The city was founded in 315 BC by King Cassander of Macedonia, on a site of old monuments going back to 2300 BC. It was called after his better half Thessalonica, who was Alexander the Great's sis. For many years, Thessaloniki has actually suffered invasions by lots of cultures, including Slavs, Arabs, Saraces, Normans, Catalans, Turks and Nazis. It is testimony to the strength of this city that it has actually prevailed through each incursion, with its ancient Byzantine monuments undamaged.

I reside in a small town simply outside Thessaloniki. All my life I 'd read books and short articles that had waxed lyrical about Greece's culture, its stunning weather condition, best place to stay in athens the sunshine and the beaches. Due to the fact that Greece is a popular vacation destination winter is never ever pointed out. Only when I moved here in August 2003 did I find that snow is not unusual, especially in Northern Greece. Greece's winter ranges from November to March, and the temperature can drop listed below freezing.

Parking is at a premium in Thessaloniki, which boasts much of the charm of a historic city. Narrow streets with cobblestone pavements are a typical feature - fantastic to stroll through but not very easy when driving a big motor cars and truck! Thessalonians park their vehicles everywhere - on pavements, street corners and in "no parking" zones, because there is simply inadequate parking. Double and triple parallel parking is a common sight. There are a few municipal parking areas, and these are positioned close to the locations of interest around the city.

The White Tower is the symbol of Thessaloniki. It ignores the city's waterside, and is thought about the city's most important historical site. It looks like a huge rook chess piece and it is grey in colour - not white. The tower was integrated in the fifteenth century, and served as a prison during the Ottoman Empire's occupation of Greece, from 1430 to 1912. Throughout this time it was called "The Bloody Tower". When the inmates were carried out the bodies were positioned at the top of the tower, so the blood would diminish the sides as a fearsome tip to the Thessalonians of the power of their intruders. After Thessaloniki was liberated, the Tower was made light of as a symbolic gesture of cleaning. We were informed that a Jewish prisoner painted the tower all by himself to get his liberty, however were not had the ability to corroborate this rather "romantic" story.

Today the White Tower is a museum. We approached the top, using the stone staircase that winds its method up and around the inside of the structure. There are 3 levels on the journey up, in addition to benches situated near the windows for unsuited visitors that require to rest throughout the climb. The steps are neither steep nor narrow; there are simply rather a great deal of them! The view is well worth the climb, managing a 360 degree radius over the sea and the city as far as the eye can see. On a clear day Mount Olympus is quickly visible.

At the foot of the White Tower keepsakes and souvenirs of the building are sold, along with postcards and souvenirs of Greece. There are also professional photographers who will take an image of visitors with The White Tower in the background. Strolling is truly the best method to get around Thessaloniki, because there's so much to see, and the majority of the archaeological site are within close proximity to each other. There are dozens of must see in athens pharmacies, in addition to shops offering clothes, toys, stationery and antiques. There are likewise a lot of dining establishments and pavement cafeterias. It makes a see to Thessaloniki town very enjoyable indeed.

There have actually been a variety of earthquakes in the area over the last two thousand years, which indicates that Thessaloniki has actually been rebuilt several times, on top of the ruins of the previous city. This is obvious when taking a look at a few of the stores, which although available from the street, are located listed below street level. Lots of churches have withstood the earthquakes and remain standing, available through stairs leading down to their entryways from the street. The last earthquake was in 1978.

Three blocks from the tower is the next historic sight, a clear illustration of what the city resembled two millennia earlier. Surrounded by high-rise houses, street level shops and dining establishments, we approached what seemed a vacant plot in the centre of the city. As we drew closer we saw brick walls and arches rising from the ground. When we got to the fence around the location we were astonished to look down upon a maze of ruins. To discover this in the middle of modern-day Thessaloniki was really interesting. Its name is Galerius' Palace, and it was the house of the Roman Emperor of the exact same name.

Built at the start of the 4th century AD for Emperor Galerius - he ruled the location between 305 and 311 ADVERTISEMENT, the website is now protected, and presently going through extensive repair. Designers are dealing with the website, and visitors can explore the ruins using designated paths. There is a great deal of information about the palace on boards put up along the courses. A few of the complex mosaic flooring tiles are still in place, and we were able to identify restrooms and an extremely advanced drain system. Galerius' Palace reaches the extremely walls of the apartment or condo obstructs surrounding the website, so it's not hard to imagine how much of the palace has actually been covered by contemporary architecture.

2 blocks from Galerius' Palace is the magnificent Arch of Galerius. Developed to commemorate the Emperor's triumph over the Persians in 297 BC, the stone arch contains carvings celebrating the fights. It's a testimony to great architecture that this structure has actually survived two thousand years and the earthquakes that have wrecked Thessaloniki. An info board beside the arch informed us it was a part of 4 entrances positioned where the ritualistic roadway from the palace complex met the city's busiest thoroughfare.

Behind the arch we saw a huge circular stone structure with a substantial domed roof. This building, the Rotunda, was again built for Galerius, and appears to have actually been his place of worship. It is believed that it became a Christian Church throughout the reign of Emperor Constantine, some 20 years after Galerius' death. Although this building is likewise being restored, we were able to stroll within. There are platforms on two levels just above the ground. The roof is clearly visible when entering the building and searching for. There are recesses available off the ground flooring, with intricate mosaic tiles on the ceilings. Once again, it's amazing that this enormous structure has actually remained standing through the centuries and forces of nature. It is believed to be the oldest Christian church in Greece, and among the earliest worldwide.

Even More up Egnatia Street is a green park, loaded with benches, cool flower beds and trees. When we saw a fence surrounding a large location our interest was piqued - keeping in mind Galerius Palace we rushed towards it.

