Thessaloniki- Greece- Part 1

 

This tour is a bit different as we were rescheduled on a early 

afternoon flight when the airlines canceled 

our normal supper time flight.

So the group that left from Dulles had three hours 

to walk around and explore downtown city life.

The majestic symbol of Thessaloniki is the White Tower.

The tower houses a museum tracing the history of the city.

The present tower probably replaces an older Byzantine tower

 described  byt the 12th century Archbishop- Eustathius of

 Thessalonica when the city was rampaged in 1185.

The current tower guarded the eastern side of the city sea wall.

The current tower was constructed after the army of

 Sultan Murad II defeated Thessaloniki in 1430.

Through the years it has been a famous prison 

and the scene of numerous executions.

When Greece regained control over the city in 1912,

 it was remodeled and became the iconic symbol

 of the city on the waterfront.

                Another famous city site is the Arch of Galarius.

The triumphal arch was built by the city between 

298 and 305 AD to celebrate the Roman Emperor Galerius

 and his victory over the Persians. It is a beautiful example of

 Byzantine art and architecture. The carvings are amazing to view.

        The nearby Rotunda was built about 306 AD as a mausoleum 

for Galerius, but then he died and was buried in Serbia.

It was later converted into a Christian church and used 

in this way for over 1,200 years till the city fell to the Ottomans.

It became a mosque in 1590.

       In our walk about the city we went into this beautiful church. 

Tried to find the name but it was all Greek to me.

Ornate, peaceful and many areas of golden light

 pouring in the windows.

A part of our lovely walking tour.