DAILY ESCAPES
DAILY ESCAPES
105 km from Litochoro
233 km from Elassona
Car Route
All seasons
Counting over eight thousand years, Veroia has a rich history being the crossroads for various religions and civilizations, architectural traditions, groundbreaking nature and an abundance of waters. The welcoming city, situated at the foothills of Vermio and 98km. away from Litochoro, has a plentiful to offer to visitors. On the one hand, Aiges, the first city of ancient Macedons, shines through the centuries with a historical wealth that is verified by astonishing archaeological evidence, the excavated royal tombs. Sightseeing begins with a tour at the city’s traditional quarters: that of Kyriotissa, Panagia Deksia and the Jewish quarter. Wonder around the narrow alleys and churches of Kyriotissa, the stone-cobbled streets with the traditional houses and the Synagogue of “Barbouta”, as the Jewish quarter is known, to end up walking along Tripotamos river, where the quarter of Panagia Deksia is located. The picturesque bridges of the river flatter the city’s urban landscape.
In ancient Aiges (today Vergina), Alexander the Great was named King and launched his expedition into Asia. The archaeological site of Aiges has been declared by Unesco a World Heritage Monument. It consists of the royal Macedonian tombs, among which that of King Philip II, father of Alexander the Great. The museum’s most precious exhibit is the golden urn with the 16-rayed sun, symbol of the Macedonian Dynasty.
Apostle Pavlos, the Apostle of the Nations, came to the city of Veria around 50-51 AC, and declared twice the Christian religion, right from the point where today stands a Step, dedicated to his holiness.
During the first period of the Christianism this place was near and outside the walls of the old city. Nowadays, it is the most important point of reference of Veria’s ecclesiastic history.
The building, made of stone and decorated with three large multicolored mosaics, was created to honor the Apostle Pavlos. Every June, special worship events take place under the name “Payleia”, culminating in the evening of the 29th with an outdoor vespers, when the icon of the Apostle is being carried in litany.
Behind the Metropolis is found Kyriotissa, the best preserved old settlement of Veria. Narrow cobble roads combined with paved alleys, bring to the eyes of the visitor images from the city’s life during the 18th century, when the Turkish traveler Evlia Tselempi wrote about “…the marvelous houses of this place, its beautiful mansions, its rich and decorated two-storey buildings made of stone… “.
The colors of Kyriotissa’s “sahnisia” (wooden ledges) are vivid, while the roofs of the houses almost seem to touch one another. Where the architecture of the old city is being intensely reflected in its preservable houses.
Sightseeing in the narrow alleys of Veria acts relaxingly in the soul of the visitor or the inhabitant of the city, helping him clear his mind of any stressful thoughts. Today in the same region traditional taverns, ouzo-taverns and coffee bars can be found, which thankfully demonstrated deep respect in the maintenance of the architecture of the place.
Next to River Tripotamos, that crosses the northwestern part of the town, spreads the Jewish Quarter of Barbouta. The sounds from the river rapids and the rich vegetation on the river bank complete the natural beauty of the landscape. A walk along the pedestrian precinct of “Jewish Martyrs”, with a view to Tripotamos and the old quarter is a must for the visitors to Veria.
Here, in the western part of the town, time changes and turns back to the period when Barbouta was a closed quarter where the Jews of Veroia lived. Built in a triangular shape, the quarter is unique in Europe. Olganou street, a cobblestone with the old houses rising on left and right creating a defense wall, is the center of the quarter. Exceptional mansions adorn the picturesque district with their magnificence. Jewish inscriptions, decorated with flowers and garlands, are a characteristic of these mansions.
