No less interesting for tourist treks than Athens is Thessaloniki. You won’t find many tourists here, but you will find a lot of interesting historical attractions. A city that was created by the Romans, the Ottomans, and the original settlers, who also made their mark by enclosing it in protective walls, but first things first. Thessaloniki is located on the shores of the Gulf of Thermae, famous for its exceptionally clean waters. The “Blue Flags” of the European Community, which are provided for the cleanliness of the sea and shore, have been presented to numerous of its beaches.
Thessaloniki is the hub of contemporary Greece’s intellectual and creative life. The International Thessaloniki Film Festival is held there each autumn. A variety of exhibitions, museums, and theatres can be found here. While eating dinner in a restaurant in Thessaloniki, you can attend a neighborhood party to which you will be invited right away. A lively city with bars, cafes, restaurants, movie theatres, democratic nightclubs, and upscale shopping, Thessaloniki is.
Thessaloniki’s resort season runs from May to September, although you may visit the lovely city at any time of year. Thessaloniki “Makedonia” Airport is 15 km southeast of the city center and offers connections to numerous domestic and foreign locations. Thessaloniki airport taxi and buses run continuously from the airport to the city. An airport taxi or private airport transfer is a quicker and more convenient option to get to the city. A pre-arranged Thessaloniki airport transfer is the best option if you have young children or a lot of bags to transport. At the arrivals area, a chauffeur will greet you and drive you directly to your hotel. The cost of the journey is predetermined and known at the moment the AtoB airport transfer is reserved on the AtoB website: https://atobtransfer.com/greece/thessaloniki-airport-taxi-transfers/, so no additional fees are necessary.
Walls of Thessaloniki
Soon after its founding, the city started erecting defense walls. The city grew over time, and new defenses were constructed. The walls were finished and this stone artery was enlarged as new kings rose and conquered new lands. In 1874, when the city was at its height of prosperity, an 8-kilometer wall encircled it. Some of the wall was later torn down since it was thought to be impeding the city’s growth. Some of the wall’s components have been restored and are now accessible to the public.
A stunning panoramic view of the city can be seen from there as it peacefully spreads out from the walls and disappears beyond the horizon. The greatest time to go here by Thessaloniki airport taxi is just before sunset when the city and the sea panorama unfurl in a most magnificent manner as it starts to soak up the rays of the evening sun, which is drowsily hiding behind the horizon.
Tilemahos Efthimiadis Museum of Archaeology
This place will introduce you to the cultural treasures that have survived from prehistoric times to late antiquity. The museum has many artifacts that were discovered in Thessaloniki and a significant number of objects found throughout Macedonia. The guides will certainly immerse you in a journey to ancient times. There is a list of various ancient jugs and tools. Separately, it is worth focusing on the halls in which sculptures are concentrated. These works of art, which seem to have stopped in time, make it possible to think that an ancient master once touched this marble and created a masterpiece.
In some halls, attention is focused on how temples were decorated before Christ. Separately, there are exhibits that were found during excavations of ancient settlements. There is also a place where artifacts related to Emperor Gallio are collected separately. From time to time, museum visitors can arrive here by Thessaloniki airport transfer and get to some thematic exhibitions that are held on the basis of the museum, one of them, for example, is an exhibition of Macedonian coins. Where visitors have the opportunity to get acquainted with the formation of monetary relations in these territories.
Arch of Galerius
Driving around the city by AtoB airport taxi, you can find the ancient entrance to the city. It would be more correct to say a part of it. We are talking about some segments of the monumental arch that once adorned the entrance to the city. Currently, it is only a small segment. The most interesting thing is that you can see which craftsmen of that time paid attention to the details and how they put historical events that had an impact on the development of history at that time into the patterns. It is worth noting that this acre is in much better condition than a similar one outside of Rome. Although the climatic conditions are different in comparison with Rome, it is in Thessaloniki that the patterns have been preserved, in which you can feel the breath and hand of the masters of that time.
Rotonda Monument
Historically, many different cultures have intertwined on this land. This place is probably the biggest symbol of this. There was once a Christian church and a mosque here, but first things first. This place was one of the locations of a large complex that included a palace and arches. Originally, this place was conceived as a mausoleum for Emperor Galerius.
During the reign of Emperor Theodosius the Great, this place began to exist as a Christian church. When the Ottomans came to power due to the capture of the city during the war, this place was turned into a religious place of the Ottomans, a mosque. After the land was liberated from the Ottomans, this building became a church again. The architecture itself resembles the Roman Pantheon. Visitors, after getting here by AtoB airport transfer, also have the opportunity to visit the Museum of Sculptures which operates here separately.
White Tower
Walking along the waterfront, or you can come here directly using a Thessaloniki airport taxi, you will definitely come across a white stone tower. It was built by the Turks, but historically it was used more as a prison. Currently, it houses a museum of Byzantine culture. It contains exhibits dating from the early days of Christianity to the time of the Ottoman conquest of this place. There are artifacts such as parts of mosaic fragments, coins from the time before Christianity, ancient vases with incredible ornaments, and various objects that were used in religious rites. Since this place is located on the waterfront, from time to time open exhibitions are held right on it, one of them was an exhibition of paintings dedicated to Byzantine religious paintings.