Macedonia – Greecel.com S.A.

Pella

vagelis — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 14:04:46 +0000

The birthplace of Alexander the Great, Pella spans the Thessaloniki–Edessa road, and features spectacular mosaics. Pella became Macedon’s capital under King Archelaos (who ruled from 413 BC to 399 BC), though the old capital of Aigai (Vergina) remained the royal cemetery.Created with naturally coloured, subtly contrasting stones, the mosaics depict mythological scenes. They were created for ancient houses and public buildings now destroyed. Some are in situ, others in the museum. Also on this (northern) side of the road are six reerected columns and a courtyard laid out with a black-and-white geometric mosaic.
On the southern side is the museum (admission free with Pella ticket; h8am-7.30pm). Room One has a wall reconstruction from an ancient house, and a circular table inlaid with intricate floral and abstract designs, which possibly belonged to Philip II. Room Two houses more
mosaics.

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Vergina

vagelis — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 13:55:15 +0000

Vergina (ver-yee-nah), 11km southeast of Veria, is the legendary burial site of the Macedonian kings, and their first capital (ancient Aigai).
In 336 BC, at the wedding of his daughter Cleopatra, Philip II was assassinated here. At least the guests were already there.
This World Heritage–listed site is also called the Royal Tombs. A walkway through the darkened interior of the major tumulose (tholos) leads to the four individual tombs. Tomb I is called Persephone’s Tomb, after a mural found inside depicting Hades’ rape of Persephone. Tomb II probably belonged to Philip II. Intact until its
discovery in 1977, the tomb yielded a gold larnax (ossuary) with bones. The sixteen-pointed star of the royal Macedonian family on the larnax lid, and damage to the skull identical with descriptions of an injury Philip sustained, pointed to its likely inhabitant. Philip’s larnax and that of his presumed concubine or wife, plus some exquisite gold-leaf diadems, are displayed in the exhibition rooms. Tomb III was probably designated for Alexander IV, son of Alexander the Great, while the mysterious Tomb IV was looted in antiquity. To see the rest of the site, continue 400m past the Royal Tombs to the ruins of an extensive palatial complex, summer residence of 3rd-century-BC king Antigonos Gonatas. The main attraction is a large Doric peristyle, surrounded by floors of pebble-mosaic; the most beautiful has geometric floral design. Aside from the site, there’s no reason to linger, though Vergina does have a few pensions.

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Thessaloniki

vagelis — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 12:39:37 +0000

If you’re going to splurge anywhere in Northern Greece, Thessaloniki (thess-ah-lo-nee-kih) is the place to do it. Greece’s second city, and its cultural capital, Thessaloniki (also called Salonica) lets you indulge in fine food, sinful sweets, ultra-chic shopping, an energetic nightlife and more concerts, parties, art shows and events than you can keep track of.
What really enhances Thessaloniki’s hip atmosphere, however, are the enduring symbols of its glorious history, from the White Tower on its café-lined waterfront all the way up to the Byzantine walls, just above the Upper Town (Ano Poli), an enchanting neighbourhood of pretty traditional houses set on winding, peaceful alleyways. Down from them are impressive constructions like the 4th-century Church of Agios Dimitrios (said to be the largest in Greece), the enormous Roman Rotunda, and the sculpted Arch of Galerius in Kamara, thronged with students from hessaloniki’s universities. Indeed, Thessaloniki’s multitude of young people gives it a vivacious, stylish mood, which can be felt in its cafés, restaurants and bars, even in its shops and designer hair salons. Still livable and relatively small, Thessaloniki has none of Athens’ opprobrious traffic or smog. True, it’s no budget destination, but Thessaloniki is packed with life and should be on every traveller’s itinerary.

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Macedonia

vagelis — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 12:31:55 +0000

The biggest and most diverse region in Greece, Macedonia (mah-keh-do-nee-ah) also boasts the country’s second city, stylish Thessaloniki.
It’s a place with both natural beauty and a deep history, and the two are often intertwined. Mt Olympus, Greece’s highest peak (2918m), is both the fabled refuge of the ancient Greek gods and an excellent hiking destination, while the isolated monasteries of Mt Athos, deep amid wilderness on the third finger of the Halkidiki Peninsula, have constituted the beating heart of Byzantine spirituality for over a millennium.

Despite being on the mainland, Macedonia also draws big crowds in summer to its beaches on Halkidiki’s first two fingers (Kassandra and Sithonia), though you can still find some idyllic, unvisited stretches of sand there too. Beyond Florina, far up in the northwest of Macedonia, brown bears amble through forested mountains that descend to placid Prespes, aquaeous home to colourful pelicans and magnificent medieval churches. Other inimitable attractions are the palmlined port town of Kavala, crowned by a castle, the ancient Macedonian capital of Pella
and Vergina, where the Macedonian kings were buried.

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