Location: Thessaloniki
Top Things to do in Thessaloniki
Top Restaurants in Thessaloniki
The 8 Best Sacred & Religious Sites in Thessaloniki, Central Macedonia
Thessaloniki (Greek: Θεσσαλονίκη, Thessaloníki [θesaloˈnici] ( listen)), also familiarly known as Thessalonica or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece, with over 1 million inhabitants in its metropolitan area, and the capital of Macedonia, the administrative region of Central Macedonia and the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace. Its nickname is η Συμπρωτεύουσα (Symprotévousa), literally "the co-capital", a reference to its historical status as the Συμβασιλεύουσα (Symvasilévousa) or "co-reigning" city of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, alongside Constantinople.
Restaurants in Thessaloniki
1. Metropolis Cathedral of Agios Gregorios Palamas
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 24 reviews
Reviewed By livingascottishdream - Glasgow, United Kingdom
Beautiful church in the middle of the city, surrounded by other attractions, and very near to Agia Sofia. It was fantastic roaming the streets and find such spectacular buildings and churches like this one.
2. Osios David (The Latomou Monastery)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 171 reviews
Reviewed By carolas936 - Marietta, United States
The Church of Osios David is a late 5th-century Byzantine church in the upper town, sitting in a shaded courtyard with an expansive view over the lower town and harbor. According to tradition, the church was founded by Theodora (the daughter of the emperor Maximianus who ruled 286 - 305). She supposedly used a Roman bathhouse as a Christian shrine and concealed its mosaic to dispel her mother's suspicions of her conversion to Christianity. A church was founded in the late 5th century probably dedicated to the prophet Zacharias, replacing the bathhouse (and reusing its stones). The church became the katholikon (public chapel) of the Latomos Monastery. The modest church was built in a cross plan (without a dome), with a porch on the front. The interior walls are covered with richly-colored 12th-century frescoes. I was most impressed by the 5th-century mosaic of the Theophany over the apse: Christ holds a Greek scroll, “Behold our God, in whom we hope and we rejoice in our salvation, that he may grand rest to this home”, and is surrounded by symbols of the four evangelists (an angel, eagle, lion, and bull, symbolizing Matthew, John, Mark and Luke). The four rivers of Paradise (the Phison, Geon, Tigris and Euphrates) flow beneath Christ's feet, their waters feeding the river Chobar (or Jordan). After the Ottoman conquest, the building was converted into a mosque (probably in the 16th century), the art was covered with plaster, and a minaret was added at the south-west corner bay (the base remains). Osios David was reconsecrated (and given its present name) as a Greek Orthodox church in 1921 after the Greek liberation of Thessaloniki. The frescoes and mosaics were restored, and the church was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1988. The church is open every day except Monday from 10am -5pm; it closes at 2pm on Sunday. When I visited there was no entry fee, but I left a donation with the lady who was the caretaker.
3. Church of Panagia Chalkeon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 73 reviews
Reviewed By EliasConstantos - Athens, Greece
Located on Egnatia street, just one block to the west from Aristotelous sqr. can be reached easily. Beautiful church, both outside and inside (although visiting hours inside are limted), included in UNESCo list, with a beautiful surrounding garden. Built in early 11th century. Note that it is built quite below the current level of the ciy (like many other old buildings in Thessaloniki), indicating that modern city has been built on top of previous ruins (especially from the fire that literally destroyed the city in eraly 20th century).
4. Vlatadon Monastery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 295 reviews
Reviewed By aisha0022 - Budapest, Hungary
It was a great suprise for us, walking back to the port from the castle, we got to Vlatadon Monastery. It is a beautiful building, the church was amazing, the view was breathtaking.
5. 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.
6. Analipseos Tou Kiriou Church
7. Saint Barbaras Holy Temple
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 5 reviews
8. Monastir Synagogue
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 7 reviews
TAGS
