Macedonia Tour

Nine to Ten Days Tour

 

Thessaloniki, Philippi, Pella, Vergina, Aegae,

Edessa, Aristotle's school, Aridea, Florina, Kastoria, Meteora

Let Us Take You To Hidden & Known Places in Macedonia

Link to Destinations in Greece

1st day: Start from Athens or Thessalonνke. second-largest city in Greece and the capital of Macedonia, the nation's largest region. It is honorary called the Symprotevousa (lit. co-capital) of Greece, as it was once called the symbasilevousa (co-queen) of the Byzantine Empire. Thessaloníke retains several Ottoman and Jewish structures as well as a large number of Byzantine and Roman architectural monuments.

The Tower was constructed by the Ottomans some time after the army of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent captured Thessaloníke in 1430 and was used by the Ottomans successively as a fort, garrison and a prison.

In 1826, at the order of the Sultan Mahmud II, there was a massacre of the prisoners in the Tower.

Owing to the "countless victims of Ottoman torturers and executioners", the tower acquired the name "Tower of Blood" or "The Red Tower", which it kept until the end of the 19th century.

The Arch of Galerius and the Tomb of Galerius are neighboring monuments in the city of Thessaloniki. The Tomb of Galerius is better known as the Rotunda, or the Rotunda of St. George.

You can view aou portfolio at http://www.panoramio.com/user/45649/tags/Macedonia%20Thessaloniki

2nd day: Visit the Rotunda, a massive circular structure with a masonry core that had an oculus like the Pantheon in Rome. It has gone through multiple periods of use and modification as a polytheist temple, a Christian basilica, a Muslim mosque, and again a Christian church (and archaeological site). A minaret is preserved from its use as a mosque, and there are ancient remains exposed on its southern side.

3rd day: Visit Philippi, founded by Philipos B'. Here was also the first Christian church founded by Saint Paul on European soil, the Apostle Paul or Paul of Tarsus (Ancient Greek: Σαούλ  Paulos,  was a Hellenistic Jew, who called himself the "Apostle to the Gentiles", and was, together with Saint Peter and James the Just, the most notable of early Christian missionaries.

You can view our portfolio at http://www.panoramio.com/user/45649/tags/Macedonia%20Philippi

4th day: Visit a highly important ancient city, certainly to be identified with Aegae, the first ancient capital of the kingdom of Macedonia, spreading over the low hills in the northern slopes of' the Pierian range, between the modern villages of Palatitsia and Vergina.

5th day: Visit Pella. The city founded by Archelaus (413–399 BC) as the capital of his kingdom, replacing the older palace-city of Aigai (Vergina). After this, it was the seat of  King Philip II and of Alexander, his son. In 168 BC, it was ransacked by the Romans, and its treasury transported to Rome. Later, the city was destroyed by an earthquake and eventually was rebuilt over its ruins. By 180 AD, Lucian could describe it in passing as "now insignificant, with very few inhabitants".

6th day: Visit Aristotle's school where Alexander and other young aristocrats spent two years being taught human values by Aristotle. Enjoy a swim in the  hot  healing springs. Overnight in accommodation next to the springs.

You can view our portfolio at http://www.panoramio.com/user/45649/tags/Mieza%20Aristotele%27s%20School

7th day: Visit the Macedonian towns of Edessa and Florina. Untouched by tourism. Overnight in Florina.

8th day: Visit the impressive Rocks of Meteora crowned by the majestic monasteries. Overnight in a hotel beneath the giant rock.

9th day: Visit Delphi and the Oracle of Apollo.

10th day: Return to Athens via Levadia where flow the Krya Springs known as the Springs of Remembrance and Oblivion.