persians won by the emperor in 297 BC: on the pilasters of the arch, heavily weathered reliefs depicting battle scenes are visible, interspersed with images of Galerius himself in heroic poses.

You can also look at the remains of the Galerius Palace - they are very clearly visible, although they are below the level of the current pavement: walk along the pedestrian Dimitriu Gunari and its continuation - the dress of Navarino. A few minutes walk in the opposite direction across pedestrian area under the Arch, and you are at the Rotunda, which later turned into the St. George Church of Agios Yeorios, but remains the most impressive Roman monument in the city. The round building was conceived as a mausoleum, probably for Galerius himself - hence the name, but was not used as such.

In the 4th century, the building was consecrated as a Christian temple, adding an altar, an apse, a narthex (narfik) and richly decorating with mosaics, and even later, the rotunda, of course, turned into one of the main mosques of the city, and from that era to our minaret has come down. They let you into Agios Yeorios, although it was recently restored. The rotunda must be visited to see the magnificent mosaics - at that time better examples were created, except in Constantinople or Ravenna.

On those that are accessible to observation, on the southern arch, various birds are depicted, on the southeastern one - ducks, partridges, woodcocks, and at the top on the damaged dome, the head of the legendary phoenix and angels near a round rainbow are visible. Just under the dome, if there were no current scaffolding, you would see the images of 15 saints, made in a very realistic manner: in fact, these are real portraits - many of them were soldiers of the Roman army, tortured for refusing to back down from the Christian faith. The saints, as it were, take refuge under some fantastic structure, and peacocks and birds of paradise above it make it clear that this is the City of Heaven.

• House of Ataturk in Thessaloniki

The lower reaches of the Upper City are called Castra, and moving in that direction, you will reach the consulate at the intersection of Agiou Dimitriou and Apostolou Paulo. Kemal Atatürk, the founder and first president of the modern secular Turkish state, was born in 1881 (the exact date is unknown) in the pink house of the 19th century behind the consulate, at Apostol-Paul 17.

The consulate maintains this building as a small museum (daily 10:00-17:00; free of charge): the original furnishings are preserved and things and documents reminiscent of Atatürk are exhibited. The security measures are very strict, so first you will need to go to the consulate with your passport and get permission to visit the museum (Monday-Friday 9:20-12:30; press the doorbell button).

• Temple of Hagia Sophia in Thessaloniki

Between Egnatia and Navarino Plateau, in the lower city, to the west of the Galerius Arch, stands the 8th-century church of Hagia Sophia, restored at the cost of great effort, one of the most beautiful buildings of its kind in the city. The temple was erected in imitation of the eponymous and more glorious model of Constantinople, instead of the ancient basilica that stood on this site, from which only the holy spring of John the Baptist remained a few steps south and below the level of the current pavement, in Roman times this well was built as a nympheum (a source dedicated to the nymphs ).

The dome of the church (10 meters in diameter) is decorated with a magnificent mosaic image of the "Ascension": to view this beauty, take binoculars with you, at least theatrical ones. Christ, ascended to heaven by two angels, sits on a throne, His right hand gives a blessing, below are uneven letters, the written reproduces the verse of Acts “Men of Galilee! why are you standing and looking at the sky?

On the rim of the dome - fifteen figures - these are witnesses of a miracle, the Virgin Mary with two angels and twelve apostles. The dome was restored relatively recently - in the 1980s, everything else inside the church was plastered after the great fire of 1917. Another remarkable mosaic - "The Crowning of the Virgin" in the apse - is clearly placed on top of a faintly visible cross, in the era of iconoclasm, all images (icons, sculptures, etc.) were replaced with crosses, and after the restoration of icon veneration, a new mosaic image could be applied over the Cross to emphasize the triumph of Orthodoxy .

• Basilica of Saint Demetrius in Thessaloniki

Above, on Aiiu Dimitriou, there is a powerful simple building of the Basilica of St. Demetrius (Monday 13:30-19:00, Tuesday-Sunday 8:00-20:00; free), after which the street is named. The foundation stone of the cathedral dates back to the 5th century, but since then it has gone through a lot, including rebuilding and restoration. Making a much stronger impression than the official cathedral on Mitropoleos, it actually remains the main cathedral of the city, filling the hearts of the townspeople with pride in Thessaloniki: the fire of 1917 spared only the apse and columns, but the one that died in the fire was restored.

The church was consecrated in memory of Demetrius of Thessalonica, the patron saint of the city (a Roman commander who was killed by Emperor Galerius) and erected on the site where he was martyred, and even if you know in advance that you are visiting the largest basilica in Greece, you will be simply dumbfounded at first immensity of church interiors. In addition to the many-coloured marble columns and extensive plastered surfaces, you will see six small mosaics that have survived, mostly on the columns on the sides of the altar, so that they are easy to notice.

Of these, four appeared after the first restoration of the church - following a fire that occurred in 620. The mosaic image of the 7th century “St. Demetrius with the two founders of the temple” is stunning - on the inside of the southern (right) pillar, next to the stairs to the crypt (crypt), and in the mosaics “Saint Sergius” and “Saint Demetrius with the deacon”, on adjacent columns, the sharp difference from the modern mosaic image on the northern column is striking: a saint and two children is a very warm and human image.

