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Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessalonika
Thessaloniki, Greece
Mike's review
Thessaloniki's Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments are spread through a living city. UNESCO groups churches, mosaics, walls, and other buildings from the 4th to the 15th century, including the Rotunda, Hagios Demetrios, Hosios David, and sections of the city walls.
The best approach is to treat the city itself as the route. Walk between monuments and you see why Thessaloniki was a major Christian and Byzantine center: churches embedded in neighborhoods, Roman material nearby, Ottoman traces, and the sea at the bottom of the city.
From the source
Founded in 315 B.C., the provincial capital and sea port of Thessalonika was one of the first bases for the spread of Christianity. Among its Christian monuments are fine churches, some built on the Greek cross plan and others on the three-nave basilica plan. Constructed over a long period, from the 4th to the 15th century, they constitute a diachronic typological series, which had considerable influence in the Byzantine world. The mosaics of the rotunda, St Demetrius and St David are among the great masterpieces of early Christian art.
Supporting sources: Legacy import provenance, Wikipedia
Plan your visit
Features & amenities
What to expect
- Indoor + outdoor
What to bring
- Water
- comfortable shoes
Tags
Planning Thessaloniki
The rest of my Thessaloniki saves, on the city's planning pages.