Three-day excursion to THESSALONIKI and CENTRAL MACEDONIA

Friday, March 6 to
Sunday, March 8, 2026

The CULTURAL SOCIETY LONGOS "LORD BYRON" has organised in cooperation with Aigialeia travel a three-day excursion to THESSALONIKI and CENTRAL MACEDONIA from Friday, March 6 untl Sunday, March 8, 2026. Participation fee: € 155 / person The price included transportation by luxury coach and accommodation in a 3-star hotel inThessaloniko in double or triple rooms with breakfast. The price did not include admission fees for museums and archaeological sites and the accommodation tax, which was payable at the accommodation.

Trip schedule Friday, March 6 to Sunday, March 8, 2026                      Vergina                                                         read more ...                    Thessaloniki                                                  read more ...                    Souroti                                                          read more ...                    Vermio Mountains / Panagia Soumela        read more ...                    Veria                                                              read more ...   Day 1 - Vergina and Thessaloniki Departure at 06:25 in the morning from Longos and following the Ionian Road we will make our morning stop for coffee and a short rest at Bizani, Ioannina. We continue via the Egnatia Road with destination Vergina in the prefecture of Imathia. In Aigai (Vergina), the first capital of the Macedonian kingdom, we will visit the Museum of Royal Tombs. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, which hosts the famous royal tombs discovered in 1977 by archaeologist Manolis Andronikos, with the most notable being the unmarked tomb of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great. After our visit to Vergina and a quick lunch, we continue to Thessaloniki to our hotel. The city takes its name from Thessaloniki, the half-sister of Alexander the Great. After checking in, you will have free time to relax and, in the evening, to experience the Thermaic Bride. (Day 1: 499 km) Day 2 - Holy Monastery of Saint John the Theologian Souroti and Thessaloniki historical center Immediately after our breakfast we will go to the Monastery of Agios Ioannis Theologos in Souroti, just 28 km from the center of Thessaloniki. The monastery is inextricably linked to Saint Paisios the Athonite, as the Elder slept here on July 12, 1994. After visiting his tomb and touring the monastery, we will return to Thessaloniki. The city is an open-air museum of World Cultural Heritage. There are fifteen early Christian and Byzantine monuments that were included in the UNESCO list in 1988. Among the most important are the Rotunda, Hagia Sophia, the White Tower, the Walls and the patron saint, Saint Demetrius, where the coach will drop us off. We will continue our tour on foot in the city center. Walking through Aristotelous Square, we will visit the city markets of Modiano and Kapani, where we can enjoy lunchtime snacks to get to know the city's gastronomy. In addition to its cultural heritage, Thessaloniki has also been included in the UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy network. The day is free to explore the city and in the evening, an optional dinner at Ladadika to experience Thessaloniki with friends. Day 3 - Panagia Soumela Vermio and Veria After breakfast we will depart from the hotel, heading to the verdant slopes of Vermion. Just outside the village of Kastania, at an altitude of 1100 m, lies the Holy Monastery of Panagia Soumela. It houses the holy icon of the Virgin Mary, which according to tradition was painted by the evangelist Luke. The monastery was built by refugees of Pontic origin in 1951-1952 and is a living monument of religious and cultural tradition. After worshipping, we will continue to the foothills of Vermion where Veria is built. The city stands out for its Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches and is often called the "little Jerusalem" of Macedonia. The Apostle Paul preached in the city, leaving the imprint of the early Christian period. In Veria we will have lunch and then head back with a short stop along the way for rest. Return to Longos in the evening. The program may be modified if necessary. For the visit to the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian in Souroti, ladies must wear a skirt or long dress and gentlemen long trousers. Entrance to the archaeological site of Vergina and the museum of the Royal Tombs is free on Friday, March 6, a day dedicated to the memory of Melina Mercouri.