EXPLORE

Two kilometres from the Thessaloniki–Kavala national highway, just above the mouth of the River Strymon, is the archaeological site of ancient Amphipolis (a city founded in 437 bc) and the Archaeological Museum.

The museum is housed in a new building that was completed in 1995. The finds are displayed in chronological order and comprise the following groups:

the prehistoric period (from Mount Pangaio and Ketil Tepes Hill) the Archaic period (from Kasta Hill and the Iron Age cemetery at Amphipolis) the Classical and Hellenistic periods (from the Archaic Gymnasium, the Hellenistic cemetery, the Hellenistic house, and from excavations on the archaeological site), the Roman period (mosaics from a Roman house and from excavations in the local cemetery) the Early Christian period (from five Early Christian basilicas at Amphipolis) and the modern era (from a chapel found at a low elevation near Nea Amphipoli).

The most important historic site in Halkidiki is ancient Stagira, located beside Olympiada, in the Liotopi peninsula. The tour is a real treat.

The old sources are exact about the location of the city. Stravonas places it in a coastal area southern of ancient Akanthos, in his “Geographics” and mentions the existence of a small islet on the opposite side of the city named Kapros (probably the current island of Kafkanas). The fact that the same name is attributed to the port of Stagira is a feature, whereas many coins bear the symbol of a boar.Stagira was a small city of Halkidiki in the 4th century, which was under the jurisdiction of Macedonia’s Κing. Aristotle, who later became one of the most important Greek philosophers of ancient times, was born there in 384 B.C.

Aristotle was the last great philosopher after Socrates and Plato to have influenced the ancients’ thoughts. He was the first who consistently worked on logic, metaphysics, physics, morality, politics, philosophy, zoology, psychology, literature and aesthetics.He covered all areas of science and many modern ones are based on his research.When Aristotle passed away in 322 B.C. his body was transferred to his hometown, Stagira. He was declared a “founder” of the city and an altar was built on his tomb.

Thessaloniki is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of Greek Macedonia, the administrative region of Central Macedonia and the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace.

Events such as the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair and the Thessaloniki International Film Festival are held annually, while the city also hosts the largest bi-annual meeting of the Greek diaspora. Thessaloniki is the 2014 European Youth Capital.An important metropolis by the Roman period, Thessaloniki was the second largest and wealthiest city of the Byzantine Empire.

Thessaloniki is home to numerous notable Byzantine monuments, including the Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as several Roman, Ottoman and Sephardic Jewish structures.

In 2010, Lonely Planet ranked Thessaloniki as the world’s fifth-best party city worldwide, comparable to other cities such as Dubai and Montreal. For 2013 National Geographic Magazine included Thessaloniki in its top tourist destinations worldwide, while in 2014 Financial Times FDI magazine (Foreign Direct Investments) declared Thessaloniki as the best mid-sized European city of the future for human capital and lifestyle.