The Archaeological Museum of Philippi

Pick-up time from Thessaloniki: 09:00 Arrival at the Archaeological Museum of Philippoi at 11:00 The Archaeological Museum of Philippi contains two exhibition units in which the finds from the excavations in the ancient city are on permanent display: Unit A: This unit takes up the whole of the ground floor and has a surface area of 380 sq. m. It contains the archaeological (inscriptions, sculptures, vases, coins, jewellery), historical and visual material of the city of Philippi and its region from the prehistoric period until the end of Roman antiquity. Unit B: This unit occupies the first floor of the building, with a surface area of 205 sq. m. In here there is a presentation of the Christian city (inscriptions, architectural members, mosaics, vases, coins) from the Early Christian period of its rise until its decline in the seventh century AD, and its complete abandonment after the Turkish conquest of the late 14th century.

The most important archaeological site of eastern Macedonia, with characteristic monuments of the Hellenistic, Roman and Early Christian periods. The history of the site of Philippi begins in 360/359 B.C. when the colonists from Thasos founded the first city, called Krenides. In 356 B.C. the city is endangered by the Thacians and it turns to king Philip II for support. Philip had already foreseen the economic and strategic importance of the city, so he conquered it, he fortified it and he renamed it after himself (Philippi). After the battle of Philippi, in 42 B.C., the city became a Roman colony and its importance was stressed by the fact that it was located on the Via Egnatia. A landmark in the history of Philippi was the year A.D 49 or 50, when Apostole Paul visited the city and established there the first Christian Church of Europe. This made Philippi a metropolis of Christianity.