Portara (Main Gate) and Byzantine Walls of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki
The Walls of Thessaloniki used to encircle the city from the Middle Ages until 1874 when much of them, especially the parts facing the sea, were destroyed during Ottoman renovations of Thessaloniki.
The remaining section of the Walls dates back to around 390 AD, built during the early Byzantine period, with some parts originating from an earlier construction in the late 3rd century. They're made of the typical late Roman style with alternating layers of stone and brick.
Today, the Walls stretch about 4 kilometers, half of their original length of 8 kilometers, and stand up to 10-12 meters tall and 4.5 meters wide. On the northeast side, they climb up the hills and connect with the Acropolis and Heptapyrgion Fortress.
In 1355, Byzantine Empress Anna Palaiologina modified some parts of the Walls, creating two gates known as Doors to the Walls, and another one to the west called "Portara," meaning Great Gate. These gates provided safe passage for citizens to seek refuge in the Acropolis and Heptapyrgion during attacks or sieges.
The Portara, the main gate, is well-preserved, showing layers of brickwork from repairs done over the centuries. The Walls also feature around 50 towers, including some from the Byzantine era like Klaudianos, Relief, Ormisda, and Andronikos Lapardas towers, as well as those from the Ottoman period such as the White Tower and the Chain/Triangle Tower. The Walls of Thessaloniki are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The remaining section of the Walls dates back to around 390 AD, built during the early Byzantine period, with some parts originating from an earlier construction in the late 3rd century. They're made of the typical late Roman style with alternating layers of stone and brick.
Today, the Walls stretch about 4 kilometers, half of their original length of 8 kilometers, and stand up to 10-12 meters tall and 4.5 meters wide. On the northeast side, they climb up the hills and connect with the Acropolis and Heptapyrgion Fortress.
In 1355, Byzantine Empress Anna Palaiologina modified some parts of the Walls, creating two gates known as Doors to the Walls, and another one to the west called "Portara," meaning Great Gate. These gates provided safe passage for citizens to seek refuge in the Acropolis and Heptapyrgion during attacks or sieges.
The Portara, the main gate, is well-preserved, showing layers of brickwork from repairs done over the centuries. The Walls also feature around 50 towers, including some from the Byzantine era like Klaudianos, Relief, Ormisda, and Andronikos Lapardas towers, as well as those from the Ottoman period such as the White Tower and the Chain/Triangle Tower. The Walls of Thessaloniki are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Thessaloniki. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Portara (Main Gate) and Byzantine Walls of Thessaloniki on Map
Sight Name: Portara (Main Gate) and Byzantine Walls of Thessaloniki
Sight Location: Thessaloniki, Greece (See walking tours in Thessaloniki)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Thessaloniki, Greece (See walking tours in Thessaloniki)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Thessaloniki, Greece
Create Your Own Walk in Thessaloniki
Creating your own self-guided walk in Thessaloniki is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Thessaloniki Upper Town Walking Tour
Thessaloniki's Upper Town (Ano Poli) is the most ancient part of the city, aged approximately 2,300 years. Being also the highest part of Thessaloniki, dominated by the Acropolis with the Byzantine-/Ottoman-era fort known as Heptapyrgion (Eptapyrgio), from here on a clear day you can see way across the gulf, as far as Mount Olympus, some 80 km (50 miles) away, towering over the horizon in all... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.0 Km or 2.5 Miles
Thessaloniki Introduction Walking Tour
Thessaloniki is Greece's second-largest city as well as its second major political, industrial, commercial, and economic center.
Historically, Thessaloniki co-ruled the Byzantine Empire along with Constantinople. But its history goes back even further than that. Cassander of Macedon originally founded the city in 315 BC. Cassander named the city after his wife, Thessalonike. Thessalonike... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Historically, Thessaloniki co-ruled the Byzantine Empire along with Constantinople. But its history goes back even further than that. Cassander of Macedon originally founded the city in 315 BC. Cassander named the city after his wife, Thessalonike. Thessalonike... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Thessaloniki Waterfront Tour
The Mediterranean has always been an integral part of Thessaloniki鈥檚 appeal. The city's orientation toward the sea is largely due to the vision of Ernest H茅brard, the French urban planner and architect, who redesigned the downtown area after the devastating fire of 1917.
To really get the taste of Thessaloniki you need to visit not just its historical landmarks, but also those spots... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
To really get the taste of Thessaloniki you need to visit not just its historical landmarks, but also those spots... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles