Mainland Greece: Thessaloniki and the delights of this city

Northern Greece (Thessaloniki and the nearby peninsula of Chalkidiki) is still a little developed area by our travelers. Usually, tourist groups from Russia immediately rush to the islands of the Greek archipelago, and in fact the mainland part of this amazing country is no less interesting. And its main decoration is the ancient city of Thessaloniki (in Greek Thessaloniki). It is located on the shore of the beautiful Termeisky Bay (Thermoikos). A rich ancient history, a lot of museums and interesting sights, developed tourist infrastructure - among all the cities with which we associate holidays in Greece, Thessaloniki occupy a key place.

The city of Thessaloniki became in 315 BC. Earlier people lived there also in the village of Termi, the date of foundation of which no one knows. The king of Macedonia named Cassander ordered to build powerful walls around the new city and gave him a name, honoring his beloved wife (by the way, the sister of the famous commander Alexander of Macedon) - Thessaloniki. Later, the city consistently fell under the influence of the Roman and Byzantine Empire, and now it is called the city of three civilizations: Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine, since Thessaloniki has always been a crossroads of trade routes.

In Greece there is everything, and in Soloniki - even more. Perfect service and comfort, which are so famous for hotels in Greece, Thessaloniki has surpassed the big choice: there are both posh five-star and very budget hotels and hostels. In general, being the second largest city in Greece and the capital of the province of Macedonia, Thessaloniki has long been an effective competitor to Athens. No wonder this city in 1997 was called the cultural capital of Europe. The intellectual and cultural life of the country is to a certain extent concentrated here. There are many festivals in Thessaloniki, including international ones. Every autumn here there is a film festival and festival "Dimitri", consisting of a whole series of concerts, shows, exhibitions and performances.

The city is literally full of historical and cultural attractions. Archaeologists have revealed to contemporaries only a small fraction of the rich culture of the ancient Thessaloniki, but excavation continues. The symbol of the city is the so-called White Tower, located on the waterfront. It offers an amazing view of the bay and the city. There also stands a monument to Alexander the Great, whom the whole world knows, not only Greece. Thessaloniki is named after his own sister. As in ancient times, the city crosses the main street of Ignatius. Near it is the Arc de Triomphe of the Emperor Galerius. Also preserved is the ancient Agora - a place of gathering citizens, without which it is inconceivable ancient Greece. Thessaloniki is also the site of the repose of the ashes of King Philip.

Ancient monuments are not the only attractions of Thessaloniki. Evidence of the fact that in the Byzantine Empire, the core of which was modern Greece, Thessaloniki was not the last place, are its medieval monuments: the Temple of the patron saint of the city, St. Demetrius, the Church of All Apostles and the Church of St. Sophia. The fortress walls of the Upper Town, erected in the 5th century by Emperor Justinian, were also perfectly preserved.

There are a lot of museums in Thessaloniki, among which the following deserve special attention: archaeological, natural history, Byzantine art, modern art, the State Picture Gallery and others. Thessaloniki is also an attractive shopping center: in the area of Castro, there are a lot of specialized shops - "fur coats", and Bezesteni Street is just an exhibition of jewelry shops selling copper products. The market of Thessaloniki Mediani is known throughout Greece.