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Municipality in Greece
Photo: Holger Uwe Schmitt, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Pella (Greek: Πέλλα) is a municipality in Central Macedonia, Greece, about 40 km west of Thessaloniki. The capital and population center of the municipality is Giannitsa, but most visitors go to Pella village, which was built on top of Ancient Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great and capital of the Macedonian kingdom. Today there is an archaeological site with a museum.
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Designed on a grid plan, it consists of parallel streets which intersect at right angles and form a grid of eight rows of rectangular blocks. While there are no tall building-like structures to see other than a few columns, a large swath of the city has been unearthed, exposing the foundations (and floor-tile artwork) of entire city blocks. Allow about 30-45 minutes to see the highlights south of the Agora, 60-90 minutes to explore the whole site.
One of the richest residences of the city. The mosaics found here are on display in the Arcaeological Museum.
One of the richest residences of the city. The mosaics have been left in situ.
Pottery workshops with kilns and vats.
This huge square covered 7 hectares or 10 city blocks the centre of the city, built in the last quarter of the 4th century BC. The agora was surrounded by the shaded colonnades of stoas, and streets of enclosed houses with frescoed walls round inner courtyards.
Ancient Pella Museum
Exhibits focus on the daily life of Pella's residents, with detailed floor mosaics and other artefacts recovered from the archaeological site. Allow about 60 minutes to see the permanent exhibitions.
The seat of the royal power of Macedon, built on a 70 m hill north of the city.
By car
Take Greek National Road 2 (EO2). The sights are a few kilometers from the Pella exit.
Pella village is a small village where everything is within walking distance, although not flat.
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Thessaloniki · International · SKG
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