Roman Rotunda in Thessaloniki reopens

The Roman Rotunda of Thessaloniki, also known as the Church of Agios Georgios, reopened its doors on Friday with a concert to mark the much-awaited occasion, after a year of restoration works.

The Roman Rotunda at Thessaloniki [Credit: WikiCommons]

The building, included on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1988, is one of the most important Roman monuments in the city and stands next to the Arch of Galerius.

This cylindrical structure was commissioned by Roman Emperor Galerius in 306 AD, who intended it to be his grave.

Interior view of the Rotunda [Credit: Greek Ministry of Culture]

Through its turbulent history, it served first as a Roman mausoleum, then as a Christian church and during the Ottoman era, as a mosque.

From 1920 and until the end of WWII, the Rotunda housed the city’s archaeological treasures by serving as a museum.

In 1978 it suffered damage from an earthquake and was covered in scaffolding until last year, when the archaeological service announced it would close for full a restoration.

Source: ANA-MPA [December 18, 2015]