The two remaining mosaics are even older - from the 5th century: the one on the northern support is “Deesis”, that is, two icons, the Virgin and St. Theodore, and on the other, high on the western wall in the inner southern wing, a child is shown brought to the saint. In the underground crypt - the crypt (the same clock; free of charge) there is a martyrion in which the saint languished in chains - the Romans, it seems, adapted an old bathhouse for Demetrius' prison. The entire exposition, with beautiful carved capitals of the columns (tablets with explanations - only in Greek), is built around a fountain with seven columns and a catchment tank.

• Ano Poli (Upper Town)

Above odos Kassandro, a street parallel to Ayii Dimitriou, rises the Upper Town - in Greek Ano Poli, the largest of all the surviving fragments of the Ottoman Thessaloniki. Although its streets are gradually dissolving into new multi-apartment buildings advancing from all sides, they still somehow manage to retain their original features and their charm - strings of houses intertwined into labyrinths and steeply twisting staircases. Last years the stigma of "Turkishness" was almost scraped off from the area: very old houses were sold and restored - and the prettier area became even more attractive.

In fact, many go to Ano Poli after dark. And along the entire perimeter of the northern part of the city, the surviving sections of the Byzantine ramparts, built of brick and broken stone in the 14th century, rise to the sky every now and then, on top of the foundations inherited from Rome. The best-preserved fragment of the ramparts begins at the huge rounded keep, which is known as the Trigonion or Chain Tower (from the figured casting decorating the tower), at the northeast corner of the perimeter - where that city wall, which is to the east, changes direction.

A much smaller chain of walls is trying to encircle the area of ​​Eptapiryio (Seven Towers), within which rises the old acropolis of the same name. Now all this is painstakingly restored, but for many centuries there was a city prison, until in 1989 it was closed as too inhuman. The prison is described in more than one plaintive prison song - such old ballads are called "Edi Küle", this is the Turkish version of the name Eptapiryo. From the south, the odos (street) Eptapiryio and a park, or rather, a forest belt, adjoins the wall, but you can sit down there to see Thessaloniki - from some distance and a considerable height.

• Jewish Museum in Thessaloniki

Walking downhill through the Bazaar, look out for the early 20th-century building at Ayiu Mina 13. Once owned by a venerable Jewish family, this remarkably renovated house now houses the impressive Jewish Museum, also called in that Spanish language (Judesmo or Ladino ), which served as the spoken language of the Iberian Jews - Museo Giudio de Thessaloniki (Tuesday, Friday and Sunday 11:00-14:00, Wednesday and Thursday 15:00-20:00; 3 €).

In the basement, you'll see some precious remnants (and a few disturbing photographs) of the city's Jewish cemetery, which had about half a million graves before the Nazis desecrated and destroyed the churchyard. An interesting exhibit is a marble Roman stele of the 3rd century, adapted as a tombstone on the grave of a Sephardic Jew from Iberia who moved to Thessaloniki after 1492.

In the middle of the courtyard there is a fountain with wonderful reliefs, which once adorned the city synagogue. Upstairs, a well-organized exhibition with clear explanations, in Greek and English, traces the history of the Jewish presence in Thessaloniki from about 140 BC to the present day, showing also some of the religious and secular treasures that miraculously survived the 1917 fire and were not destroyed. Holocaust.

• Museum of Greek Musical Instruments in Thessaloniki

Not far away, on the other side of Tsimiska, in the Ladadika area, three floors of a purpose-built building at Katumi 12-14 are occupied by another and promoted, albeit private, Museum of Greek Musical Instruments (Monday and Wednesday-Sunday: April-September 10:00-14:00 and 17:00-19:00; October-March 10:00-16:00; free of charge).

Unfortunately, in this institution, style triumphs over essence: you are shown reproductions of drawings and other artistic images of ancient musical instruments that were placed on the walls, vases, bowls, goblets and so on. Although each instrument (bagpipe, harp and other musical instruments) has a special place, the creators of the exhibition do not even try to interpret its use in any way, and no one even bothered about any musical accompaniment. True, interesting art and photography exhibitions are constantly held in the basement.

• Museums near the port of Thessaloniki

Crossing the bustling Kunduryota, the extension of Nikis towards the harbor, and moving towards the city port, you will see a cluster of old port warehouses after Gate A. These warehouses have recently been turned into the city's arts center, where mostly the latest art is in use, the complex includes bars and, more surprisingly, a kindergarten.

In one of the buildings there are two museums: the one dedicated to cinema is interesting, perhaps, only to the most obsessed and, in addition, Greek film lovers, but in the truly outstanding Museum of Photography (Wednesday-Friday 11:00-19:00, Saturday and Sunday 11:00-21:00; free of charge) exhibitions of the best Greek and foreign photo artists are constantly held. Across the street, in a former slag bin, is the State Museum of Modern Art (daily 10:00-14:00 and 18:00-22:00; free of charge), with art exhibitions often dedicated to the city and its history.

