Veria Imathia - Central Macedonia Greek

In this extremely difficult time globally  of coronavirus and all we stay home, protecting ourselves and the life of people we love many pictures of our beautiful places of our country  come in our mind as balm; to remind us our unforgettable moments and experiences and to help us to mentally travel to all those places; which we lived our childhood , or we visited . These thoughts give us strength and hope. They give us through the light, and energy.

more here and many photos in greek 

Veria is the capital of the prefecture of Imathia, is built at the eastern foot of the majestic mountain range of Vermio. Next to the thickly vegetated Pieria Mountains, this hospitable city unfolds its beauty. 

In Veria are located two rivers. 
Tripotamos River flowing across the city, a source of life for Veria, is tightly connected to its history. The Aliakmon River is located outside the city that provides hydroelectric power to the national electric power transmission network and irrigation water to agricultural customers of the Veria plain.
Veria is an old city first mentioned in the writings of Thucydides in 432 BC, there is evidence that it was populated as early as 1000 BC. 

Has a number of Byzantine monuments, as well as post-Byzantine churches built on Byzantine foundations. The most significant Byzantine monument is the Anastasis Church (Church of the Resurrection) with its "spectacular frescoes" from 1315, bearing comparison with some of the finest works of Palaiologan art in the main Byzantine centres of Thessaloniki and Constantinople. Of the city's thirteen mosques, eight survive, including the Old Metropolis, which had been converted into the Hünkar Mosque, as well as the Orta Mosque, Mendrese Mosque, and the Mahmud Çelebi Mosque. Four other mosques, the Subashi, Bayir, Yola Geldi, and Barbuta mosques, are now used as private residences. There located the Twin Hamam  and ottoman houses, neoclassical buildings, the archaeological museum, the ruins of the ancient walls of the city, Ottoman monuments, the Jewish traditional districts of Barbouta and Kyriotissa.

Aigai is the first capital of Macedonians and the core of their ancient Kindom, the place where the family of Philip II and Alexander the Great reigned for over three centuries. It is the legendary, spiritual and political cradle that spread the Greek civilization to the whole world.In Aigai, at the spot of current Vergina, in the Municipality of Veria, the King of Macedonians, the sovereign of the Balkans and elected overlord of Greeks, Philip II, in the year 336 B.C. had celebrated the greatest feast of his kingship before his inglorious end by the hand of his murderer, a fact that changed the world and its history, making Alexander the Great the leader of the Macedonian Kingdom. Alexander was acclaimed as a king and decided in spring of 334 B.C. to start his great campaign that sealed the fate of the ancient world. Following the same destiny of the Kingdom, Aigai was forgotten until the 1977 when Manolis Andronikos’ excavation revealed a lot of significant treasures and gave the place its name and the history of Macedonia.

Veria was  the second most important city after Aiges, the years of ancient Macedonians acne. From the 11th to the 14th century was the third most important city of the Byzantine Empire after Constantinople and  Thessaloniki . Irrefutable witness of acne is the remarkably large number of Byzantine churches  with beautiful frescos (today preserved the 48 by 72), who gave her the nickname  " Little Jerusalem"
Museums in Veria include the Archaeological Museum of Veroia, the Byzantine Museum ofVeroia, the Folklore Museum of Veroia, a museum of modern Greek history and a laographical museum. and national education museum.
There is also a 19th-century Jewish synagogue in the protected Jewish neighbourhood.
Thearchaeological site of Aegae/Aigai (modern name Vergina), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies 12 km (7 mi) south-east of the city centre of Veria.
Footsteps  Apostle Paul  preached the Gospel, faith, salvation and love to a large number of Jews and Verians that believed in the Gods of Olympus or had adopted outlandish worships. His preach had a great resonance and since his first visit in the Macedonian town he had proselytized many Verians to the new religion. Paul visited Veria twice; in 56 AD and at the beginning of 57 AD during his journey from Asia Minor to Greece.
According to historical resources, Paul the Apostle had visited Veria at least twice between 50 AD and 57 AD in order to teach the life of Jesus to the people of the region. The Apostle of the Nations was warmly welcomed since his first visit and his preaching had a great impact on the Verians and the Jews.
Paul’s the Apostle passage through Veria and the impact of his preaching, reveal the significance of the town at the first steps of Christianity and the important role that the town played for the spreading and establishment the Christian faith in Greece. In the city of Veria you see  Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches,

Today is a modern city with large squares, traditional houses and many Byzantine churches. There are beautiful mansions that are well-preserved in the original “Macedonian” style to impress visitors. The city developed significantly following the Second World War, after several factories located here. Industry benefitted from the energy generated by the many waterfalls.

Veria is a historical city with a rich culture, located in the middle of a beautiful natural environment. The two most beautiful neighborhoods in the city are Barbouta and Kyriotissa. The district Kyriotissa is the most congested area of ​​the city. There are narrow streets and beautiful homes, the nicest cafes and terraces in town. Beautiful views over the city fare seen from Pasa Kioski (the kiosk of the Pasha) at recently renovated Eliá Park.

The Orologio or Raktivan square, along the Mitropolis street marking the western border of the walled Veria, as well as the Elia Park, the lush green park in the centre of the city, which has been characterized as the balcony of Veria.Its panoramic position on a slope in the east side.

Kyriotissa, located 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.

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.
The old market will impress you and will make you feel the charm of nature, which, in harmonic connection with the history, makes Veria an enchanting, cultural destination.
Picturesque taverns to enjoy the dishes and the tasty delicacies of local cuisine, the traditional cafes, as well as the patisserie shops of the city.  

The traditional sweet „revani“ made in my sity with the old traditional recipe, as well as the traditional yogurt and the „loukoumades“ (doughnut type sweet in honey syrup).
At night the city takes on a stylish new face and invites all to enjoy the coffee bars, the taverns and the ouzo-shops (ouzo being a traditional Greek drink), which guarantee times of relaxation 

At a beautiful site on the slopes of Vermio, close to the village Kastania, approx. 18 km from the city of Veria, is located the majestic Holy Monastery of the Panagia (Virgin Mary) „Soumela„. It was built in 1951 and it has since been the cultural centre of the Hellenism of the Euxine Sea (Black Sea). Each year, during the three-day celebration of the Dormition of Mary, on the 15th of August, thousands of visitors from all over Greece and abroad gather here to pay honour to Virgin Mary.

The village of Kato Vermio or Seli. It is 24 km away from Veria and 95 km away from Thessaloniki. The National Ski Resort has 17 ski tracks, 14 km of descent, various difficulty levels to meet the needs of each visitor. There are also 8 km of lang-lauf tracks and several snowboard tracks. 

Seli Ski National Center at 1.900 mt was the first organized ski resort in Greece.

It has been operating since 1934 when the first Pan – Hellenic Ski Competition was organized; for many years it was the only ski resort in Greece. It goes without saying that ski tradition in Greece started at Seli.

 Hope to enjoy this trip and to visit our city.