Sunday, May 21
Thessaloniki was a major city in Roman Macedonia, and later the Byzantine Empire, second only to Constantinople. We didn’t have a tour today, just walked into the old town from the ship. Scattered through town were reminders of its history—a Roman arch commemorating victory of Emperor Galarius over the Persians, many Byzantine churches, and an Ottoman torture tower (the former Red Tower, now the White Tower). Most impressive was the Rotunda, a Roman mausoleum turned early Christian church (possibly the oldest), soaring with evocative mosaics.
Yet these things were scattered about in a surprisingly upscale and cosmopolitan city, second in Greece only to Athens. We admired the elegant architecture and the many pastry shops.