Church and Crypt of Ayios Dimitrios

The basics

Named after the city’s patron saint, the Christian martyr Dimitrios, the Church and Crypt of Ayios Dimitrios is a main stop on walking and hop-on-hop-off bus tours of Thessaloniki. The church was originally a small temple built over the remains of Roman baths. Under Byzantine rule, it was expanded into a five-aisled basilica with arcaded windows and two towers.

In the Middle Ages, Thessaloniki became part of the Ottoman Empire; Ayios Dimitrios was transformed into a mosque in 1493, and its original frescoes and mosaics were plastered over. It remained a mosque until the liberation of the city in 1912 but burnt down five years later. Restoration took several decades, and the church finally reopened in 1949 with only a few surviving relics of its original decoration. The subterranean crypt, rediscovered after the 1917 fire, houses the silver reliquary of St. Dimitrios as well as a museum showcasing early Christian and Byzantine sculptures, coins, and fragments of pottery rescued from the blaze.

Things to know before you go

• The church is a place of worship, so opt for modest dress and maintain a respectful demeanor when visiting.

• The main floor of the church is accessible to strollers and wheelchairs; there are stairs down to the crypt.

• The church is open daily and entry is free of charge; if you visit while a religious service is being held, avoid walking and talking in the main part of the church.

How to get there

The Church and Crypt of Ayios Dimitrios is located in the heart of Thessaloniki’s old town, easy to reach on a walking tour or on a hop-on-hop-off bus tour. Take a taxi or bus from the ferry port or train station to travel to the church in just minutes or stroll through the old town past Aristotelous Square and the Roman Forum to visit the church on foot.

When to get there

The church is open from morning to evening all year round, with the exception of Monday mornings. Avoid visiting during religious services when you can’t approach the altar to admire its Byzantine frescoes or move freely around the main nave. The best time of day to tour is early morning before the crowds arrive.

Thessaloniki’s Byzantine architecture

Thessaloniki contains one of the world’s largest caches of Byzantine architectural treasures, thanks to the city being ruled by Constantinople from the fifth century to the 13th. In addition to the Church and Crypt of Ayios Dimitrios, the empire’s legacy can be seen in what’s left of the city walls, the Rotunda of Saint George, the Church of Acheiropoietos, and the Latomou Monastery.