• Geni Dzami and the Ethnological Museum of Macedonia

The noticeable contribution of the Denme community (the Turkish understanding is “overturned, in the sense of converting”), also known under the Arabized name “Maamin”, “believers, with the meaning: forced to believe”, to the civil life of the city is built in the Art Nouveau style, but with oriental accents, the "new cathedral mosque" Yeni Jami (Old Archaeological Museum), south of the center, at no. 30 on Archaeoloiku Musiu. It was erected in 1904, and after it no more mosques were built in Thessaloniki.

This bewitching architectural whim of an Italian architect served the city as an archaeological museum for a long time - from 1923 until the construction of a new building for the overgrown archaeological collections. Inside, the mosque looks like an ordinary Iberian synagogue, perhaps slightly altered, and with its grace, the original decor of the local interior often overshadows the exhibits on display - on occasion, art exhibitions are held in the former mosque. It is easy to find: about 500 meters south of the Museum of Byzantine Culture, and there are well-marked signs on Vassilissis Olgas, the southern extension of Vassileos Yeoriou.

A little further is the Museum of Folk Life (or Ethnological), on Vasilissis-Olgas 68, which occupies an elegant mansion that once belonged to the Modiano family (those who owned the food market) - in the quarter, by the way, there are other villas built by Jews. The exposition is one of the best of its kind in Greece with well-written explanations in Greek and English to the exhibits of not only permanent but also temporary exhibitions of domestic life, costumes, daily work, crafts. The museum is half an hour walk (or a short bus ride) from the White Tower, catch bus number 5 if it travels east along Mitropoleos and Megala Alexandru. All of the above attractions can be seen during.

Dining in Thessaloniki (Greece)

At first glance, it seems that the center of Thessaloniki is occupied by "fast food", but "fast food" only makes it difficult to notice a huge number of very interesting and different taverns throughout the city. The list for the center includes establishments within walking distance of the Aristotelous Plateau. When listing restaurants in other areas, information is provided on how to get to them. Many institutions of Thessaloniki are closed from mid-July to mid-August - at this time, the townspeople go on vacation - a little earlier than the Athenians. According to the custom, local uzeri treat guests with sweets at the expense of the institution - most often it is halvas (semolina halva) or watermelon.

• In the city center (between the sea and the Basilica of Saint Demetrius)

The central city massif - and most likely stay within it - is so rich in restaurants and bars that you do not have to spend money on taxis and time on long trips. The outskirts of the bazaar and the fashionable quarter of Ladadika are especially rich in such establishments - most often these are real uzeri, interspersed with taverns.

1). Institution Ta Adhelfia tis Pixarias- The best of the establishments in this square, which is of archaeological value. The menu includes such yummy things as tsigerosarmas (lamb liver with cabbage) and saganaki mussels (mussels with cheese), and tablecloths on the tables are real, however, the service is often more like slovenliness, and the portions are sometimes small. And there are a lot of people, so come early. Location: Platia Navarino 7;

2). Institution Aristotelous– Politely moving away from the odos Aristotelous into the courtyard (entrance on the side of the Blow Up Records store), this stylish middle-class uzeri attracts not only sophisticated tastes with arcades inside and a pretty courtyard, but also very tasty mezedes. You can also order an excellent tsipouro for yourself. Closed from mid-July to mid-August and on Sunday afternoons. Location: Aristotelous 8;

3). Institution Ta Bakaliarakia tou Aristou“Inexpensive large portions of cod and potatoes served on oilcloth-covered tables make this place, located on a pedestrian street, worthy of mention. Location: Kunduriot 6;

4). Institution ly Gonia tou Merakli- Inexpensive seafood and draft wine - in a word, you can see the best in a number of similar establishments that settled on the peculiar streets between the Atonos and Aristotelous Plateau. Location: Avierino, a street leading off from the Atonos plateau;

5). Institution Kamares- Excellent but not expensive seafood, salads and grilled meats are washed down in this year-round place with wine from the island of Limnos. In summer, tables are taken outside, next to the park. Location: Platia Ayiu-Yeoriou 11, near the Rotunda;

6). Institution Koumbarakia– Arranged behind the Byzantine Church of the Transfiguration, the summer tables of this old-fashioned and inexpensive uzeri are bursting under the weight of Macedonian-style grilled dishes, as well as seafood and salads, including tursi (pickled vegetables). Closed on Sundays and midsummer. Location: Egnatia 140;

7). Institution Krasodhikio– Another great uzeri that serves large portions of meat and seafood, as well as mezedes. In summer on the pavement, and in winter in a cozy room where it is always cool. Location: Philip 17 and Venizel;

8). Tavern Louloudhadhika– Expensive (upscale) tavern: yellow walls and exquisite tablecloths, on which exceptionally good food is displayed, in particular fresh fish, and retsina from a barrel is unusually refreshing. Try to get a table outside, in front of the old Jewish baths. Location: Komninon 20;

9). Institution Loutros– Excellent seafood, simple orektika appetizers and excellent retsina po reasonable prices, nearby - Bezesteni. Closed from mid-July to mid-August. Location: Kundura 5;

