Thessaloniki - capital of Macedonia, Greece

Macedonia, in north of Greece, ancient home of Alexander the Great, offers several well-known vacation destinations: Thessaloniki, Halkidiki, and Thassos. Capital of Macedonia, Thessaloniki was established in 316 B.C. by Kassandros and named after his wife, Thessaloniki, sister of Alexander the Great. The unique charm of this city comes from its large avenues, many parks and squares.
Perhaps not so famous but with a historical heritage equal to and probably more diverse than Athens, Thessaloniki is Greece's second largest city and has some of the best all-inclusive hotels of the country. Situated on Gulf of Thermaikos in Aegean Sea, the city is a strategic trading port for northern Greece and Balkans. It's also renowned for universities and colleges that attract students from all over Europe.

Vacation attractions & all-inclusive hotels

As a main travel destination, the city has a plenty of accommodation types, from luxury all-inclusive hotels and villas to cheap apartments. Thessaloniki has a rich cultural heritage, dating back many centuries. There are references to Thessaloniki in the New Testament, from which the most famous are St Paul's letters to Thessalonians, one of the oldest records of Christian literature.
The "White Tower" is the symbol of Thessaloniki. It overlooks the city's waterfront and is considered the city's most important historical site. The tower was built in 15 century and served as prison during the Ottoman Empire's occupation of Greece, from 1430 to 1912. During this time it was known as "The Bloody Tower". After Thessaloniki was liberated the tower was whitewashed as a symbolic gesture of freedom.
At the foot of White Tower mementos and memorabilia of the building are sold, as well as postcards and souvenirs from entire Greece. There are also photographers who will make you a picture with the White Tower in the background...
Walking is really the best way to get around Thessaloniki, because there are many attractions to see and most of the historical sites are within close proximity. There are also plenty of taverns, restaurants and coffee shops.
Over the last two thousand years in Thessaloniki were more earthquakes, so Thessaloniki has been rebuilt several times. This is noticeable when you looking at some of shops, which are accessible from street but are located below the street level. After this eartquakes, many churches remain standing, but are also accessible via stairs leading down to their entrances.
At short distance from the tower is the next historical sight. Surrounded by luxury hotels, high-rise apartments, shops, taverns and restaurants are brick walls and arches rising from the ground. The name of the place is "Galerius' Palace" and it was home of the Roman emperor whit the same name. Built at the beginning of the 4 century A.D. for emperor Galerius, the site is now protected. Galerius' Palace extends close to the walls of the blocks surrounding the site, so it's not hard to imagine how much from palace has been covered by modern architecture...
Near Galerius' Palace is a another vacation attraction for travelers, the splendid "Arch of Galerius". Built to commemorate the Emperor's victory over Persians in 297 B.C., the stone arch contains carvings celebrating the battle. Behind the arch it's a massive circular stone structure with a huge domed roof. This building, called "Rotunda", was built for Galerius too. It's thought that it became a christian church during the reign of emperor Constantine, 20 years after death of Galerius. It's believed to be the oldest Christian church in Greece and even one of the oldest in the world!
Covering over two hectares, the "Roman Forum" is a another reminder of Thessaloniki's rich history. Situated almost two meters below the street level of modern Thessaloniki, the Forum was build around 297 A.D. There are stone benches along three sides, overlooking a large open area. Two arcades are situated on the opposite sides of the Forum, a few meters lower than the arena floor. This was a market place and it's easy to see where the ancient Greeks traded their goods. Pieces of an enormous ceramic vat have been restored and the result is displayed at the entrance to the market.
North of the Roman Forum is located the most important from the 57 churches of Thessaloniki - Agios Demetrious. The church was destroyed by two fires, in the 16 century and 1916. The church from today was restored in 1947 and some of the original marble pillars that survived the fires are still present and bear faint smudges of smoke as testimony to the flames that destroyed the earlier church. This monument is filled with exquisite ornaments and beautiful paintings of Saint Demetrious, the Patron Saint of Thessaloniki and former commander of the Roman forces occupying Thessaloniki. The legend say that in 303 A.D. the Emperor ordered Demetrious to execute all Christians living in Thessaloniki. Because Demetrious was Christian too, he refused the order and consequently was martyred. In church is a display of his remains, as well as a crypt. The crypt belongs to the original church and is really fascinating. It consists of a series of rooms containing the original fount and altar.
Other important churches from Thessaloniki include Agios Sofia, Agios Katerina and the church of the Holy Apostles. All contain excellent examples of mosaics, wall paintings and relics of the Byzantine era.

Tour of Thessaloniki & museums

Thessaloniki features a number of museums that are full of information about the history of the entire Macedonian area, as well as the cultures from this region. The Museum of the Macedonian Struggle contains information and detailed displays of the area's struggles, specifically concentrating on years before 1912. The Archaeological Museum contains treasures of the Hellenistic era and information about Alexander the Great. The Byzantine Museum contains many relics from that era and includes a few marble tombs.
Thessaloniki has a proud literary history and today hosts events such as "Thessaloniki International Fair" and "Thessaloniki International Film Festival".
The market from Thessaloniki is a another exciting place for a visit during your vacation. Centered along several streets, the vendors expose their wares in front of the old buildings. Travelers find here many souvenirs and there are also a number of shops selling memorabilia from Thessaloniki.
During a tour of Thessaloniki is much to see and to do... The Greek cuisine is one of the best in the world and dining in Greece is really an enjoyable experience. Beside excellent all-inclusive hotels, in Thessaloniki are many restaurants offering a good selection of traditional Greek and Mediterranean food.
The city is really lively at night, with many nightclubs, bars, and restaurants staying open all night long. You'll find also excellent cinemas and theatres.
Thessaloniki is maybe a city of contrasts, but is one of the most fascinating places you'll ever see and it's one of the most important historical places in Europe - so start planning your next vacation in Thessaloniki by renting a room in one of the comfortable all-inclusive hotels of the city!