Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
cibly Islamicised Christian boys) here. After the 1913 Greek reconquest, the 'bloody
tower' was whitewashed to expunge this grisly past. Although the whitewash is long
gone, the name stuck.
The tower's interactive museum presents Thessaloniki's history through multimedia
displays.
Palace, Arch & Rotunda of Galerius
HISTORIC AREA
MAP
Three major Roman monuments of early-4th-century Emperor Galerius spill
arinou; 8.30am-3pm Tue-Sun)
, sprawling east-west across the square, contains floor mo-
saics, columns and some walls. North of Egnatia at Kamara, the
Arch of Galerius
(AD
303) celebrates a victory over the Persians, with carved, lunging soldiers.
North of this arch is the
Rotunda
(Mausoleum; 2310 218 720; Plateia Agiou Georgiou;
8am-5pm Tue-Sun)
. Galerius built this hulking brick structure as his future mausoleum, but
he died in retirement in today's Serbia. Constantine the Great made it Thessaloniki's first
church (Agios Georgios); the Ottomans made it a mosque (note the restored minaret).
Some frescoes survive inside.
Roman Agora
RUIN
MAP
(Plateia Dikastirion; 8am-3pm Tue-Sun)
The Agora lies north of Plateia Aristote-
lous, on Plateia Dikastirion. In the 3rd century BC, Macedonians made it a commercial
centre and the Romans maintained this function. An English-language placard explains
the site, which contains clustered shop walls and mosaic floor remnants.
In summer, it hosts the city-sponsored
Urban Picnic
, which livens up the ruins with
free food and live music.
Kastra (Ano Poli) & the Byzantine Walls
HISTORIC AREA
The
Kastra
(Castle), also called Ano Poli (Upper Town), contains important Byz-
antine churches and timber-framed, pastel-painted houses with overhanging upper
storeys. Panoramic views of the city and gulf are had from the
Byzantine Walls
' eastern
edge, in the
pyrgos
(tower). The tower - recently renovated and opened to visitors - is a
marvellously atmospheric structure. Ascend it for expansive views.
Emperor Theodosius (AD 379-475) built these walls according to his own great Con-
stantinopolitan wall system. They were rebuilt in the 14th century and in 1821 the Turks