Covering over 2 hectares, the Roman Forum is yet another reminder of Thessaloniki's abundant history. Positioned nearly 2 metres listed below the street level of modern-day Thessaloniki, the Forum was build around 297 ADVERTISEMENT. There are stone benches along 3 sides, neglecting a big open area which brought to mind impressions of gladiators and lions. 2 arcades are positioned on opposite sides of the Online forum, a couple of metres lower than the arena flooring. This was a market location, and it's simple to see where punters would have traded their products. Pieces of a huge ceramic barrel have been brought back, and this is shown at the entryway to the marketplace. We approximated this most likely held more than 5 hundred litres of wine - enough for an actually severe celebration! On the 4th side of the Online forum are the unspoiled ruins of what appears like merchants' spaces or meeting venues. Regretfully the restoration underway on this website means we have actually been denied access to this area of the Forum because 2003. On the same site is a building that housed the Roman Baths. This is well presented with a lot of the initial bathroom fittings, and is well worth going to.

North of the Roman Forum is the most crucial of the city's 57 churches. Agios Demetrious has been gutted by 2 fires, the very first in the 16th century and the second in 1916. The church we see today was brought back in 1947, and a few of the initial marble pillars that survived the fires are still standing and bear faint smudges of smoke as testimony to the infernos that ruined the earlier church. It has lots of splendid ornaments and gorgeous paintings of Saint Demetrious. He is the Tutelary Saint of Thessaloniki, and was leader of the Roman forces occupying Thessaloniki. In 303 AD the Emperor purchased Demetrious to carry out all Christians residing in Thessaloniki. Since Demetrious was a Christian, he declined, and was martyred. There is a holy display screen of his remains in the church, along with a crypt beneath the church through which visitors can walk. The crypt is the original church, and is fascinating. It consists of a series of rooms containing the original fount and altar. Other essential churches include Agios Sofia, Agios Katerina and the Church of the Holy Apostles. All include outstanding examples of mosaics, wall paintings and antiques of the Byzantine period. I admit it is rather troubling to see security guards seated inside a couple of the churches, and they were not hoping. With so many antique artefacts around security is undoubtedly a top priority.

There are a variety of museums in Thessaloniki that have lots of info about the history of the entire Macedonian area, as well as the cultures that have been a part of this region. We checked out the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle, which consists of information and detailed displays of the location's battles, specifically focusing on the thirty years prior to 1912. The Archaeological Museum contains treasures of the Hellenistic era and Alexander the Great. The display screens are very well shown and information boards offer extensive details of each product, its use and where it was found. The Byzantine Museum includes many antiques from that era, and consists of a variety of marble burial places. There are other museums, covering subjects such as theatre, movie theater and Greek folklore. Thessaloniki has a happy literary history, and today hosts occasions such as the Thessaloniki International Fair and the Thessaloniki International Movie Celebration.

The marketplace is another interesting place. Centred along a number of streets the vendors ply their products in front of some old, rather shabby buildings. This merely contributes to the appeal of the market, and shoppers can purchase a vast array of items from the many sales points. Butcheries, fishmongers, veggie grocers and clothing shops are plentiful, with sellers venturing outside their stores to lure shoppers. The costs are truly excellent, and customers can pick various kinds of olives and olive oil in addition to cheese and spices. Travelers are well catered for here, and there are a number of shops offering Thessaloniki memorabilia. And I have actually had a few of my best meals at the taverns in the Thessaloniki Market!

There is much to see and perform in Thessaloniki, and I know I have actually only covered the most popular functions. The cuisine in Greece is amongst the best on the planet, and eating in restaurants is a really pleasurable experience. There are many restaurants all over Thessaloniki, using a good choice of standard Greek and Mediterranean food. There are likewise a number of International fast food outlets, such as MacDonald's and Appleby's. The city is truly dynamic at night, with numerous clubs, bars and dining establishments staying open all night long. There are exceptional cinemas and theatres, as well as a planetarium.

Thessaloniki may be a city of contrasts, but through the ages she has kept her identity, and is one of the most fascinating locations I have ever gone to. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to see things to do in athens very first hand some of the most essential historical places in Europe, if not the world.

Any visitor going to Athens, this lovely ancient city, will naturally visit the Castle and its unspoiled marble structures, which is a must-see while in Athens. It is a good walking from the base up to the leading where you can see the ruins.

The views from the top are extraordinary and you can capture a good breeze on a hot day. Also in August, numerous archeological websites in Greece stay open late for a full moon celebration and if you are fortunate enough to be there on that time, you'll have the opportunity to go to the Acropolis and the Parthenon under the light of the moon, while being surrounded by numerous classical musicians and opera singers.

Parthenon: The most Holy Temple

The architects Iktinos and Kallikrates are pointed out in History as the developers of Parthenon, the most well-known Greek temple, which was integrated in honour of Goddess Athena, the protector of the city of Athens. Admission to all getting involved websites is typically totally free and the public might go to from 7 pm to 1:30 am while some sites close as late as 3 am.

The New Castle Museum

Located at the foot of the Acropolis, the modern-day museum's five-stories of outside glass walls reflect images of the Parthenon and surrounding ruins. The museum is the new house for numerous statues from the Archaic and Classical periods, but the Parthenon Gallery on the top floor is the museum's showcase The Acropolis Museum is a historical museum focused on the findings of the historical site of the Acropolis. The museum was built to house every artifact discovered on the rock and on its feet, from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece. It also lies on the historical site of Makrygianni and the ruins of a part of Roman and early Byzantine city. It opened to the public on June 21, 2009. Almost 4,000 objects are displayed over a location of 14,000 square metres.