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North Greece
Thessaloniki
 
Thessaloniki was the sister of Alexander the Great
thus her husband Kassander named the city after his wife. The city
itself was founded 315 BC on the site of the Ancient town Thermo.
Thessaloniki
stands at the crossroads between Western Europe and the Eastern provinces.
For many centuries has been an international trading center, and
to this date accommodates the international fair each September.
The second largest city and port in Greece presents
a surprising contrast between its new districts on the seafront its
Roman and Byzantine monuments and its popular neighborhoods with
their brightly painted houses.
Thessaloniki presents a very different
aspect from Athens , spreading towards the sea surrounded from hills
covered with pines, speckled with colored houses.
The pace of the city is
slower than Athens '.
Worth visiting in Thessaloniki :
- St. Demetrios' church is the tomb of St. Demetrios
a martyr and patron of the city. The church was completely restored
at 1917 to reproduce the 7C Basilika.
- Arch of Galerios was a monument erected 4C BC
in honor of the Roman Emperor Galerios.
- The Palace of the Galerios built of brick by
Emperor Galerius around a rectangular courtyard.
- Lefkos Pirgos ( White Tower ) originally incorporated
in the city's defense system which surrounded the city.
- The Roman
Agora (Shopping area).
- The church of Agios Georgios (Rotonda Style)
erected in 4C AD intended to be a mausoleum for Emperor Galerius,
but he was not buried there. Later under Constantine the Great was
converted into a church by adding another section.
- The Archaeological museum its exhibits are sculpture
glass and mosaics arranged in chronological order from prehistoric
to the classical era , and of course Treasures of Ancient Macedonia housed
in a specially built wing.
- The museum of ethnology and folklore , exhibiting
items are related to cultural changes the area went through and handicrafts
corresponding to the same periods.
Pella
The ancient capital of Macedonia founded in the 4
th century B.C. situated 40 kms NW of Thessaloniki.
To be visited: The site of Pella and the archaeological museum
 
Chalkidiki   
Three peninsulas like fingers into the Aegean Sea
made of pine forests, hills and beaches for Cassandra and Sithonia.
The third one more original constitutes Mount Athos .
Mount Athos
Mount Athos is one of the most protected sites
in Greece as the monasteries there contain very valuable collections
of Icons and sacerdotal objects of the Orthodox Church.
The access
is forbidden to women.
Monasteries to be visited
- Simonos Petras Built the 13C by St. Simon remodeled by
a Serbian Prince and after the damage suffered by fire was restored
completely the 19C by the Russian government.
- Vatopediou was built in 980 and contains 15chapels
and the church. The library contains thousands of volumes from which
600 are Ancient manuscripts including a copy of Ptolemy's Geography..
- Grand Lavra Is the oldest monastery
built the 963 AD and is the largest of all accommodating around 100
monks. Apart from icons and famous frescoes the monastery has a significant
library containing 5000 volumes half of which are manuscripts. Amongst
the treasures are the Crown and the robe of Nikiphoros Phokas.
- Iviron built the 10C and originally was dedicated
to St. John the Baptist. The library contains many manuscripts and
the treasures considered amongst the finest in mount Athos.
Alexandropolis Just
before the Turkish border on the coast is the city of Alexandroupolis
which was founded by Alexander the Great. The city surrounded by
hills and forests is a gathering spot for ornithologists as well
as the Evros Delta
.
Kastoria
This picturesque Macedonian city is built on a peninsula into the
lake of the same name. The history of Kastoria is directly linked
to that of the Balkans and Central Europe . There are many fine examples
of Byzantine architecture. Close by are the Prespa lakes, a protected
area of great natural beauty.
To be visited:
- The Byzantine churches some of which are built the
10 th C AD.
- The museum of Popular Art full of exhibits of handicraft
of different eras .
- The Doultso Quarter.
Epirus
Between the Ionian Sea, Macedonia and
Thessaly extends Epirus . The landscape is magnificent and untamed
and includes numerous valleys and gorges.
Ioannina
 
Built on the occidental shore of a lake, the capital
of Epirus Ioannina is one of the most picturesque Greek cities. At
the heart of this modern city will find oriental quarter and an island
covered with Byzantine churches. The old Turkish town with its narrow
paved streets in the poor quarters side by side with the modern city.
The city is famous for silverwork.
20 kms SW of Ioannina the oracle
of Dodoni. This oracle made the pronouncements from the whispering
of the breeze of a sacred oak tree, and then the message was interpreted
by the priests. Metsovo
At the hurt of Pindos mountain on the way to Meteora
the old town of Metsovo with its old houses with their wooden balconies
gives a local color to this ski resort.
The Museum of Popular Art is housed
in the Tositsa residence.
It was built by
Baron Tositsa and the rooms are furnished with
fine carpets embroidered textiles and decorated with gold stuff.
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