Veria Attractions
The pleasant Macedonian town of Véria, ancient Veroia, lies on a terrace to the north of the river Aliakmón, 75km/47mi southwest of Salonica on the road to Kozáni.
Beroia, first recorded in 500 B.C., belonged to the kingdom of Macedon, and in 168 B.C. became Roman together with the rest of Macedonia. In A.D. 64 the Apostle Paul preached the new faith to the Jewish community of the town (Acts 17, 10-13 and 20, 4). In the 14th century the town was occupied by the Serbs, in the 15th by the Turks.
Véria has a number of churches, the most notable of which are Áyios Christós (with paintings of 1315), Ayía Fotiní (also with paintings) and Áyios Kyrikos, all in Odós Makaritissa.
In the main square are remains of the ancient town walls and a Turkish mosque, and there are other ancient remains, including a town gate excavated in 1960, at the junction of the roads from Salonica and Naoúsa.
A mock peasant wedding is held every spring.
Beroia, first recorded in 500 B.C., belonged to the kingdom of Macedon, and in 168 B.C. became Roman together with the rest of Macedonia. In A.D. 64 the Apostle Paul preached the new faith to the Jewish community of the town (Acts 17, 10-13 and 20, 4). In the 14th century the town was occupied by the Serbs, in the 15th by the Turks.
Véria has a number of churches, the most notable of which are Áyios Christós (with paintings of 1315), Ayía Fotiní (also with paintings) and Áyios Kyrikos, all in Odós Makaritissa.
In the main square are remains of the ancient town walls and a Turkish mosque, and there are other ancient remains, including a town gate excavated in 1960, at the junction of the roads from Salonica and Naoúsa.
A mock peasant wedding is held every spring.
Mt Vermíon
Within easy reach of Véria is Mt Vermíon (2016m/6614ft), a popular winter sports area (ski-lifts).
Néa Nikomídia
At Néa Nikomídia, nine km northeast of Veria, there are traces of a Neolithic settlement of the seventh millennium B.C., which is the oldest agricultural settlement along with Sesklo in Thessaly.
The terra-cotta woman-shaped idols, as well as many frog figurines made of steatite are among the most interesting exhibits at the Veria Archeological Museum.
The terra-cotta woman-shaped idols, as well as many frog figurines made of steatite are among the most interesting exhibits at the Veria Archeological Museum.