10). Institution Molyvos– Cretan biscuits with cheese, salads, local dishes in a charmingly rough, “rural” tavern setting – uzeri with tables on a peaceful street – and Aladin’s Cave, which turns out to be a shop selling “non-factory” ouzo and “non-factory” olive oils. Location: Kapodistriou 1;

11). Institution Myrovolos Smyrni– The friendly uzeri, also known as Tou Thanassi, is always crowded - the establishment is considered the best of all those that have settled in the neighborhood. Usually served cuttlefish and squid stuffed with cheese, Smyrna meatballs, stuffed potatoes and grilled fish fry. It is open all year round, air conditioning is turned on in summer, there seems to be a lot of places, but it is recommended to book a table in advance. Location: in the arcade of the Modiano market, at Komninon 32;

12). Nea llissia Restaurant- Opposite the Averof hotel, and among the restaurant's customers there are many visitors, fortunately, the working day at the institution is long, from 8:30 in the morning to 2 at night, and the menu is highly appreciated by the visitors of the mayireft. Location: Sofu 17;

13). Institution Negroponte- Of the few "real" taverns in this gentrified, urban area: you'll see bunches of garlic, old-fashioned seating, and wine barrels. Luxurious food, in the usual tavern spirit, and the prices, especially compared to those of competing neighbors, are low. Location: at the Polytechnic, Ladadika;

14). Institution Tre Marie“If you want some emblem of Thessaloniki gluttony, you can hardly find a better place than this expensive trattoria with an intricate menu with items such as zucchini buds stuffed with mint cheese in truffle-honey sauce. Waiters in white aprons scurry among the opulent decor: marble and dark wood under stained-glass ceilings, from which gleaming chandeliers hang. In summer, a small terrace opens outside. Location: Yermanu 13;

15). Institution Tsarouhas- Reputed to be the best and, certainly, the most famous in the city (and, accordingly, of the most expensive) patsadzidika - this is the name of the kitchens preparing tripe and leg soups. Many other mayireftas and Anatolian puddings, including baked pudding, kazandibi. Closed from mid-July to mid-August, otherwise open 24/7. Location: Olimbu 78, near Dikastirion Plateau;

16). Institution Vrotos- Probably, you will not find a more inventive and therefore, at present, one of the most beloved by the people (despite the high prices) uzeri in this urban area. Here they are able to please, it seems, all tastes: refined vegetable dishes with cheese, a variety of meat and fish cuisine, only here, although the tables slowly creep out of the narrow fence onto the pavement, there is still not enough space, and this is another reason to book a table in advance. Open daily for lunch and dinner, except perhaps at the end of July. Location: Metropolitan Yenadiou 6, Atonos plate;

17). Institution Zythos“From the best haunts in the Ladadika region. During the day and in the evening they serve very decent food at reasonable prices. You can order wine - the choice is rich, or beer - there are both Greek and imported, from barrels and in bottles. On weekends, it is better to book a table in advance. Location: Platiya Katun 5.

• Ano Poli (Castra and Eptapirio)

The Upper Town (Ano Poli) has plenty of hot spots, prices are mostly reasonable, and the atmosphere is warm. Don't want to struggle with climbing uphill? Buses 22 and 28 run from Eleftherias Plateau. The noisy neon-signed establishments on both sides of the Chain Tower are fine if you want to sit on the terrace with a glass of wine and take in the views of the city, but don't count on culinary wonders at such points.

1). Institution Hiotis- Immediately after the entrance through the second (eastern) gate of the fortress, near the Chain Tower. Mussels, kebabs and kokoretsi, weather permitting, are served on the terrace, under the ramparts. In summer only lunch (in the evening), in the rest of the year - lunch and dinner. Location: Gravias 2;

2). Institution To Madedhoniko- To get to this place, after passing through the main gate of Portar, take a course to the west and keep to the wall until, after passing through another gate, you will find a third gate, or rather a gate. Bus number 28 follows just this way. The menu is limited: tis oras dishes (on order), ice cream, salad and retsina, but everything is cheap - and the audience is fashionable, and locals come too. Location: Syquies district;

3). Institution To Spiti tou Pasa- Already the name (Pasha's House) promises convenience and comfort, and the very appearance of a two-story, stylish, but not loudly decorated building - too. Of the promised joys - barrel wine from Limnos, meat and fish from the grill, impeccable service. Prices are appropriate. Location: Apostle Paul 35;

4). Institution To Yendi- The menu is like in uzeri, it changes from day to day, the portions are impressive, and with food - tsipouro, ouzo or homemade wine. Tables are in the spacious hall or on the terrace opposite the Yedi-Kule gate, but sometimes there are difficulties with service - there are a lot of people. Works only in the evenings. Location: Paparesque 13, at the very top of Castra, opposite the Yedi Küle citadel.

Drinks, nightlife and entertainment in Thessaloniki (Greece)

Thessaloniki is a city where it can easily seem that the local population is occupied only with gatherings in cafes and bars, if it breaks away from this business, it is only in order to move to another hot place, since a pleasant atmosphere and a lot of people await you everywhere, sucking on iced coffee and lighting cigarette after cigarette. In the center, the most fashionable nightlife is concentrated in the Ladadika district, although there are still poor nondescript houses in this jumble of quarters near the harbor. Pedestrian Katun, Eyiptu, Morikhov's dresses and nearby streets are filled with a dizzying hodgepodge of cafes, gelaterias, countless hordes of uzeri, salsatecs, and there are also a few taverns.

