Things to do in Thessaloniki
Greece is a country of love, heritage and art. Thessaloniki, a city in
Greece is famous for being Macedonia’s second-largest city. It is a port which was the second biggest city of
Byzantine empire only after Constantinople. It is known for being a cultural
giant and contains Hagia Sophia, Hagios Demetrios, some renowned UNESCO world
heritage sites.
The city was founded in the 4th century BC and has witnessed
the rise and glory of four great empires of the world. In the days of Roman
Terarchi around the 4th century, Emperor Galerius was the one who
started the history of this great city. If you are planning to visit this
unique Greek city, there are many places, monuments and places you can visit.
You can also look for a house for rent Thessaloniki style at
Vacation saga. You will find villas, apartments, guest houses and much more at
discounted rates with all amenities possible provided at your disposal.
Here are a few places that should be on your bucket list when you are in
Thessaloniki.
1. The White Tower
The cylindrical six-storey tower is an iconic monument of the city. It
can be often seen on postal cards and souvenirs, highlighting its importance.
It was originally put up to reinforce the eastern end of this port. It was built
in the 15th century right in front of the water by the ottoman
empire. It has a diameter of 23 metres and stands 34 metres tall.
Inside the tower, there is a museum about the history of Thessaloniki
built by the museum of Byzantine culture. You can witness the grandeur of this
place by taking the audio tour and going up the spiral staircase looking up to
the waterfront.
2. The Archeological
Museum of Thessaloniki
everyone who visits this city, knows about this museum already. It has
classic roman era artefacts which take you through the tour of roman
civilization. You can find artefacts from 6th century Ionic Temple
and the palace complex which was constructed in the early 4th
century by Emperor Galerius. If you want to take a real tour through the
prehistoric bronze age, this is the place for you. You can also find The Gold
of Macedon exhibitions here found from the cemeteries in sindos, Agia
Paraskevi, Derveni and many more.
You can pay special attention to the Derveni Krater which dates back to
the 4th Century BC. It weighs 40kgs and is ornamented with various
figures of greek warriors like Ariadne etc. A history enthusiast should not miss
visiting this iconic museum filled with wonder, history and heritage.
3. Hagios Demetrios
Saint Demetrius was martyred in the 4th century and a church was built on the site of his martyrdom, known as Hagios
Demetrios. It was destroyed many times. The latest structure we can see dates
back to early 630s. Inside the church, you can see mosaic panels portraying his
children. This church has some iconic artistic elements which bring light to
the art of the age of Emperor Justin. Some valuable art was lost during the
fire of 1914.
You can also visit the crypt of the Roman
bathhouse inside where Demetrius was imprisoned and killed. He was forgotten
during the ottoman rule until excavations were carried out in 1917. This place
has been converted into an iconic heritage in 1988 with scriptures, discoveries
and exhibitions portraying the history of early, middle and late byzantine
capitals. Ig you want to witness the roman culture from close, this is the
place for you to go.
4. Aristotelous
If you love to walk with aesthetics, this place is ideal for you. It is
on the city’s waterfront at Nikis Avenue. This plaza was constructed by the
French architect Ernest Hebrard in 1918 and updated with various iconic
buildings through time. New year and Christman celebrations in Thessaloniki take
place in this square. Prime ministers have also given speeches here. The
olympian Theatre cinema located on the northern side of this square hosts the
international film festival every year.
You can walk up to the historic district of Ladadika with its colourful
houses, workshops and warehouses. There are many houses on rent Thessaloniki
style there along with Thessaloniki restaurants.
5.
Ladalika Street
The word Ladadika comes from the shops that used to
sell live oil products and olive oil. You can find various Thessaloniki
restaurants here with colourful walls and paints. It used to be a chaotic
merchant district, and during the 20th century, it has become a
metropolitan red district with spies, business and clients from all around
the globe. This area was then restored in the 90s and 2000s.
If you want to enjoy the real nightlife of
Thessaloniki, this is one place you should definitely go. You can also walk up
to Thessaloniki beaches from up there. There are various international
eateries and many bars.
Thessaloniki is incomplete without its nightlife, its
beaches and the bars. It is a city which has perfect places for everyone. For
art lovers, for history lovers, for party lovers, for beach lovers, it has
everything panned out within its beautiful streets.
If you are looking for a stay in Thessaloniki,
there are various houses for rent Thessaloniki built where you can stay.
You can find them at vacation saga. Some of them are near the airport and some
have sea views. All varieties are present and you can choose them according to
your preferences. Visit the travel tab at vacation saga for more information.