One of the most beautiful parts of Thessaloniki lies in the city’s Upper Town (Ano Poli), which is the oldest surviving part of Thessaloniki. It served as the Turkish quarter during Ottoman times while the Greeks and Jews lived near the port.
The Church of St. Demetrios is the most important church in Thessaloniki and part of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage listing.
The Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessalonika are a group of 15 UNESCO World Heritage sites built between the 3rd and 14th centuries. 13 of them are churches or monasteries. They’re all located within walking distance of other important sites in Thessaloniki, Greece.
The Rotunda of Galerius, part of Thessaloniki’s UNESCO World Heritage listing of Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessalonika, was originally built in 306 AD as a Roman temple by Emperor Galerius. The structure may have been intended as his mausoleum.
Hidden in a valley in Chios, Greece, Nea Moni (Νέα Μονή) is an 11th century monastery built by Byzantine emperor Constantine IX Monomachos and his wife, Empress Zoe. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and a must-see when visiting Chios.
The castle district of the city of Berat, Albania, is known for its white stone homes and Byzantine churches. I was able to visit most of the churches, some of them with the help of my new Albanian friend, Dino.
Berat was the highlight of my trip to Albania. It’s a beautiful old city with three main districts – Mangalemi, Gorica, and a castle district above Mangalemi. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Because of unexpectedIy making some new friends, I was only able to visit the castle. The main draw of the castle is the Byzantine churches and white stone homes.
Three historic churches in Upper Town (Haute-Ville) of the UNESCO World Heritage city of Québec caught my eye during my visit.
Just outside of the Québec city walls is the Parliament Building (Hôtel du Parlement), built in 1886. Tours are free, in either English or French, and take you into both chambers. They last a good 45 minutes.
The Citadelle of Québec (La Citadelle de Québec) is a working military base located just outside of the UNESCO World Heritage city of Québec. The Citadelle is accessible via a short tunnel that leads to its entrance.