Rotunda

Terrific - even though the entry fee is dear (€10) this was really good and worth the cost. It is fascinating - said to have been built for Emperor Galerius (why?) - it is quite a calm space to visit. In its day the decorations must have been magnificent. there is also an interactive display and videos to watch - which are pretty good. Recommended.

Tucked in the heart of Thessaloniki, the Rotonta stands like a quiet guardian of time. It’s one of those rare places where you can feel history layered in the air, Roman ambition, Byzantine faith, Ottoman echoes, all coexisting under one majestic dome. Built in the early 4th century by Emperor Galerius, the Rotonta was first intended as a mausoleum or temple. Over the centuries, it transformed into a Christian church, later into a mosque and today into a monument and museum open to the world. Each transformation left its trace: the delicate Christian mosaics shimmering high above, the elegant Arabic inscriptions, the worn marble floors that have carried countless footsteps through time. Stepping inside feels like entering another world. The light filters through small windows, illuminating golden fragments of mosaics that tell stories of faith and endurance. Outside, the modern city hums with life,cafés, students, the scent of fresh coffee, yet within the Rotonta, everything slows down. If you ever find yourself in Thessaloniki, take a quiet moment here. Stand beneath the vast dome, close your eyes, and let the centuries speak.

Entry fee is €10. Seems steep but this is a fascinating space with history to match. Built for Emperor Galerius but not exactly clear for what purpose. It is a calm space to contemplate what once was. The art and decoration must have been magnificent. There is an interactive display and a couple of videos to watch in a small annex. Both the videos and display are good and add to the experience of visiting.

Gorgeous. I felt the tears on my cheeks, how beautiful it was. Rotunda. It had a period of Christianity and Islam. Nowadays, it's a St. George Christian Church, but the most beautiful I ve seen. The entrance fee is 10 euro, what seems to be overpriced.

The Rotunda in Thessaloniki is a fascinating building, especially when you consider its long and complex history. The structure itself is impressive, and the icon paintings and mosaics on the roof are beautiful highlights worth noticing. However, I found the entrance fee a bit expensive considering the small size of the monument and the short time you spend inside—most visitors will probably stay no more than 10 minutes. While it’s an important historical site, I’m not sure it’s worth the price unless you’re very interested in history or architecture.

After seeing some of the photos and comments about paying to enter we didn’t go inside as we were short of time but they were plenty of folks paying to enter but it was worth popping along en-route to see other places. Impressive outside. We did read up about it and got a feel of the place that way.

Massive structure - probably a miracle that it survived for so long. Its EUR 10 entrance so would only recommend if interested in these type of buildings. Otherwise marvle from the outside

What a building! A crowning achievement of late Roman architectural engineering. The building is monumental and massive, inspiring awe and wonder. The early Byzantine mosaics, although not that well preserved are still a sight to behold. And of course, who could forget the cats? The Roman Empire did not end, it was just transferred to the cats of the Mediterranean, who now run it :)