HolidayCity Hotels
Home
All Hotels
Travel Guide
Contest
Newsletter
Help
About HolidayCity
Logon to my Account
Search for Hotels
Email to my Friends

 

Chat with our Customer Service Officer

Thessaloniki HotelsThessaloniki Greece Hotel Accommodation

 

Thessaloniki: Things To See & Do

 

 

Archeological Museum of Thessaloniki

White Tower

Aghia Sofia

Aghios Dimitrios

 

The Arch of Galerius

Rotunda  

Byzantine Museum

 

 

 

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.

 


 

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.

 


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 that adorn it.

 


 

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.

 


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.

 


 

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.

 


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.

 

 

 

Disclaimer: While HolidayCity makes every effort to ensure the information above is accurate, we cannot guarantee that the information will not be changed by the the relevant authorities responsible without notice. Please check with the relevant authorities beforehand.