Establishments for the most part live with a high turnover, so it makes no sense to single out isolated cases: walking along the line of colorful establishments, you yourself will be able to find what you need. Two points - Sodade and Banal - are now considered the main non-traditional sites of the city. Another promising place for lovers of a good drink in glorious surroundings is the seaside promenade (leophoros) Nikis, where the citywide exercise volta takes place every evening: strollers pass by an endless string of bars with terraces.

Similar bars can also be found on the very fashionable Aristotelous Plateau and along the Proxeno-Koromila. The trendy designer bars across from the White Tower are also noteworthy, while the bustling Navarino Platja, with its adjoining pedestrian streets Iktinu and Zefksidou, has the kind of establishments that set the tone and make waves. With the advent of spring, it gets warmer, and life gradually shifts towards the sparkling lights and colors of the hangar-like establishments that line the coastal road to Kalamaria - but you have to take a taxi there.

• Bars, cafes and clubs in Thessaloniki (Greece)

1). Bar Aigli– A classic uzeri bar with Anatolian decor, which occupies part of the extension near Aladza-Imaret. A small concert hall and a large room with two domes, tables and a bar on the street in summer, where a summer cinema is located in the garden. Location: corner of Agiou Nikolaou and Kassandro, behind the Basilica of Saint Demetrius;

2). Cafe Amareion– Cozy uzeri or bar with excellent acoustics and good music on weekends. Location: Apostle Paul;

3). Club Dodekanese– The best of the big clubs for dance, techno and progressive house music. Near the center of Mylos. Location: Yeoriu 21;

4). Bar Dizzy This lively bar on Ladadika is filled with loud rock sounds. A motorcycle is suspended from the strong beams of the ceiling, and strong Guinness is pouring from the tap. Location: Eyiptu 5;

5). Kiss fish bar– From a bunch of trendy bars in the narrow streets near the rising port area, this is definitely worth a look. Location: Averof and Fokeas;

6). Bar Kitchen- A huge port warehouse, turned into a fashionable haunt, one of the most luxurious. If it's cool outside, go upstairs, and in the summer head to the waterfront terrace to enjoy not only a cocktail, but also views of the city. Here you can have a hearty meal or drop in for breakfast and an afternoon snack with cheese pies with coffee. Location: in the port, next to State Museum contemporary art;

7). Bar Kourdhisto Gourouni- Several brands of imported draft beer and a crazy variety of brands of bottled beer in a stylish bar with tables in the hall and on the street, there is also food - expensive. Location: Ayiyas-Sofiyas 31;

8). Bar Pasta Flora Darling“Garden gnomes and floral wallpaper, jazz tables and psychedelic lighting, the decor is as motley as the audience in this typical Iktin-Zefksidou bar, good cocktails and vegetarian snacks. Location: Zefksidou 6;

9). Bar Sante- A fabulously outlandish bar in a neoclassical exhibition hall of a silk factory adapted for a haunting place: funny American Indians from papier-mâché and other exotics. The music has a Latin American touch: a lot of tango and Cuban and Brazilian rhythms, and the decoration is partly inspired by the look of a crumpled pack of Sante cigarettes - the institution is named after this brand of tobacco (sante - health (French)) and the institution is named. Location: Kapodistriou 3.

• Performances and other cultural events in Thessaloniki (Greece)

In winter, cultural events take place mostly on the stages of the National Theater of Northern Greece (Kratiko Teatro Vouriou Ellados). In the center, this means either Etheria Makedonikon Spudon, or the ultra-modern Vasiliko Theatre: both sites are behind the White Tower, and from each you can see the other. In the summer, cultural events move to the stages and other open-air venues: in the Teatro Quipu near the archaeological museum. On the mountain, in the Teatro Dassus among the pine trees east of the upper city, from late June to mid-September, or in the Teatro Damari, above the Kaftanzoglio Stadium in the region of Tryandria, where big Greek and foreign stars sometimes visit.

There are no magazines that constantly print announcements in the city, except for the free weekly "About" (every Thursday; 1.50 €), so keep an eye out for posters in the windows of those outlets that sell tickets more than others: pay attention to the windows of Albandis record stores ”(Mitropoleos 14-16), “Patsis” (Tsimiski 41) and “Virgin” (shopping mall at Tsimiski 43), as well as on bar windows and walls. The most poignant and daring events take place at Mylos at Andreu Yeoriou 56, a multi-purpose cultural complex housed in an old mill, west of the centre.

Here you will find a couple of bars, a cafe with live jazz, a favorite of the people tsipouradiko (you can go for lunch), a summer cinema, concert halls, exhibition galleries and theater. Another site worth mentioning is the very busy center at the former Catholic monastery of Moni Lazariston in Stavroupoli at Kolokotroni 25, 2 kilometers along Langada north of the center. "Moni" is considered part of the vast project "State Theater of Northern Greece" and gathers in its theaters - the main and smaller ones - the audience for concerts, operas and drama performances, in which leading Greek performers and visiting foreign groups participate, there are also exhibitions. Travel from Dikastirion Plateau by buses No. 34 and 38.

