The one and only Thesseloniki
Now it is the time to go to the beautiful country of Greece to discover more history. This trip is for easter 2024. The weather was perfect, almost 25 degrees during the day and could be 15_10 during the night. In some areas, it could be even colder.
My first destination was Thessaloniki, then I went to Meteora and after that, I visited Athens. This post is a detailed explanation of Thessaloniki and then I will go through Meteora and Athens in other posts.
What does Thessaloniki mean?
Thessaloniki was the name of the half-sister of Alexander the Great meaning "Thessalian victory", from Θεσσαλός Thessalos, and Νίκη 'victory' (Nike). His husband named the place after her when he founded the city.
Transit process
Our flight has a transit at 7 pm from Berlin to Thessaloniki. I have to admit that we experienced one of the slowest security and check-in processes in our travel life there. The 2 hours of security check was very tiring, but anyway, we managed to arrive in Thessaloniki on time and that is the most important thing. But Make sure you have time in Berlin for transit when you buy your tickets.
How to get to the city from the airport?
Looking for transportation, the best option was Bus 01X which took half an hour to the city center. You will find the bus stop as the boards with signals on the way out of the airport in Thessaloniki. The ticket to the city center is 1,80€. When you get on the bus you have to put cash coins in a machine and push a 1,80€ ticket. It might be a bit confusing at first but you can just ask the local people to help you. DO NOT FORGET TO BRING CASH EURO.
Hotel
We found Maroon Hotell which was a very good and comfortable decision. It was a self-check-in place where you get a PIN code to enter the main entrance and room. I think the location was quite practical as we like to go out and take a walk in the city the whole time while we can have a short rest in the middle of the day in the hotel, it was a few minutes walk to the Platia Aristotelous. Let us not forget the nice breakfast that they offer there. ;)
Remember all the ticket prices here are for until 31st of March which are half-priced tickets. If you travel during the summer you will get different prices.
Day 1: Day trip to Pella
We were very lucky to find a day trip guided tour to Pella Vergina by Ammon Express. I share the link with you here in case you were looking for some tours. https://www.ammonexpress.gr/tours/thessaloniki/vergina-pella/
The meeting point was Aristotle’s Square & Egnatia Street (Venizelos Statue) 08:00 am
Our tour was about 8 people and our guide was a very kind and warm welcoming guy who were explaining the stories as he was driving us to the places. First, we stopped at the Archaeological museum in Pella, where you can see the marbels and many treasures found in Pella. They say in the museum that excavation in Pella started in 1914 and was interrupted due to the World War.
About Pella
Pella the second ancient Macedonian capital and birthplace of Alexander the Great(The capital of Macedonia moved from Vergina to Pellaella in the 5th Century BC).
Philip II spent part of his childhood in Pella where the royal family led their everyday lives and Alexander, heir to the Throne was born in 356BC. At that time Pella was already fully structured town grid aligned to the important points, with rectangular insulae and wide roads. Pella as the capital of the Macedonian Kingdom, is not only one of the oldest but also one of the best known metropolises of Hellenistic Oecoumene (Inhabited world) with high living standards for their residents.
It is said as the Romans overtook the Kingdom of Macedonia in 168 BC Thessaloniki became an important harbor point, and Pella started to decline. The earthquake in 1st c. BC was another destructive pressure that Pella could never overcome. We were told by the guide that when Romans overtook Pella, they were so impressed by the city and structures that they didn't ruin the place and decided to create another city next to it to the west. That is why we have an old Pella and a new Pella now which is called nea Pella.
Pella Archiological park
After the museum, it was time to take a look at the on-site historical ruins in the Archiological park of Pella.
Vergina
Vergina was the first capital of Macedon known as the site of Agai. It was in the Aigai's theater that Phillip the Second was assassinated in 336 BC. In 1977 the tomb of Phillip II was discovered.
After Pella, our tour stopped at the Polycentric Museum of Aigai where you see many valuable statues of Queen Eurydice.
Museum of the Royal Tombs at Agai
ticket €15
If you buy a ticket from the museum in Pella for both places, you can use it for this museum as well.
The official link for the museum https://www.aigai.gr/polykentriko-moyseio-aigon-basilikoi-tafoi-ekthesh-thhsayron/episkepsh
Summer time
(April 1st – October 31st 2024)
Tuesday 12:00 – 20:00
Monday, Wednesday to Sunday 08:00 – 20:00
Winter Hours
Tuesday Closed
Monday, Wednesday to Sunday 09:00-17:00
Day 2
We started with a Binzantin fortress called Heptapyrgious. The cluster of Eptapyrgio consists of two units: The Byzantine fortress and the most recent constructions of the prison which are at the interior and the exterior of the fortress.
The north side with the five towers, which are alternatively square and triangular, is part of the Acropolis walls. The closed defensive space of the fortress was formed with the construction of the south part, possibly around the 12th century. Around 1890 the function changed to a prison. Men's prison was organized at the interior of the fortress together with auxiliary buildings, the visiting area the central guardhouse, and the church. 'The board in the fortress'
Tickets: 3€, and for under 25 year olds European is discounted.
To Katima, the best place to chill
On the way down from ministry there is this tourist restaurant where you can sit and enjoy the view of the whole of Thessaloniki under your feet.
Sant Paul church
On the way back down to the city center we could see a very beautiful church that fought our eyes, we got closer but unfortunately, it was closed but it was worth taking a picture.
Rotunda
Ticket : 3€
Day 3
Ticket: 4 €
The iconic landmark that has been replaced an old Byzantine fortification, known to have been mentioned around the 12th century, that the Ottoman Empire reconstructed to fortify the city's fortress sometime after Sultan Murad II captured Thessaloniki in 1430.
It is said that the tower used to be covered by the blood of the enemies, and once a prisoner offered to color the tower to white as to reduce his sentence. So since that time, it is called the white tower.
Museum of Byzantine Civilian
In this museum you find interesting information about the culture and the history of Byzantine.
The link for the museum
Ticket: 4€
Archeological museum
Ticket:4 €
Cruise
Along the coastline, you will find 3 cruises that bring you far in the waterside. You can buy beers inside while the entrance is free. I have red mostly the black ship and the blue one had better reviews. We took the blue cruise and it was a very nice experience 30 minutes riding on the cruise with an okay price beer.
Holy Church of Sant Demetrios
I read that it is one of the biggest churches in Greece, while Sant Demetrios has been the protector of the city. Inside has a very different feeling, embracing God and all the spirituality that makes you sit and wonder.
Skyline OTE tower
On our last day in Thessaloniki, we decided to try the turning cafe/bar in Skyline OTE Tower. A luxurious place to have a meal. I suggest that you do not go there if you are very hungry and try to go to a proper restaurant instead. Then go there to try their variety of drinks and ice creams while enjoying the amazing view. We had to wait some minutes since it was full, so reservation is highly recommended.
Thessaloniki gave us a lot to think about the History and the story of Greece. We continued our trip to Meteora and those wonderful Monestry up on the mountains. Read the Next Post to see where we visited and what did there.
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