 | START POINT: White Tower The symbolic monument of Thessaloniki Fortification tower from the 15th century A.D., 30 metres high. Today it operates as a Museum of History of Thessaloniki.
Opposite the White Tower is the architecturally unique building of the Society of Macedonian Studies which houses a permanent painting exhibition and the National Theatre of Northern Greece. Next to the bus stop is the Royal Theatre, an annex of the National Theatre of Northern Greece. | Stop 1: Museums Here you will find the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, with invaluable archaeological treasures from the Prehistoric, Classic, Hellenistic and Roman eras of Thessaloniki and a wider region of Macedonia.
At the junction of 3rd September St and Stratou Ave is the Museum of Byzantine Culture, with an exhibition of historical and religious relics as well as objects from the Early Christian, Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Eras.
At the junction of Tsimiski, Nikolaou Germanou and Angelaki Streets stands the traditional building of the Thessaloniki branch of YMCA. Opposite this lies the south entrance to the Thessaloniki International Exhibition Centre (HELXPO) with the OTE Tower and the Macedonian Museum of Modern Art, the first modern art museum in Greece. |  |  | Stop 2: Palace of Galerius-Esperos On Al.Svolou St. is Ippodromiou Square with archaeological findings from the Roman Hippodrome.
This is also where the liveliest square in the city is Navarinou Square, with the Palace of Galerius, a Roman Emperor during the period of Roman Tetrarcy. | Stop 3: Church of Agia Sofia Next to the bus stop you will see one of the most important Byzantine Orthodox monuments: the Church of Agia Sofia built at the end of the 7th century A.D. At Agias Sofias St., near Egnatia Str., you can visit the Early Christian Orthodox Church of Panagia Aceiropiitos. |  |  | Stop 4: Aristotelous Square Aristotelous Square is the heart of Thessaloniki, the most important square in the city, with a view of the Thermaic Gulf.
Stop for some ouzo and traditional Thessaloniki snacks in the most famous market of Thessaloniki, Modiano Market, which is situated here. The first suggested walking route begins here, leading to the traditional area of Ladadika and the Port with the old warehouses and the Cinema Museum. | Stop 5: Town Hall On Egnatia St is the Byzantine Church of Panagia Halkeon, built in the 11th century A.D.
At the junction of Egnatia and Venizelou streets is the Hamza Bei Mosque, today known as the Alkazar, an Islamic monument built in 1468 A.D. Directly opposite, at the junction of Venizelou and Solomou Streets, is the Skepasti Agora Market (Bezesteni), according to travelers in the 16th century A.D. this was the most beautiful market in the Balkans at the time. Stop 6: Dioikitirio Here you will see the Dioikitirio (government house), a building with particularly unique architecture built in 1891 A.D. Today it houses the Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace. Directly opposite lies Dioikitiriou Square with findings from the Ancient and Roman Periods.
The second suggested walking route begins here, heading towards Palaiopoleia and the Ancient Agora and ending at the Church of Agios Dimitrios and other historical monuments of the area. | Stop 7: Agios Dimitrios You must visit one of the most beautiful Christian churches standing today: the Church of Agios Dimitrios, the patron saint and protector of Thessaloniki who was martyred here. Built in the 5th century A.D. and reconstructed later after being looted and destroyed, it has been declared a Global Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Too the right, heading towards the sea, you will find the Ancient Agora. This was the social, religious and commercial centre of the city in the Hellenistic and Roman Eras.
From Agios Dimitrios via Agiou Nikolaou and Kassandrou streets you can also visit monuments from the Ottoman period, the Yeni Hamam (Aigli cinema) and the Alatza Imaret. |  |  | Stop 8: Koule Kafe On Ioulianou St, to the right just before Olympiados St., is the Church of Panagia Lagoudianis, the main church of the homonymous nunnery in the Byzantine Period. As the bus moves towards the Upper City, another era comes alive before you. As well as the monuments, you will see many parts of the traditional city grid, with narrow cobbled streets and the unique simple and elegant buildings of traditional Macedonian architecture. Take a walk around the area known as Koule Kafe and visit the Byzantine baths, built in the 13th century A.D, and the Church of Osios David, a church from the Early Christian period built in the late 5th century A.D. | Stop 9: Taxiarchon Here you will find yourself in the Old City. Built within the walls, with many Byzantine churches and monasteries, this area emits an air of another time.
It is worth visiting the Church of the Taxiarches, built in the 14th century A.D., which was turned into a mosque during the Ottoman occupation. Stop 10: Upper City-Keladis In ancient times, this is where the city’s citadel was situated, where the population fled to in the event of danger from attacks. From this point you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city! Stop 11: Trigonio Tower-Ag.Anargyroi On Eptapyrgiou St you can marvel at the Byzantine fortification walls built by Theodosios the Great in the 4th century A.D., one of the most important sights in the city. They were approximately 7 km long (today they have been limited to 3 km) and the height varied between 8.30 m and 10.50 m. the walls end at the Trigonio Tower, one of the three strongest fortresses, at the north-eastern corner of the walls. This was built by the Ottomans to strengthen the existing Byzantine fortifications. The view from the tower is incredible!
The prominence of the route into the city via the first Portara (Gate) at the northern point of the city is indicated by the Eptapyrgio, known as Genti Koule, the last point of defence, with strong walls and seven towers. It has an impressive entrance, created by the first Ottomans in 1431 A.D and the whole fortress reflected the perceptions of fortification during the years of the Byzantine Komnenos and Palaiologos dynasties. |  | Stop 12: Vlatadon Monastery- Platanos Going through the 2nd Portara you can visit the unique Byzantine monastery of Thessaloniki, Vlatadon Monastery, which has been preserved along with its invaluable library and rare documents. You can also marvel at an incredible view of the city and the Thermaic Gulf from the monastery’s courtyard. | Stop 13: Pasha Gardens-Agios Pavlos The point of interest on the left is the Gardens of Pasha, a typical oasis of greenery in the city. The name is probably traditional, as they have not been identified with any Turkish dignitary. Stop 14: Eastern Walls- Hospital Descending back into the city you will see the impressive Eastern Walls of the Old City which extended as far as the White Tower. | Stop 15: Rotonda-University To the left of Ethikis Amynis St is the University Campus and its oldest building, the school of Philosophy. The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki was founded in the inter-war period and is the leading intellectual institution in the city.
To your right you can marvel at the Rotonda, a circular building as implied by its name. It was built in the time of the Emperor Galerius, in the first decade of the 4th century A.D.
It is on the same axis as the processional route which connected it to the triumphal Arch of Galerius, the famous Kamara and the imperial palace.
The third suggested walking route starts here for a tour of the historic monuments referred to above as well as the nearby religious monuments of Panagouda, Agios Panteleimon, Panagia Dexia (with its famous icon of the Virgin), the Church of Ypapanti etc. |  | END OF ROUTE: White Tower At the end of the route we suggest a walk along the sea front of the city. In the late afternoon you can enjoy an incredibly beautiful sunset and from the White Tower you can see the city from a different angle, that of the sea.
We hope you enjoy your journey through time on the Historical Monuments of Thessaloniki route. | |
|
