The White Tower of Thessaloniki

Greece is delicious wine, drunk and azure sea. Greece is nice people, lively music and skin gilded with the sun. Greece offers wonderful views of the smooth surface of the water and the sharp peaks of the hills covered with olive groves. Thessaloniki is the soul of Greece.

Thessaloniki is a very old city, distinguished by its size - it is second in terms of size, just behind Athens. It is located in northern Greece on the Gulf of Salonica. Among all Greek towns and resorts, it has a unique climate - not only as an extremely beautiful resort, but also as the cradle of Christianity. For here the brothers Cyril and Methodius, patrons of Europe, were born, bringing faith to Slavic lands. Here the famous orator Cicero protected himself from persecution. Finally, one of the first Christian communities was founded by Saint Paul.

The city's monuments are included in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List. Visitors to Thessaloniki can admire the beautiful old frescoes and mosaics in the resort's early Christian churches. The most famous religious buildings include the temple with a chapel, which houses the relics of the patron saint of Macedonia (the region) and the city - Saint Dmitri. We are talking about the Basilica of Agios Dimitrios , the largest church in all of Greece. Inside there is a marble tombstone of the patron saint.

The White Tower, the Bloody Tower

A characteristic point, or even a symbol of Thessaloniki, is the slender White Tower . It stands on the waterfront at the eastern end of downtown. It used to be part of the fortifications, but today it houses the Museum of Byzantine Culture. In the past, people were imprisoned there, hence the second, darker name - the Bloody Tower. From its top there is a wonderful view of the entire city and the statue of Alexander the Great standing nearby.

Another place associated with Thessaloniki is the Arch of Galerius (Kamara), dating from the 3rd century. Only two of the four supporting pillars have survived to this day. In the past, it formed a whole with the rotunda, the oldest monument in the city, as well as with the palace complex and the hippodrome (chariot racing track). The mentioned rotunda was probably a temple in honor of Zeus, later it was renamed a church, it also had an episode of being a mosque in its lifetime.

When writing about Thessaloniki, one cannot fail to mention the Turkish covered bazaar from the 16th century, which is famous for being the most beautiful building of this type in the entire Balkans. It is preserved in excellent condition, and today it has a large number of jewelery factories, boutiques and various shops.

It is also worth paying attention to the charming houses with overhanging porches, which can be found in the Ano Poli district. You can also take a short walk to the Eptapirgio district, set on the top of the hill, and see the mighty ramparts there. One of the monuments that should be explored during a visit to Thessaloniki is the 8th-century copy of the Hagia Sophia of Constantinople.

Where to stay in Thessaloniki?

Near Thessaloniki, right on the long and sandy beach, there is a camping and hotel " Akti Retzika " . Surrounded by greenery, away from the hustle and bustle, it offers tourists apartments, rooms and pitches at the campsite. There are 60 pitches for motorhomes, vehicles with a trailer or tents waiting for guests. The accommodation for an adult costs from 3 to 6 euros, while renting a tent or caravan - from 5 to 6 euros a day. Thanks to the great location, campers have a great opportunity to admire the Olympus and the Aegean Sea as soon as they wake up.

While exploring the city, it is worth tasting the local wine. The Cambas white wine and the Macedonian Domaine Carros are particularly exquisite. While tasting the drink, you can sit in one of the cafes and listen to the quiet murmur of the city, coming from the winding streets.