Macedonia Attractions

Then in the fourth century B.C., after achieving internal unity, it rose under Philip II to become the dominant power in Greece and the basis of the world empire of Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.). Aristotle, Alexander's teacher, came from Stageira (Stayíra) in Macedonia.

Although Macedonia did not become part of Greece until 1913, it has few remains of the Turkish period. It has, however, important ancient sites such as Pella, once its capital, and Vergína, and numerous monuments of the Christian period - the basilicas of Philippi, the monasteries of Athos, the churches of Salonica and Kastoriá.

In the past Macedonia was little visited by tourists except as an area of passage to somewhere else, but in recent years the Chalcidice peninsula has developed into a large and well equipped holiday region.

From Aristotle Square Aristotle Street (Odós Aristotélous) runs northeast into the city center. After crossing Mitropóleos and Odós Tsimíski, two long streets lined with luxury shops, boutiques and other shops, it joins the broad Odós Egnatía, the city's main eastwest street. (In spite of its name this is probably not the Roman Via Egnatia, which is believed to have bypassed the city.)