…SEE
Οι πρώτες χιονονιφάδες “στολίζουν” τα παρτέρια του Βορρά, χιλιάδες καμπανάκια χτυπούν σε γιορτινό ρυθμό και μια μαγευτική λάμψη “ξεπετάγεται” στον χειμωνιάτικο ουρανό του Θερμαϊκού. Ο φετινός χειμώνας ανήκει, ασυζητητί, στη Θεσσαλονίκη. Whatever background you choose – fairytale Christmas, Halloween with traditional Macedonian colour or romantic getaways, the historic centre, the new and old beach and the Ano Poli are stops you will hardly miss.
In a festive mood, “spill out” to Aristotelous Square, where from 7 December the 18-metre Christmas tree will be dominated by
Taxiarchis of Halkidiki, decorated with thousands of led lights alternating, forming an impressive spectacle. Περάστε κάτω από τον “μπλε ουρανό” που με τα μικρά φωτεινά λαμπάκια του “σκεπάζει” τον πεζόδρομο της Αγίας Σοφίας. Walk along the illuminated avenues of Mitropoleos and Victory until your footsteps bring you to the “feet” of the White Tower where something festive will be playing overlooking Thermaikos. Lock your love forever with the “lockheart” and throw the key into the sea, in front of the Umbrellas of Zongolopoulos in Nea Paralia. Head to the romantic side of town, where the grand buildings give way to traditional mansions, picturesque alleys and imposing castles. Dress warmly and with your partner in your arms, enjoy the panoramic view from the Monastery of Vlatades and the winter sunset from the Tower of Trigonio. Discover one by one all the fifteen UNESCO Byzantine monuments, scattered throughout the city with its churches and monasteries, walls, fortresses and baths.
Visit its museums to get to know its ancient and Byzantine side and to get in touch with modern art through the “famous” Kostakis collection. Just before the winter comes to an end, experience the great fun at the carnival of Sochos, with its Dionysian origins.
…ΑΚΟΥΣ
Η Θεσσαλονίκη το χειμώνα γεμίζει από βυζαντινές μελωδίες, χριστουγεννιάτικα κάλαντα, ρεμπέτικα και σύγχρονα ακούσματα μέχρι τους ήχους από τους χιλιάδες κωδωνοφόρους του Σοχού.
…ΟΣΦΡΑΙΝΕΣΑΙ
Η ευωδιά του ψημένου κάστανου από τη φουφού του καστανά, ζεσταίνει τις κρύες νύχτες και του σαλεπιού από τους περιπλανώμενους σαλεπιτζήδες στους δρόμους της πόλης, ”χαρίζει” χρόνια.
Οι μυρωδιές του λιβανιού και του κεριού από τους πολυπληθείς βυζαντινούς ναούς, όπως του Αγίου Δημητρίου του Μυροβλήτη,που κάποτε ανέδυε το μύρο του ολόγυρα, της Παναγίας Αχειροποιήτου στο κέντρο της πόλης και της Αγίας Σοφίας, θα “γαληνέψουν” το πνεύμα σας.
Sesame from the traditional and “famous” bun of Thessaloniki, will “awaken” your senses. Των τσουρεκιών με τη χαρακτηριστική μυρωδιά που τους δίνει το μαχλέπι και κάθε λογής γλυκιές και πικάντικες ευωδιές θα “γαργαλίσουν” τη μύτη σας, κάνοντας μια βόλτα από την παραδοσιακή αγορά του ανακαινισμένου Μοδιάνο,που ετοιμάζεται να στεγάσει γεύσεις, εμπειρίες και ψυχαγωγία, από αγνά προϊόντα της ελληνικής γης έως εξωτικά υλικά, επιτόπια γεύματα και συναθροίσεις, βραδιές ψυχαγωγίας, φεστιβάλ και εκδηλώσεις γαστρονομίας και πολιτισμού.
…FIRE
Winter in Thessaloniki wants coffee, hot chocolate and crispy bougatsa in any flavor you want as long as it “melts” in your mouth.
He wants homemade traditional dishes that are in high demand this season: cabbage dumplings – “the spargae of the newborn Christ”, yuvarlakia, prasofryania and pork with cabbage. Pumpkin pie and cabbage rice but also tripe for the late risers.
Panorama triangles, kazan dip with buffalo milk and the traditional Asia Minor sweet Isli, complete the culinary treasures. Ano Poli, Ladadika, Modiano Market, Chortiatiati with its snowy landscape, “fished” places inside and outside the city, no matter where you choose to enjoy excellent dishes that put Thessaloniki on the “throne of taste”.
…LOVE
Dress as warmly as you can and get out of the city to discover traditional mountain villages – full of history and flavour, forests and unique wetlands. Return to indulge in unique shopping in its main streets. All this in Thessaloniki
Σε λιγότερο από μία ώρα, βρεθείτε στον επίγειο παράδεισο του Δέλτα Αξιού, με τη λιμνοθάλασσα Καλοχωρίου και τις εκβολές των ποταμών που σχηματίζουν ένα πανέμορφο θέαμα. This is the ideal time for birdwatching, with hundreds of rare and non-rare species hosted there. With your car, tour the coastal dykes and visit the floating wooden huts of Halastra. If you are mountain lovers, Chortiatis, east of the city, is waiting for you to explore. Walk along the popular and easy path of the Ice Makers, through a beautiful chestnut forest and lush vegetation, until you reach the shelter at Kerasies.
After an hour or so of hiking, you should rest and “satisfy” your hunger in one of the many taverns of Chortiatis that have a tradition of good food. Continue towards the 12th century Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour, with its simple octagonal type, which is not found in any other church in mainland Greece. Back in the city, full of life, the aesthetically pleasing shop windows on Egnatia, Tsimiski and other main streets will lure you into an urban trekking experience that will “lighten” not only you but also your wallet.
INFO: Mysteries and urban legends “cover” many corners of Thessaloniki. From the underground galleries dating back to the Hellenistic period, the Crypt of St Demetrios, to the Gardens of Pasha. The Gardens with their strange creations, located above the Fountain Square in the Upper Town, are reminiscent of the Güell Park in Barcelona or, in other words, a fake petrified forest. The park’s curious cluster of stone structures is said to have been built by a Turkish pasha who had his hermitage there. For some people it is considered an energy field and there are various stories with a strong metaphysical element.
