Ferry from Thessaloniki to Fournoi

Thessaloniki Guide

The second largest city in Greece is Thessaloniki which is also the capital of the Macedonian region of the country. The city lies on the northern edge of the Thermaic Gulf and is bounded by Mount Chortiatis to the south east and the Gulf to its east. The city was founded by Cassander of Mecedon in 315 BC and went on to become an important city during Roman times when it became the second largest and richest city in the Byzantine Empire. The city was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of the many Byzantine monuments in the city which includes the Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki. Also in the city are a number of Roman, Ottoman and Sephardic Jewish monuments. Thessaloniki is regarded as the cultural capital of Greece and has many theatres and arts venues. The city's main theatres, run by the National Theatre of Northern Greece which was established in 1961, include the Theatre of the Society of Macedonian Studies, where the National Theatre is based, the Royal Theatre (Vasiliko Theatro), Moni Lazariston, and the Earth Theatre and Forest Theatre, both amphitheatrical open-air theatres overlooking the city.

Ferry services from the city's port depart to Varthi via Lemnos, Mitilini and Chios and then on to Kavala. Passenger facilities in the port include waiting rooms, cafes, information desks and public telephones.

Fournoi Guide

Fournoi is a Greek island that lies in the north Aegean Sea and is situated between the islands of Ikaria, Samos and Patmos. The island's long history is evidenced by the many ancient finds that are dotted around the island that date back to the Ionians, Classical and Hellenistic times. Included in the finds are the cyclopean Wall with signs of an Acropolis on the Hill of Ai Giorgis, the ruins of the ancient temple at Kamari and the remains of homes on the sea bed, the shrine of Poseidon at Agia Triada in Chryssomilia. The island's many hidden beaches and small inlets was a haven for pirates during the Middle Ages as their ships could be easily hidden. In fact, at one point the island was named "Corseoi Island" after Corsairs (pirates).

The island's main village is Campos and has a number of tavernas, patisseries, shops selling traditional products and bakeries (fournoi in Greek) to greet visitors.