Greece's Second City — And Its Most Layered
Thessaloniki is the most historically layered city in Greece, and arguably in Europe. Within three square kilometres of the city centre: the Roman Rotunda (3rd century AD, converted to a Byzantine church, then an Ottoman mosque, now a concert hall), the Arch of Galerius, the Byzantine churches of Hagios Demetrios and Osios David containing mosaic cycles of breathtaking quality, the 15th-century White Tower, and the Ottoman-era Bezesteni covered market. The Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki documents the largest Sephardic community in the world before the Holocaust.
FFGR Greece Thessaloniki Cultural Programme
One day cannot do Thessaloniki justice; FFGR Greece recommends a minimum of two. Day One: the Roman and Byzantine legacy — Rotunda, Arch, Hagios Demetrios, the Byzantine Museum. Day Two: Ottoman and Jewish Thessaloniki — the hammam, the Bezesteni, the Jewish Museum, the Modiano and Kapani markets.
Museum After-Hours Access
FFGR Greece arranges after-hours access to the Byzantine Museum and the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki — the finest collection of Macedonian royal artefacts in existence, including the gold larnax and star of Vergina excavated from the tomb believed to be Philip II of Macedon.