Top Things to do in Thessaloniki Region
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Things to do in Thessaloniki Region, Central Macedonia: The Best Ancient Ruins
Discover the best top things to do in Thessaloniki Region, Greece including Rotunda, Eptapyrgio Castle, The Greek Agora and Roman Forum, Oi Kipoi Tou Pasa, The Palace of Galerius, The Hippodrome, Byzantine Baths, Tower of Vasilika.
Restaurants in Thessaloniki Region
1. Rotunda
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 872 reviews
Reviewed By athy_a
Impressive building with beautiful mosaics. Worth a visit if interested in ancient historical buildings, next to the Arch of Galerius and further down the Galerian Palace complex.
2. Eptapyrgio Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 242 reviews
Reviewed By stefanosb114 - Thessaloniki, Greece
This fortress together with the Byzantine walls show the importance of Thessaloniki ,which was second most important city ( after Constantinople) in the Byzantine Empire.The view from Eptapyrgio is wonderful, a must visit place.
3. The Greek Agora and Roman Forum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 401 reviews
Reviewed By Keppel - Greater Manchester, United Kingdom
On first view we thought the site was just what you see above ground-the excavated Roman Argora .Well worth a visit.But to our amazement there is a vast museum underground about the history of the area-& we had it all to ourselves-& it was airconditioned!
4. Oi Kipoi Tou Pasa
5. The Palace of Galerius
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 65 reviews
Reviewed By carolas936 - Marietta, United States
The Palace of Galerius was built in the decades around 300AD by Roman Tetrarch Valerianus Maximianus Galerius who ruled the eastern part of the Roman Empire from 293-311 AD. Galarius gained power after he defeated the Persians in 299AD, a victory celebrated by the Triumphal Arch of Galarius. He chose Thessaloniki for his palace as it was a large port city between Rome (capital of the Western Roman Empire) and New Rome-Constantinople (capital of the Eastern Roman Empire). The palace complex was built on a straight line from the Rotunda (at the northeast) through the Triumphal Arch through the Palace, and finally to the Hippodrome (horse-racing arena) on the southwest by the sea. Extensive archaeological excavations were done in the last half of the 20th century. The palace contained multiple buildings, the remains of which are visible in a giant sunken open-air museum on Navarinou Square. Significant ruins include: -- Apsidal Hall: the palace triclinium (banquet hall) -- Basilica: the luxuriously decorated reception and audience hall -- Palace baths -- Octagon: audience hall or throne room (later converted to church) -- Water reservoir: two stories -- Central building complex: rooms with mosaics built around an atrium As I wandered around the site, I was impressed by its sheer size, the construction effort, and the skill of the architects, engineers and artists who created this monumental statement of power and wealth. An information center for the Galerian Palace is located near the site of Apsidal Hall, at the intersection of Dimitriou Gounari and Alexandrou Svolou Streets. This sunken (air conditioned) space contains superb interpretive exhibits (in Greek and English). A computer-generated film of the re-constructed palace is shown continuously (I found this very helpful to understand what I was seeing as I viewed various elements of the Palace ruins). The Palace ruins at Navarinou Square are open from 9am to 4pm every day except Monday, with no entry fee. The open site has little shade, so a hat, water and sturdy footwear is recommended.
6. The Hippodrome
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 11 reviews
