Architecture sights in Thessaloniki
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Church of Agios Dimitrios
Thessaloniki's enormous, 5th-century Church of Agios Dimitrios , is named in honour of the city's patron saint. A Roman soldier, Dimitrios was killed around 303 on the site (then a Roman bath), on the command of Galerius, infamous for persecuting Christians. The martyrdom site is now an eerie underground crypt, which you can visit during the day or during the special Friday-night service. In 1980, the saint's relics were returned from Italy, and now lie in an elaborate silver reliquary inside.
The Ottomans made Agios Dimitrios a mosque and plastered the walls. After they were kicked out, the plaster was removed, revealing Thessaloniki's finest church mosaics. While the…
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Palace of Galerius
Very close to one another, from Plateia Navarinou north across Egnatia, stand three major monuments associated with the early-4th century Roman emperor Galerius. The ruined Palace of Galerius sprawls east-west across the square. You can descend into it, or just peer over the handrail. Pieces of floor mosaic, columns and a few walls survive.
Across Egnatia is the Arch of Galerius, featuring sculpted soldiers in combat; it was erected in 303 AD to celebrate the emperor's victories over the Persians in 297.
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Galerius Rotunda
Just north of the Arch of Galerius is the Galerius Rotunda. Galerius built this hulking brick structure as his future mausoleum, though he never used it, dying in retirement in what is now Serbia instead. Constantine the Great made the Rotunda Thessaloniki's first church (Agiou Giorgou); the Ottomans would transform it into a mosque (the minaret's been mostly restored). There are surviving frescoes inside the enormous building.
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Roman Agora
The Roman Agora lies north of Plateia Aristotelous, across Egnatia on upper Plateia Dikastirion. Commercial activity began in the 3rd century BC and peaked under the Romans, when the area was buzzing with public affairs, services and shops. A helpful, English-language board explains the layout of the remains, which include clustered shop walls and a few mosaic floor remnants.
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Yeni Hamam
Yeni Hamam is a grand 17th-century Ottoman structure with great acoustics; it's now used as a sophisticated concert hall. If something's on, it's well worth seeing a show there.
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