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Optional trip to Thessaloniki city - Pieria

Thessaloníki or Salonika, city and port, northeastern Greece, one of the largest cities of Greece and the chief port and commercial center of Macedonia in Greece. The city is the capital of Thessaloníki Department, at the northern end of the Gulf of Thermaïkós.

Principal employers in the city include iron foundries, shipyards, and textile and flour mills; major exports are mineral ores and tobacco.

The city is also the seat of the Aristotle University of Thessaloníki (1925).

THESSALONIKI ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES:

Ihe Palace of Galerius (300 A.D.) at Navarino Square.
Roman Market and Theatre - Ruins standing at the Law Court Square (Dikastiria).
Roman Baths - North of the church of Agios Dimitrios.
Nymphaion - An elegant monopteral, circular building.
Vergina - the ancient site of Aigai and the first capital of Macedonia has extensive ruins including the tomb of Phillip and the summer palace of King Antigonas Gonatas. Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 to 3:30 but stays open until 7 in the summer.

THESSALONIKI MONUMENTS - CHURCHES:
Galerian Arch (Kamara) erected shortly before 305 A.D.
The Rotonda, a domed building of early 4th century A.D., served as a Pantheum or as a Mausoleum for emperor Galerius. Now the church of Saint George. Was a mosque during the Turkish occupation and the minaret still stands.
Church of Ossios David (late 5th century A.D.), the chapel of the Latomos Convent , an early Christian church that still stand in Thessaloniki's Turkish quarter known as Epimenidou or Kastra.
The City Walls were erected during the time of Theodossios the Great to guard the city from Democracy Square of nowadays across Eptapyrgio up to the site later occupied by the White Tower, a work of the architect Sinan (first half of 16th century).
Agios Dimitrios, was completely rebuilt in 1948 according the original plans. The church has been destroyed twice before by fire.
The Crypt, the most easterly section of the Bath, is the place where St Demetrios was imprisoned, tortured and buried.
Agia Sofia (8th century) marks the transition from the domed basilica to the domed crusiform church is a copy of the original Agia Sophia in Constantinople..
Panagia Halkeon, a cruciform church, was built in 1028 A.D. according an inscription of that era.
Agia Ekaterini (13th century) is very well preserved externally, with traces of frescoes inside.
Agfi Apostoli (14th century) retains a rich decoration both externally and in the interior, dating at the time of the Byzantine Pateologos imperial dynasty.
Agios Nikolaos Orfanos (14th century), 20 Irodotou Str. tel. 213.627 richly decorated with frescoes in the 17th century it became the chapel of Vlatadon Monastery.
Profitis Ilias was built in 1360 upon the ruins of a Byzantine palace by the monk Makarios Houmnos.
The post-Byzantine era has also left in Thessaloniki an important number of churches.

The past and present merge at old taverns, "ouzeries", restaurants next to hotels and luxury bars, "bouzouki halls" (Thessaloniki is the cradle of modern Greek popular song, "rembetika"), cinema halls, theaters and sidewalk cafes on street pavements and squares. Small family run taverns and basement pastry shops offer a delicious variety of famous Macedonian specialties, next to stalls of ice-cream sellers for busy pedestrians.

The main squares are Platia Elefterias and Platia Aristotelous, both on the waterfront and alive with cafes and restaurants, children playing or people just strolling. This is the place to be in the summer at sunset if you enjoy people watching. Afterwards walk a few blocks to the Ladadika neighborhood, the old Red Light district (and before that the Egyptian market and later the oil market from where it got its name) which is to Thessaloniki as Psiri is to Athens, full of ouzeries, bars, cafes and bistro-style restaurants and tavernas.

Platamonas - Great food - Great fun - Exciting night life - Best prices - Perfect Greece vacation