• Cinema in Thessaloniki (Greece)

Cinemas in enclosed spaces, which are usually closed in summer, quite a lot between the White Tower and the Arch of Galeria, new and high-quality films are shown by "Alexandhros" at Ethnikis-Amanis 1 (also open in summer); "Egnatia" at Patriarch Joachim 1, corner of Keramopulu, near the church of Hagia Sophia; "Esperos" on Svolu 22 (open in summer); "Makedhonikon" on Filikis Eterias, Dimitriu Margarita corner; "Navarinon" on the square of the same name; "Vakoura" on John Michael 10.

Open (summer) cinemas in the city center have almost disappeared - the well-being (and prices for real estate and land in the center) has grown a lot, but some have survived: "Alex" at Olambu 106, the neighboring "Aigli" at Yeni-Hammam and "Ellinis" - this is the summer branch of the cinema "Egnatia" - on the dress H.A.N.TH; and "Natali", at the very beginning of Megalo Alexandru, near the Macedonia Palace Hotel. Announcements are printed in daily Greek newspapers.

Shopping in Thessaloniki (Greece)

Thessaloniki, to be sure, is far from a mecca for shopping lovers, but, nevertheless, on Tsimiski and next to it you will find all sorts of emboria selling sophisticated clothes and shoes, and there are interesting shops in the outskirts of the city. Souvenir hunters are offered three main options: books, sound recordings, or a decent bottle of local wine.

1). Books and newspapers– “Prometheus/Molhona” by Tzimiska 10 and “Konstandinidhis” by Egnatius 125 – way above all others bookstores in the city: magnificent shelves with literature in English, including those dedicated to Thessaloniki, magazines and newspapers. Promitheus at Ermu 75 and Isavron 1, near Platia Navarino, is good if you need newspapers and magazines;

2). Music– There are many record stores in the city, but you will find the best Greek music in “Studio 52”, in the basement of house 52 on Dimitriu Gunari: a lot of old vinyl records and cassettes, but also a lot of good CDs; and in En Chordais, Hippodrome 3-4 is a traditional music school that also sells musical instruments. In terms of sound recordings, there is a good selection of folk and innovative recordings on the CD "Stereodisc" on Aristotelous 4 offers a good selection of rock as well as Greek music;

3). Wine- Although Thessaloniki is in northern Greece, they know how to grow grapes here, therefore, the city is rich in shops with many bottles, good and different, and you have the right to afford something from the drink that you are treated to in the ly Tsaritsani taverns on Avierina 9, at the dress of Athos; Ftukshcheshch on Dimitriu Gunari 42; and Reklos at Ayio Dimitriou 118, at the intersection with Ayias Sofias.

Neighborhood of Thessaloniki (Greece)

On weekends, citizens who want to escape from Thessaloniki head primarily to the Halkidiki peninsula, but the day is not enough to get to the best beaches of the peninsula. If you want to take a short break from the bustle of the city or take a walk through the hills and low mountain slopes, think about the villages close to Thessaloniki and even about the suburbs. And a little further - by car - on the way to Nea Moudania, you can drop into an outstanding cave near Petralona - and if you make contact with a local tour operator, then a half-day excursion is possible without your own transport.

• Places Panorama and Chortyatis in Greece

Panorama is 11 kilometers southeast of Thessaloniki, on a mountain slope. This is the name of the place closest to the city, where you can hide from this very city. And it does not deceive expectations in exact accordance with the name: the panorama contains both Thessaloniki and the bay approaching the city. Rebuilt after the Second World War, the place consists mainly of intricate villas, coffee shops and, in an American way, a huge modern shopping mall.

More tempting, of course, are the few but more old-fashioned cafes, taverns and zacharoplastia - these latter indulge customers with the first of the local delicacies - "trigona" (very sweet sweets with cream filling), as well as wonderful ice cream, which, in Turkish taste, is flavored with mastic and called the Turkish word "dondurma". In Panorama, there is bus number 58 from Dikastirion Plateau and, of course, you can take a taxi (about 5 € one way).

A more interesting place - another 11 kilometers further, but to the east (or 16 kilometers in a straight line from Thessaloniki) - is called Hortyatis. This is in a mountainous area known as Hylia Dendra (Thousand Trees), and from ancient times supplied Thessaloniki with water: next to the road, the ruins of an ancient aqueduct are still visible.

To get to Chortyatis from Thessaloniki, catch bus number 61: it picks up passengers disembarking from bus number 58 at the intersections from which both buses go to Panorama. Chortiatis has good views of Thessaloniki, a walk among the pines and some best-selling taverns. The glory of the Tsakis tavern, for example, is more than deserved, so in order not to be upset, book a table in advance, especially in summer.

