Northern Greece Tour: Macedonia & Thessaloniki
Since the fall of Periclian Athens and the rise of Phillip, Macedonia played an integral part in Greek history and culture. Around the middle of the 4th century B.C. Macedonia became
the leading power of the Greek World thanks to the unifying force of King Philip II ( father
of Alexander III a.k.a. "the Great") Phillip declared himself by force of arms, leader of a Greek Confederacy.
Phillip was assassinated but his dream of a Pan Hellenic expedition against the Persians bore fruit with his son, Alexander the third. Alexander took his army and with it, Hellenistic culture as far as the banks of Indos River. Greek art and culture were spread as far as India and was assimilated to some extent by local populations. Memories of Alexander (Iskandar) still exist in the east and many claim decent from his blood line. The early Christians depictions of Jesus strongly resemble Alexander. The early Jews view him as "propagandist of the most high" and Muslim poets claim he prayed in the Kaaba of Mecca. The Koran records him as Dulcarnian.
Thessaloniki Greece Taxi Tour
The capitol of Macedonia and second largest city of Greece. It was first
established in 316 B. C. by Kassandros and named after his wife, Thessaloniki,
sister of Alexander the Great. It is here that Paul, the Apostle of Nations,
first brought the message of Christianity (50 A.D.) and that Demetrius,
a Roman officer died in martyrdom, thus becoming the holy patron of the
city for ever (303A.D.).
THESSALONIKI DION PELLA VERGINA . Names that date since Alexander the Great‘s era, even further back…. Names that have remained unaltered for thousands of years, that have been passed on from generation to generation, while this land saw one invasion follow another. Yet in spite of so many conquests everything remained, as before, Greek.
HISTORY
Ancient Macedonians were speakers of a Greek dialect as proven by funeral stele.
While never reaching the cultural height of Athens, the fount of Hellenism in mainland Greece, Macedonian culture was heavily influenced by their southern cousins. From the age of 13 Alexander had Aristotle as his tutor.
Subsequent Macedonian conquests afield helped spread Hellenistic culture throughout the then known civilized world. After liberating the Greek cities of asia minor from the Persian yoke Alexander founded or renamed over 400 cities along his supply route in Egypt and to the east to ensure some element of Hellenistic culture spreading to the many races, kingdoms and tribes he was trying to assimilate into the biggest Empire the world had ever seen. Who knows what he could have accomplished but for his untimely death at the age of 32 on June 13, 323 BC
Sights of Thessaloniki
The Arch of Galerius: Built a little before AD 305 in commemoration of
Garius's victory over the Persians in AD 297. (It stands at the junction
of Egnatia and D. Gounari Streets).
The Ahiropiitos: A large, Early Christian church built in the 5th century with mosaics of astounding beauty and harmony of color. (Located on Agia Sophia Street).
Ossios David or the Latomos Monastery: Early Christian church constructed in the late 5th century. Its splendid mosaics portraying "the glory of the Lord" or "the vision of Ezekiel" are renowned. (Located in the Upper Town).
The Old Walls: Erected under Theodosius the Great they encircled the
medieval city.
The White Tower: This large tower and its counterparts Trigoniou, at the southeast corner of the citadel were probably erected in the 15th century. Some smaller towers stood there before the 15th century.
Agios Demetrios: Restored in 1948 after having been destroyed by the great fire of 1918, in conformation with its original plan as a five-aisled basilica. The church was built on top of the old Roman baths and is decorated with mosaics.
The Crypt: The easternmost section of baths, where St. Demetrios was incarcerated, tortured and buried.
Agia Sofia: An 8th-century building representing a transition from the domed basilica towards the cruciform plan with dome; superb mosaics.
The Panagia ton Halkeon: A cruciform church; an inscription records that it was built in 1028. The church contains lovely ceramic ornamentation and 65 stunning wall paintings.
Agia Ekaterini (13th century), with a beautiful preserved exterior and some fragments of frescoes.
Agii Apostoli (14th century), cruciform church with richly decorated facade, mosaics and frescoes from the Palaeologan era.
The Rotunda: A circular building erected in AD 306 as the Pantheon or
Mausoleum of Galerius. Under Theodosius the Great it became a Christian
church with only a few additions or alterations. Its mosaics are unique
for the era (4th century). (Located on D. Gounari Street).
Vlatadon Monastery: In the Upper Town. Celebrated for its Ecumenical Foundation for Patristic Studies, the only one in the world. Its church is cruciform in plan with a dome (14th century).
Agios Nikolaos Orfanos: 14th century, with superb frescoes. It became a dependency of the Vlatadon Monastery in the 17th century.
Profrtis llias: Built in 1360, on the foundations of a Byzantine palace.
Here are a few of the other Greece Taxi or Bus touring destinations you may choose from
Athens,
Cape Sounion, Ancient Corinth, Delphi & Ossios Lukas, Drama, Florina, Greneva, Chalkidiki, Imathia, Kastoria, Kavala, Kozani, Meteora, Mt. Athos, Mycenaea, Naufplion, Olympia, Pella and Vergina, Phillipi & Kavala, Dion & Mt Olympus, Sparta & Mystras, The Mani and Monemvasia, Thessaloniki,
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