Saint Catherine

A 14th-century church. Fragments of the church's original wall paintings survive.

Constructed in the mid-7th century on the ruins of a Roman bath complex, in honor of Demetrius, a Roman officer who was imprisoned and martyred here in 303 AD. An earlier small church, built on the site of martyrdom, burned down during the earthquake of 620 and a new large basilica was erected at expenses of Leontius, the Byzantine prefect of Illyricum and the Bishop of Thessaloniki. The new church of S. Demetrios became one of the most famous centres of pilgrimage for Orthodox Christians until its Muslim conversion in 1492. In the Great Fire of Thessaloniki of 1917 the basilica was gutted. The work of restructuring the church lasted fifty years. Most of the ancient mosaics in the western wall and in the inner central aisle survived the heat from the fire.

The interior decoration consists of rich mosaics on the upper levels. Frescoes complete the decoration on the lower levels of the main church, but also on the narthex and one of the chapels.

Excavations and an interesting museum underneath.

An 11th-century church. The paintings are from the time the church was built, except a few from the 14th century.

A monastery built in the 14th century.