VISIT THESSALONIKI:It is more than Greece's Culinary Capital.

THE THOMS SUNDAY TRAVEL SECTION

What is Greece’s Second Largest City?

Would you guess Santorini or Mykonos? They are both islands. And although some call the Chora on Mykonos by Mykonos town, you would still be wrong.

It is Thessaloniki, the culinary capital of Greece. Thesa what?

Visit Thessaloniki for one of the best Greek experiences out there. — The old White Tower and new buildings

It has been around since 315 B.C. so it’s not terribly new. Not as old as Alexander the Great and his father King Philip II, but still fascinating.

As I said, it is the culinary capital of Greece. It is a Greek food lover’s Mecca.

You could spend two days eating bougatsa, (a phyllo dough creation with different stuffings,) and never repeat a flavor.

Thessaloniki makes both sweet and savory varieties, and they are available 24/7.

Sweet bougatsa for breakfast, savory for lunch and dinner, than sweet for a dessert. — Bougatsa

But there is more to Thessaloniki than pastry.

For instance, the modern-day chefs are revisiting age-old recipes of their grandmothers.

There are the influences of spice from the days of the Ottomans and the spice routes.

Fresh meats and produce arrive almost daily from nearby farms.

Another critical point, the Aegean Sea is their front yard. Fish (almost) jump onto the plate.

A walk through the market is always fun. The sound, the smells let you know you're not at home. — Local seafood is plentiful

Why do you want to visit Thessaloniki? Because you could eat your way through the city. I know.

Click the orange link for more on Thessaloniki Cuisine.

Do You Know Who Invented European Wine?

The Greeks.

Many people think Greece is nothing more than a few islands, togas and hot weather.

Greece, the country as a whole has just about every type of weather. From snow skiing to sirocco winds off the north coast of Africa. Somewhere, they have the climate for just about any kind of grape. Terraine, that’s a different story.

Here, they still make the wine by hand in many locations. — The Naoussa Wine Region is a fun day trip from Thessaloniki.

But Greece does O.K. There are over 300 indigenous grape varieties in Greece.

Getting back to Thessaloniki, there are, not one, not two, but three wine regions within a few hours (or less) drive from downtown.

Thrace is to the east of Thessaloniki, Macedonia to the north, and Epirus to the west. If you know nothing of these wines yet, you will.

These regions are very much like the Napa I remember of the 1980s. Small country roads, most of them not open for visitors, and the ones that are open require a reservation. And then is one or two white (wine) elephants with the tour buses out front.

Why do you want to visit Thessaloniki? Because you could spend three days just visiting wineries.

Dancing, eating and yes, drinking wine are nessesary to mark the end of harvest. This is usually late October. — As you can see, they take the grape harvest very seriously.

Whatever you do, do not visit in the late fall when they are finishing the grape harvest. Vineyards and sometimes even whole villages will gather, grill meat over open fires and feed you until you can’t stand. And the wine is flowing. And the music starts playing, and you are dancing like no one is watching. You certainly do not want to have an experience like that, do you?

Learn more about Thessaloniki Wine

Is That All There Is?

For me, that would be enough. However, there is also history and sightseeing. In fact, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of

Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessalonika has 14 sites in the city. The majority of these have some correlation to the early spread of Christianity. The Apostle Paul would pass through Thessaloniki on his way to Athens, Corinth and later Rome. He didn’t like Rome too much.

Many of the structures are from the 1400s, still standing after 600 years. — Saint Demetrius

How they built these with the skills and equipment available at the time is extraordinary. That they are still standing all these hundreds of years later is equally impressive. Then I look at my three-year-old fence, bowing and cracking…

There are other sites in the city that did not make the list. A Greek, then Roman agora (market) sits in the center of the city. The modern-day market, Modiano, is a few blocks away and worth a visit.

The agora is in the center of town 10 minutes from the waterfront. The present day market is not far. — First Greek, then a Roman agora was in operation here for hundreds of years.

Seeing the sites in the city can easily take a day, two if you include museums. And they have a great archeological museum. Another reason you want to visit Thessaloniki.

More UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Isn’t 14 enough? If you are not into history, absolutely. But if you are, there is Philippi, a city in existence from 360 B.C. named for Philip II of Macedon. It will last until the Ottoman invasion in the 14th century A.D. The Apostle Paul, along with Silas, Timothy and possibly Luke makes a stop here in 49 A.D. He has an Epistle for the locals, the Philippians.

The Apostle Paul would speak of Christianity to the Philippians. — Theater at Philippi

Mount Athos, is home to 20 monasteries of the Eastern Orthodox religion. Some of the monasteries are not open to the public. Several, are only visible from the water.

Only 120 guests can visit the monasteries a day and it is by reservation. Sorry ladies, men only. — Gregoriou Monastery, Mount Athos.

The royal tomb at the Archeological site of Aigai (Vergina) was the final resting place of King Phillip and his wife.

The grave site is not a interesting museum underground. — UNESCO World Heritage Site of Philip II’s royal tomb.

So why don’t more Americans visit Northern Greece? That I can tell you in one word, marketing. Colorful brochures and cruise itineraries are at the peril of the sales and marketing departments. In over 20 years as a travel manager, not once did the itinerary planning department ask for my advice.

Even television shows that are supposedly showing us the world, go to the same 60-70 locations.

There are so many more places to see in addition.

Thank goodness, you and I are travelers making our own itineraries.