Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the time of the first
International Trade Fair
in 1926, an event that continues to this
day. Thessaloníki's many and often excellent
museums
cover subjects as varied as
Byzantine culture, the city's Jewish heritage, folklife, musical instruments, Atatürk
(who was born here) and, more recently, modern art and photography.
Brief history
When King Cassander of Macedonia founded the city in 315 BC, he named it after
his wife Thessalonike,
Alexander the Great's
half-sister, whose name in turn derived
from the Macedons' decisive victory (
nike
) over the Thessalians. It soon became
the region's cultural and trading centre, issuing its own coins, and when Rome
conquered Macedonia in 146 BC, the city (under the name
Salonica
) became the
natural and immediate choice of capital. Its fortunes and significance were boosted
by the building of the Via Egnatia, the great road linking Rome (via Brindisi) with
Byzantium and the East.
Christianity
had slow beginnings in the city. St Paul visited twice, and on the second
occasion, in 56 AD, he stayed long enough to found a church, later writing the two
Epistles to the Thessalonians, his congregation there. It was another three centuries,
Plovdiv
Svilengrad
Edirne
BULGARIA
Kastaniés
Orestiádha
Metaxádhes
Pýthio
Dhidhymótiho
Falakró
(2230m)
Oréo
Paranésti
Ehínos
Souflí
Smínthi
THRACE
Dhráma
Stavroúpoli
Xánthi
Komotiní
Dhadhiá
DHADHIÁ
FOREST
RESERVE
Alistráti
Pórto
Lágos
Platanítis
Kípi
Marónia
Ipsala
Philippi
Khryssoúpoli
Fanári
Kavála
Maroneia
Abdera
Néa
Karváli
Keşan
Mesimvría
Eleftheroúpoli
Keramotí
Ay. Harálambos
Alexandhroúpoli
Néa
Péramos
Mesembria
Évros
Delta
TURKEY
Loutrá
Eleftherón
Thássos (Liménas)
Asproválta
Skála
Prínou
Thássos
Stavrós
HIGHLIGHTS
Limenária
Olymbiádha
Thessaloníki
Mount Olympus
Vergina
Édhessa
Préspa Lakes
Kastoriá
Mount Athos
Dhadhiá
Kamariótissa
Stratóni
Hóra (Samothráki)
Ierissós
Samothráki
Pyrgadhíkia
Ouranoúpoli
Karyés
Vourvouroú
N
Parthenónas
Sárti
Sykiá
Límnos
Kalamítsi
Toróni
Pórto
Koufó
TURKEY
Mýrina
NORTHERN MAINLAND
Lávrío, Lésvos & Híos