• Petralona village in Greece

In 1959, residents of the village of Petralona, ​​50 kilometers southeast of Thessaloniki, were looking for water among the surrounding picturesque mountains, but stumbled upon a cave named Kokkines-Petres (Red Stones). In addition to impressive stalactites and stalagmites, peasants - and later professional scientists - discovered the fossilized bones of prehistoric animals and - the most amazing thing! - the skull of a Neanderthal: all this is exhibited in a museum arranged near the entrance to the cave.

Equipped with dioramas depicting prehistoric life, the cave is well worth a visit and can be visited on the way to the Kasandra peninsula - or returning from there. You will find the village of Petralona itself on the old Thessaloniki-Nea Moudania road, on the narrowest isthmus of the peninsula, about 4 kilometers north of Eleochoria. There is a small cafe on site. For a half day trip, you can contact Doucas Travel Collection in Thessaloniki.

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IN sunny Greece, in the territory administrative district Central Macedonia, on the coast of the Aegean Sea, surrounded by picturesque mountain ranges, is the resort city of Thessaloniki. A major cultural, tourist, economic, historical and religious center of the country. Tourists are attracted by its rich centuries-old history, a huge number of attractions and luxurious Greek beaches. Several eras can be traced in the architecture of the city - Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman. To soak up the golden Aegean beaches, wander through the ruins of Byzantine temples, admire the architectural monuments of the Middle Ages, millions of tourists from all over the world come every year.

History of occurrence

In the 3rd century BC, by order of the king of Macedonia, Cassander, a city was erected, which received the name of his beloved wife Thessaloniki. The Romans came here in the 2nd century BC. During the Byzantine era, the city flourished, having a favorable location and being at the intersection of the most important trade routes. At the beginning of the 13th century, power over Thessaloniki passed to the Latin Empire. Two decades later, he became part of the Kingdom of Epirus, and 20 years later he joined the Nicaean Empire. In the 14th century, the Greek Zealots ruled the city. At the end of the 14th century, a bloody war began with the Turks, after a long 4-year siege, Thessaloniki fell. After the legendary victory of Tamerlane over Turkey, the city returned to Byzantium. But not for long, 30 years passed, and Thessaloniki was again in the hands of the Ottomans. For several centuries, Greek rebels fought for freedom. Greece became independent only in 1830.

Sights of Thessaloniki

Rotunda of Saint George

In the 4th century, by order of the Roman emperor Galerius, a mausoleum was built, it was supposed to become his tomb. During the Ottoman Empire, it turned into a mosque. A century later, the mausoleum was converted into a Christian cathedral. This is a round building made of gray stone, more like a powerful defensive fortress. The building is decorated with unique stone bas-reliefs and antique arches; the top is crowned with a huge cone-shaped dome. The main temple hall is decorated with colorful mosaics. Previously, the figure of Christ was located on the dome, over time it disappeared, now only white-winged angels can be seen on it. At the beginning of the 19th century, an art museum was housed inside the cathedral. In 1978, an earthquake hit the city, and the temple was closed to the public.

White Tower

The symbol of the city, its hallmark is the White Tower. It is located in the center of the city embankment. The tower was built by the Ottoman conquerors as a defensive outpost. Within its walls there were prison premises where especially dangerous criminals were kept. For several centuries, the tower served as a sure defense for the Byzantine Empire. This is a tall, round building, made in the medieval Gothic style. Today, within its walls, there is a large historical museum dedicated to the Byzantine era. Its exposition includes ancient icons, beautiful frescoes and unique mosaics. On the top floor of the tower is a wonderful Observation deck and a small cozy cafe. From here opens great view to the sea and city landscapes. You can visit the museum for free. Opening hours: 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Aristotle Square

The most visited place in Thessaloniki is Aristotle's Square, the brainchild of the French architect Ernest Hébrard. Currently, a huge number of restaurants, bars and cafes are concentrated on its territory. Several architectural masterpieces with carved arches, windows and balconies, decorated with decorative ornaments and belonging to different time periods, lined up around the dense wall. Architecture lovers will definitely have something to see. In the center of the square stands a large sculpture of Aristotle. Nearby there is an amazing flower bed shaped like a clock.

Basilica of Saint Demetrius

St. Demetrius is the former ruler of Thessaloniki, the patron saint of this wonderful city. After his death, the Cathedral in his honor was erected on the territory of the city. In 1917, a big fire broke out in the city, destroying a huge number of historical and architectural monuments. Among them was the temple of Demetrius. Most of The building was damaged and it took a long time to restore. Today, a beautiful renovated building with a chapel adjoining it appears before the eyes of tourists. It is interesting that the interior decoration was practically not damaged and remained in its original form - ancient frescoes, unique wall paintings, mosaics. Currently, the temple is successfully functioning, a lot of religious events are held within its walls. Entrance to the building is completely free. Opening hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Tomb and Arch of Galerius

In honor of the great Roman commander Galerius, the Arc de Triomphe was built in the city, and a little later a tomb. With the arrival of the Ottomans, the mausoleum was rebuilt into a mosque. A minaret was attached to the main building. During its centuries-old history, part of the arch was destroyed. Today, on the pedestrian street of Thessaloniki rises stone structure, decorated with bas-reliefs and frescoes, striking in its power. You can admire this unique "piece" of history for free.

