World Heritage Identification Number: 456
World Heritage since: 1988
Category: Cultural Heritage
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇬🇷 Greece
Continent: Europe
UNESCO World Region: Europe and North America
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Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessalonika: A Testament to the City's Rich History
The Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessalonika, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, offer a captivating glimpse into the rich history of this ancient city in Macedonia, Greece. Founded in 315 B.C., Thessaloniki served as a crucial hub for the spread of Christianity and was adorned with impressive architectural marvels that continue to stand as testaments to the city's significance during the Middle Ages.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
Founded in 315 B.C., the provincial capital and sea port of Thessalonika was one of the first bases for the spread of Christianity. Among its Christian monuments are fine churches, some built on the Greek cross plan and others on the three-nave basilica plan. Constructed over a long period, from the 4th to the 15th century, they constitute a diachronic typological series, which had considerable influence in the Byzantine world. The mosaics of the rotunda, St Demetrius and St David are among the great masterpieces of early Christian art.
Encyclopedia Record: Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki
The city of Thessaloniki in Macedonia, Greece, for several centuries the second-most important city of the Byzantine Empire, played an important role for Christianity during the Middle Ages and was decorated by impressive buildings. Because of Thessaloniki's importance during the early Christian and Byzantine periods, the city contains several Paleochristian monuments that have significantly contributed to the development of Byzantine art and architecture throughout the Byzantine Empire and Serbia. The evolution of Imperial Byzantine architecture and the prosperity of Thessaloniki go hand in hand, especially during the first years of the Empire, when the city continued to flourish. Despite the capture of Thessaloniki by the Ottoman Empire in 1430, the Christian monuments were not destroyed, and travelers such as Paul Lucas and Abdulmejid I document the city's wealth in Christian monuments during the Ottoman control of the city.Additional Site Details
Area: 5.327 hectares
(ii) — Significant interchange of human values
(iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape
Coordinates: 40.63833 , 22.965
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© C messier, CC BY-SA 4.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)
