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Archeological Museum
of Thessaloniki
One
of the major archeological museums in Greece, it houses an extensive
collection of artifacts dating from as far back as the Neolithic all the
way to the late Roman period.
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White Tower
Once
known as the Bloody Tower and now the city's most famous landmark, it is
in many ways similar to the Tower of London; built originally as a
defensive structure, it later gained a reputation as an infamous prison
and execution ground. Nowadays, it is very atmospheric museum,
displaying a collection of artworks showcasing the history and culture
of the city.
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Aghia Sofia
Built
in the 8th century and modelled on the Aghia Sofia in Istanbul, this
magnificent Christian Church is known not only for its resemblance to
its eastern sister, but also for the superb mosaics and wall paintings
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Aghios Dimitrios
This church is most notable
for holding the
crypt of the martyr Aghios Demetrios, the patron saint of Thessaloniki.
It is said that when he was martyred on the cross with a spear, he did
not bleed but exuded a perfumed oil. The church is built over the Romans
baths where he was originally jailed and though it was mostly destroyed
by the great fire of 1918, it was completely rebuilt in the image of the
original.
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The Arch of Galerius
Once part of the Galerius
palace complex, this triumph arc was built to
celebrate Galerius Caesar's victory over the Persians in 297 AD. It once
was part of a ceremonial avenue that connected the palace to the
Rotunda, and is carved with marble reliefs depicting scenes from the
battle. Today, it is a popular meeting spot for the locals.
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Rotunda
Originally built in
306 AD to serve as the tomb of Galerius Caesar. It was however never
used for this purpose, and stood empty until Emperor Constantine 1
ordered it to be converted to a Christian church, dedicated to St.
George. When the city fell to the Ottomans, it then became the Mosque of
Suleyman Hortaji Effendi and a minaret was added. It was reconverted
back to a Christian church when the Greeks captured the city during the
Balkan war, though the minaret remains. Today, it is also known as the
Greek Orthodox Church of Agios Giorgios, or the Church of the Rotonda.
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Byzantine Museum
Generally considered to have
the finest collection of Byzantine art in Greece, this museum's superb
exhibits include priceless icons, jewellery, manuscripts and other
similar artifacts - well worth a visit if you're at all interested in
the Byzantine Empire and its culture.
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