Attractions of Thessaloniki – photo with names and description
Looking for an interesting vacation spot? Do you want to combine a beach holiday with memorable excursions? Then pay attention to the cradle of Greek culture, the museum city of Thessaloniki. It is not for nothing that this particular settlement is recognized as the second most important and tourist attraction after Athens. Yes, and it is inferior to the capital except in terms of size and population. Today we will talk about the most striking sights of Thessaloniki, we will try to take a short walk through the historical and cultural places that still remember the discoveries of the brilliant Greeks, the bloody battles with the Roman legions and the devastating raids of the warriors of the Ottoman Empire.
White Tower
One of the most famous and striking sights of the Greek city is the White Tower. The building is located in the waterfront area and has a second name – the Bloody Tower, which it owes because of the execution of several hundred people. The Turks created the tower as part of a defensive wall for the city, later criminals were kept in its dungeons awaiting a court verdict.
Today, the tower is not only a striking landmark, but also has the status of a museum. Visitors are invited not only to look into its most secret corners, walk along the corridors and stairs, but also enjoy the aromatic Greek cuisine served in the local cafe, which was given to the observation deck. As for the collection located here, almost all the exhibits belong to the Byzantine era. At the moment, visiting the tower is absolutely free. To get to the sights from anywhere in the city, just tell the taxi driver the address End Nikis Av, GR 54621. Visitors are welcome here daily from 8:30 to 15:00.
Aristotle Square
One of the most popular places not only for tourists to visit, but also for meetings of local residents, is Aristotle's Square. The landmark was designed by the architect E. Ebrard in 1917 due to the need to restore the city after a catastrophic fire. Today, there are numerous cafes and restaurants on the square, where guests of the city like to spend their time.
In addition, connoisseurs and connoisseurs of bright architecture will be able to enjoy brilliant works of art from various historical periods and architectural trends. In particular, almost every square meter is decorated with carved balconies, arches and other decorative elements. Of particular interest is the flower bed, made in the form of a clock that shows real time. And, of course, the square is decorated with a huge statue of Aristotle. Numerous tourists rush not only to take pictures with the ancient philosopher, but also to hold on to his left toe. According to local belief, this simple action will surely make you smarter. It is not surprising that the finger is honed to a shine… The square is located at Platia Aristotelous 2-8 Thessaloniki. As you may have guessed, admission is free around the clock.
Basilica of Saint Demetrius
Moving on, the next attraction that we strongly recommend to include in your itinerary is the Cathedral in honor of St. Demetrius, who is the patron saint of Thessaloniki. According to history, Demetrius of Thessalonica was the ancient ruler of the city and died a martyr in the first century, defending his Christian views. Four centuries later, a temple was erected in his honor, in which the remains of the patron saint are still kept today. In addition, the belongings of another believing holy martyr, Anisia of Thessalonica, are also kept here.
It is worth noting that tourists will not be able to see the temple in its original form, because in 1917 the basilica was almost completely destroyed by fire. Restoration work continued from 1926 to 1948, as a result of which the masters managed to completely restore the frescoes and inscriptions on the walls, and some supports and internal decorative elements remained practically unscathed and needed only surface restoration. Since then, the temple has been used again for its intended purpose, worship is regularly held in it, and at the end of the last century, the object was included in the UNESCO heritage list. For tourists and believers, the entrance to the temple is free. Visitors are welcome at: Agiou Nikolaou 2-10 daily from 8 am to 8 pm. You can take part in the service.
Arch and Tomb Gallery
As you may have guessed, there are many attractions in Thessaloniki dedicated to historical and cultural figures, saints and generals, discoverers and philosophers. Another such object is the Triumphal Arch of the commander Galerius, which was erected in honor of one of the most striking victories over the army of the Sasadian kingdom. In addition to the arch itself, a tomb was erected for the great commander, in which Galerius found his last refuge. Depending on who came to power in Thessaloniki, the purpose of the architectural complex and its individual structures changed. At first, part of the buildings was assigned to the church, and after the arrival of the Turkish conquerors in these lands, the church was turned into a Muslim mosque. Respectively,
The partially destroyed arch is decorated with carved rock frescoes, which tell in detail about the victorious campaign of the ruler Galerius, sacrifice, accepting gifts, showing mercy to the great ruler, etc. The monument looks impressive and will take its rightful place in the collection of visited places of any tourist. Visiting the attraction is absolutely free from 9 am to 7 pm.
Monument to Alexander the Great
Another attraction of Thessaloniki, which is located on the city's waterfront, is dedicated to the famous Greek – Alexander the Great. You can find a monument near the White Tower. It is worth noting that local residents have a special, reverent attitude towards this historical figure. After all, it was during the reign of A. Macedon, his campaigns of conquest and brilliant victories that Thessaloniki was at the peak of its development.
