Veria

Veria is a town of Central Macedonia and the capital of the County of Imathia. The archaeological site of Vergina, some 12 km from the city center, is the main tourist draw in the area.

The city of Veria as seen from Vikela Hill

Understand

The city lies on the foot of Mt Vermio. In the southeast area flows the Aliakmonas River, the longest river in Greece, with its tributaries, one of which, the Tripotamos, flows through the town.

The town is known as the Little Jerusalem because of the numerous byzantine and post-Byzantine churches that it has (approximately 48 saved till today of 72 that were built). Veria has a very long history dating from antiquity and was one of the cities that St. Paul the Apostle visited during his second trip to Greece, in the 1st century AD.

Orientation

1 Elia Square is the city's main thoroughfare. It is nicknamed “the balcony of Veria” for its panoramic position on a slope in the east side.

2 Kyriotissa, just behind Elias Square, is the ancient Christian district with narrow cobbled streets and a number of small stone churches. Many of the old houses have been renovated and transformed into museums.

3 Barbouta is the former Jewish quarter and undoubtedly the most picturesque part of the city. It has quaint Ottoman-style houses with wooden balconies overlooking Tripotamos River which flows below. The small synagogue still stands in a narrow line. According to the New Testament, Paul the Apostle went to the Barbouta synagogue to try to convert the Jews in the year 55.

Get in

Thessaloniki International Airport "Macedonia" is the closest international airport, 88 km (55 mi) northeast of Veria.

By rail

Veria is linked to Thessaloniki by the Thessaloniki-Edessa railway, with connections to Athens and Alexandroupoli.

By bus

Veria is also connected to more than 500 local and national destinations via the national coach network (KTEL). The 1 Bus Station is just north of Elias Square.

By road

Veria is connected to the motorway system of Greece and Europe through Egnatia Odos, the Greek part of the European route E90.

See

• 1 The Jewish synagogue, Merarchia Str.. (updated Mar 2016)
• 2 Resurrection of Christ Church (Greek: Anastasi tou Christou). (updated Mar 2016)
• Apostle Paul’s Altar. It is a historical monument of global interest and a source of religious tourism for the town. Apostle Paul taught in the town in the 1st century AC. Every year a festivity called “Pavlia” takes place at this monument in June. (updated Mar 2016)
• Church of Saint John Theologian (church of Agios Ioannis Theologos). 13th century (updated Mar 2016)
• Church of Saints Kirikos and Ioulitis. 16th century (updated Mar 2016)
• Church of Saints Peter and Paul. 11th century (updated Mar 2016)
• Music Library. Housed in a traditional mansion, the Music Libraryit is the newest acquisition of the town and one of the first of its kind in Greece. (updated Mar 2016)
• 3 Twin Baths (Greek: Δύδιμα Λουτρά). (updated Mar 2016)
• Other Ottoman monuments are: The old Cathedral of Metropolis, the Hunkiar mosque, the Kazaktsi and Orta mosque.

Museums

• 4 Archaeological museum, Anixeos Avenue, ☏ +30 2331 024972. Offers a flashback into the rich past of Veria as an ancient town, with findings from the Stone Age till the period of Turkish domination in the three rooms of the museum. (updated Mar 2016)
• 5 Byzantine museum. (updated Mar 2016)
• Museum of Education. A permanent exhibition is open, which presents the evolution of education and educational means in Greece from the years of certified plates, parchments, ancient ink and pen holders till the era of notebooks, desks and personal computers. (updated Mar 2016)
• Museum of Modern History and Arts (Known in Greek as Vlachogiannio). It exhibits the blooming of the art and the progress of modern history in this place in a unique way. (updated Mar 2016)
• Folklore Museum. It is housed at the old mansion of Sarafoglou. The museum focuses on the folklore history of the area, highlighting the rich background of the habits of the citizens of Veria. The material of the museum is of great interest, while at the same time it is housed in an old mansion which allows you to see the architecture of the town from the inside, too. (updated Mar 2016)

Further afield

• 6 Holy Monastery of Panagia Dovra. The monastery is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin and dates back to the 12th century. It's surrounded by dense vegetation and is 5 km away from Veria. (updated Mar 2016)
• Holy Monastery of Panagia Soumela (24 km distance from Veria). The monastery was built in 1951 on the slopes of Vermio and houses the wonder-working icon of the Virgin and Evangelist Lucas as well as the heirlooms that have been transferred from the original monastery on the Mount Melas in Trapezounta of Pontos. (updated Mar 2016)

Do

• 1 Public Library, 8, Ellis Str, ☏ +30 23310 24494, fax: +30 23310 24600. The Public Central Library of Veria organizes seminars and provides a lot of services and information. In 2010, it received the “Access to Learning” Award of the Bill and Melina Gates institution. (updated Mar 2016)

Fishing, kayaking, canoeing, cycling (bikes can be rented in town) are some of the activities that can be done in the green landscape around the dam of Aliakmonas river, a few km south of the city center.

• Enduroway, Veria, ☏ +302331200280, info@enduroway.com. Organized tours with enduro bikes in the mountains nearby Veria. (updated Dec 2023)

Events

Several cultural events take place in the town such as the Theater week, the French cinema week as well as performances and concerts at the Open Theater of Alsos “Melina Merkouri”. All these events take place in the winter. During the summer, the youth of Veria carries out spectacles and concerts on the banks of Aliakmonas River.

Sleep

Budget

• 1 En Eari Hotel, 82, Anixeos Avenue, ☏ +30 23310 75788, +30 23310 75789, +30 23310 75790, fax: +30 23310 75791. 2-star hotel. 20 A/C rooms. Bath or shower. (updated Mar 2016)
• 2 Veroi Hotel, 10, Orologiou Square, ☏ +30 23310 22866, +30 23310 23566, +30 23310 20014, fax: +30 23310 22866. 2-star hotel. (updated Mar 2016)

Mid-range

• 3 Villa Elia Hotel, 10, Elias Str, ☏ +30 23310 26800, fax: +30 23310 21880. 3-star hotel. (updated Mar 2016)
• 4 Kokkino Spiti Hotel, 10, Olganou Str (Jewish Quarter), ☏ +30 23310 74440, fax: +30 23310 74436. 3-star hotel. An old house, which was restored and turned into a traditional hotel with six rooms. (updated Mar 2016)

Splurge

• 5 Aiges Melathron Hotel, ☏ +30 23310 77777, fax: +30 23310 77770, info@aigesmelathron.gr. 4-star hotel (updated Mar 2016)

Go next

• Vergina — One of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. The tomb of King Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great, was found there, as well as the gold urn with his bones.
• Edessa — On the way to Edessa the city with the amazing waterfalls, there are the Macedonian tombs in Palatitsia, the tombs of ancient Mieza and the Aristotle School. Further away, the spa town of Aridaia can be visited.
• Dion, Pieria — An archaeological area set in a lovely landscape at the foot of Mt Olympus
• Seli and Pigadia — Two Ski Centers on the sloops of Mt Vermio
• The Wine Route — The itinerary winds through the eastern slopes of Mount Vermio. Thymiopoulos, Boutari, and Dalamara vineyards possess museum rooms where the visitors can taste the regional wine.

Routes through Veria

Igoumenitsa ← Kozani ←

W  E

→ Vergina → Thessaloniki