Archaeological Museum

The Museum of Archeology is incredibly popular among tourists. Three eras fit within its walls - Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman. The museum exhibits several thousand ancient artifacts - a statue of Harpocrates from the 2nd century BC, a golden larnax, attributes that were used in the burial of kings, medals, masks, jewelry, helmets and much more. The museum is open daily from 8:00 to 22:00, except Mondays. Ticket price - from 2 to 4 euros, depending on age.

Transport system of Thessaloniki

In the vicinity of the city there is a large international airport Macedonia, serving domestic and international flights. From Russia there is a direct flight Moscow - Thessaloniki. The duration of the journey is about 3 hours. Airfare - from 135 to 300 euros, depending on the season. The most common type of urban transport is the bus. The price of a ticket varies from 1 to 2 euros, depending on the distance. For tourists, a special bus route at number 50. It covers all of its most famous sights. The cost of such a trip is 2 euros.

A wide boulevard, Leoforos Nikis, leads straight to Lefkos Pyrgos (White Tower), symbol of Thessaloniki. Built in the 16th century during the period of Turkish rule by Venetian engineers, it was part of the old naval fortifications of the city. One of her nicknames (Bloody Tower) reminiscent of the times when it served as a prison. At the end of the 19th century, the Sultan ordered to whitewash it in the hope of erasing these sad memories. Now there is a small Byzantine museum.

Palace and Arch of Galeria

From the White Tower you can walk along Pavel Meli and Gunari streets to the ruins of the palace of the Roman emperor Galerius, who made the city his capital. A little further is the triumphal arch of Galerius. (Apse of Galeriu), erected in honor of his victory over the Persians in 297. Its lower part is decorated with magnificent bas-reliefs. Nearby, the charming Byzantine church of Sotira nestles against the skyscrapers.

Rotunda of Saint George

This building, whose name reflects its domed structure, rises slightly above triumphal arch. It was built in the 4th century as a mausoleum for Emperor Galerius, then turned into a church, and later, during the Turkish period, into a mosque. You will see here recently restored beautiful mosaics of the 4th century.

House of Ataturk

Acropolis

The Acropolis of Thessaloniki is dotted with picturesque houses and small gardens. Its northeastern part adjoins the Turkish quarter. You can see the ancient fortress walls and enjoy a beautiful view of the city and the bay. The dilapidated castle on the summit is called Eptapyrgo; it is currently a prison - don't get too close to it.

Byzantine churches

Like its Istanbul namesake, Hagia Sophia (Agia Sophia), most definitely dating from the 8th century, was erected as a symbol of reverence for Divine wisdom. Note the mosaics and column capitals, possibly taken from an earlier building.

A few blocks north you will see the Basilica of Panagia Archiropithos, one of the oldest Christian buildings in Thessaloniki. Be sure to consider its Ionic and Corinthian capitals. Nearby, on the corner of Platia Dikastirion Square, is the small cruciform brick church of Panagia Halkeon, one of the first sanctuaries in Thessaloniki. (1028) .

Markets

Opposite Panagia Chalkeon is a huge and incredibly lively food market Stoa Modiano. On the other side of Ponos Dragumi Street, next to the old Hamza Bay mosque, now abandoned, is the Bedesten indoor clothing market - a former Turkish bazaar.

Agios Dimitrios

Overhanging Platia Dikastirion, Thessaloniki's largest Byzantine church is a replica of a 5th-century basilica that was destroyed by fire in 1917. It has many Roman columns. In the crypt you can see the remains of the former sanctuary built on the burial site of the martyr Demetrius, the ruins of the Roman baths, where he was imprisoned and executed, and the early Christian baptistery.

Dodeca Apostles

Following Agiou Dimitriou street in a northwesterly direction, you will reach the secluded church of Dodeka Apostoloi (XIV century). Its interior is a brilliant example of late Byzantine art. The mosaics are beautiful, but the frescoes are in a deplorable state.

Archaeological Museum

If you intend to visit only one museum in Thessaloniki, choose this one. It is located next to the International Trade Fair, not far from the White Tower, and displays items (from the Stone Age to the Byzantine era) found in Northern Greece. Among them are samples of ceramics, weapons, sculptures, glassware, mosaics, etc. The highlight of the exhibition are funeral offerings, silver and bronze vases and gold jewelry found in the Macedonian tombs of the era of Alexander the Great and his father Philip II.

Museum of Byzantine Culture

This museum is housed in a modern building near Archaeological Museum and demonstrates the importance of Thessaloniki from the early Christian era until the capture of the city by the Turks. Icons, including many very old ones (XIV century), coexist with stone objects of worship, sculptures, ornaments, mosaics and medieval embroideries.

Should know

The emblem of the city is Lefkos Pyrgos (White Tower)- round fort of the 15th century. in the harbour. During the years of the Ottoman Empire, the tower became a symbol of repression and terror, as it was a prison and a place of executions. When the city gained independence from Ottoman rule, the townspeople whitewashed the tower in a ritual cleansing act. Lefkos Pyrgos is no longer a white tower, but it remains a symbol of freedom for all residents of the city.