The monument is a six-meter composition in the form of a commander sitting on his famous horse Bucephalus. Behind him, you can observe several shields and mines with different images, each of which carries a certain semantic load. So, the image of a snake means wisdom, Medusa is the personification of deceit, the lion – courage, and the falcon, respectively, the gift of foresight. The Greeks are convinced that this one of the most striking historical figures possessed all these virtues and gifts.
Finding the monument is not difficult, access to it is free around the clock.
Museum of Archeology
But every tourist should visit the local museum of archaeological and historical finds from different historical periods. The first finds from different parts of Macedonia began to flock to the halls of the museum as early as 1977. Soon the exposition was so voluminous that it needed urgent expansion.
Museum guests will be able to get acquainted with the rich history of Thessaloniki, as well as other regions of Macedonia, see historical artifacts that are of great value and importance for archeology. A separate collection includes finds that date back to the period of Roman rule. Also in separate halls, visitors can see the most significant and unusual finds from the archaic cemetery of Sindos, artifacts of royal burials, funerary attributes and other results of archaeological excavations and research. There are 11 themed rooms in total. Among the most famous artifacts: a statue of Harpocrates dated to the second century BC, a pure gold larnax (it is assumed that it is intended to store the ashes of King Philip II), golden masks and bronze helmets, medals, shields, tiaras and other valuables.
Tourists are expected here daily from 8 am to 10 pm, Monday is a day off. The museum is also closed on public holidays. We advise you to check the schedule on the official website, since the summer and winter schedules differ from each other. The ticket price is 2-4 euros depending on the category of the visitor.
Military Museum
There is another interesting museum in Thessaloniki, which contains many objects of the military history of Macedonia. It first opened its doors to the general public in 2000, although the construction of the building dates back to the early 20th century. The exposition of the museum highlights various aspects of the military history of Thessaloniki and Greece in general. The halls display an impressive collection of models of warships, samples of clothing from various branches of the armed forces, distinctive paraphernalia, and even some exhibits of weapons from neighboring countries. Separate expositions include objects from the times of the First and Second World Wars, individual military operations, and also dedicated to the periods of the Turkish, German and Bulgarian occupations of Greece. There is also an impressive library of historical and military publications. Well, next to the building,
The museum is open from Tuesday to Friday from 9:00 to 14:00, on Saturday and Sunday – from 10:00 to 14:00. Monday is a day off. The entrance ticket costs 6 euros, there is a discount for children and some other categories of visitors.
Museum of the Macedonian Struggle
Another museum has such an original name. The exposition has been open since 1981 and includes a whole collection of objects that tell both the old and the latest history of the Greek struggle for their independence. In addition to samples of weapons, armor, clothing and other personal belongings of the Greeks, the museum presents the rarest and most unique documents that date back to the period from 1770 to 1912. Here you can find rare books, things of famous Greeks, and family treasures. The collection also includes other exhibits no less interesting for acquaintance: the national wrestling costumes of the Greeks, photographs and even newspapers.
By the way, only a few artifacts are kept in the halls of the museum on a daily basis, and most of the collection is exhibited only occasionally. Today the museum welcomes visitors from Tuesday to Friday from 9 am to 2 pm, Monday is a day off. On Saturday, you can also visit the exhibition halls, which open an hour later than usual. You can get to the building by buses: 39, 3, 5, 6, 12, 33 or by taxi, calling the address Prox. Koromila str/23, 54622.
Panagia Chalkeon
We strongly recommend that you include in your excursion program another bright attraction of Thessaloniki – the cross church of Panagia Halkeon. The temple for its historical and cultural value was included in the list of world heritage sites in 1988 and today is very popular among tourists. According to the inscription on the doors of the temple, its creator was Christopher, who created it for the sake of saving his soul and the souls of his loved ones for numerous sins. The creator himself was buried near the northern wall of the building. After the conquest of Greece by the Turks, the church was also turned into a mosque, to which it owes its unusual name.
Despite its Christian purpose, the temple has elements that are unconventional for such buildings, including an altar. The frescoes have not survived very well to our time, but are still quite recognizable. The most famous of them glorify Christ and his apostles.
The attraction is located at: Chalkeon 2, Thessaloniki 546 24. Visitors are expected daily from 7 am to midnight. The entrance ticket will cost tourists only 4 euros.
As you can see, tourists who decide to visit the Greek Thessaloniki will have something to do. In addition to excellent conditions for a beach holiday, a lot of entertainment and cultural and entertainment venues, a very rich and interesting excursion program awaits guests of the resort.