Visiting Rotonda it’s not just another cultural activity. It’s a journey through the multicultural past of the city. It’s always a chance to teach Greek. It’s a cool and enjoyable stop when you drift into the city during the summer, as well. Rotunda, built in the early 4th century, is an ancient impressive roman monument inscribed in the World Heritage List of Unesco. The exact reason why it was built is not known to us today. Maybe it was first constructed as a mausoleum for the Emperor Galerius, who had his seat at Thessaloniki at the end of the 3rd century and the beginning of the 4th, or as a temple dedicated to the gods.
It was part of the impressive building complex which included the Galerius Palace (Navarinou Square), the Hippodrome, the Arch of Galerius (Kamara) and other buildings in Thessaloniki. In the end of the 4th century, the Emperor Theodosius the Great (379-395), was baptised as Christian in Thessaloniki and converted this monument into a Christian church. During the Ottoman period, it was turned into a mosque and the minaret, which stands in front of it, was built in 1591. The name Rotunda prevailed due to the cylindrical shape of the monument.
We learn the Greek language together, discussing every element of the history and culture of our country, while enjoying a fascinating tour through the most central streets of the city, getting to know some of its most famous monuments. With us are always our specialized, certified guides of Dot2dot and our highly educated teachers.
