Vlatadon Monastery, Thessaloniki
Vlatadon Monastery is part of the Ano Poli Upper Town. Its also known as the Monastery of the Vlatades. When it was founded, it was called the Monastery of the Pantocrator. It was built during the 14th century during the end of the Byzantine Empire. It's part of Thessaloniki's UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Dorotheus and Markus Vlatadon founded the monastery in 1351. Historians believe the monastery was built on the same site that the Apostle Paul preached in AD 51. In 1351, Empress Anna Palaiologos retired to Thessalonica and gave the monastery its royal status.
Ottoman Turks began occupying the monastery in 1387. The main church was converted into a mosque, and the Turks plastered over the interior frescoes. Turkish troops billeted in the monastery during this time. When the Turks left in 1403, the monastery was returned to its original purpose. The Turks returned in 1430 but did not sequester the monastery again.
The monastery was renovated throughout the 20th century. The Patriarchal Institute for Patristic Studies operates in the monastery.
Several of the monastery's arches, semi-columns, and pediments are original. Most of the frescoes date to the 14th century. The monastery houses an extensive collection of Byzantine religious icons, scripts, codecs, patriarchal sigillum, and imperial golden seals.
The monastery is 120 meters (394 feet) above sea level and offers beautiful city and sea views.
Dorotheus and Markus Vlatadon founded the monastery in 1351. Historians believe the monastery was built on the same site that the Apostle Paul preached in AD 51. In 1351, Empress Anna Palaiologos retired to Thessalonica and gave the monastery its royal status.
Ottoman Turks began occupying the monastery in 1387. The main church was converted into a mosque, and the Turks plastered over the interior frescoes. Turkish troops billeted in the monastery during this time. When the Turks left in 1403, the monastery was returned to its original purpose. The Turks returned in 1430 but did not sequester the monastery again.
The monastery was renovated throughout the 20th century. The Patriarchal Institute for Patristic Studies operates in the monastery.
Several of the monastery's arches, semi-columns, and pediments are original. Most of the frescoes date to the 14th century. The monastery houses an extensive collection of Byzantine religious icons, scripts, codecs, patriarchal sigillum, and imperial golden seals.
The monastery is 120 meters (394 feet) above sea level and offers beautiful city and sea views.
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Vlatadon Monastery on Map
Sight Name: Vlatadon Monastery
Sight Location: Thessaloniki, Greece (See walking tours in Thessaloniki)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Thessaloniki, Greece (See walking tours in Thessaloniki)
Sight Type: Religious
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 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
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