Giannitsa

Understand

thumb|Mosaic at Ancient Pella Ancient Pella was a strategic port, connected to the Thermaic Gulf by a navigable inlet, which have since silted up. At the beginning of the 4th century BC, Archelaus I developed it into the capital of Macedon, supplanting Aigai, which remained the burial place for the kings and the royal family.

Pella was the birthplace of Philip II in 382 BC, and of Alexander the Great, his son, in 356 BC. Through their influence, Pella became the largest and richest city in Macedonia. It flourished until 168 BC, when the city was sacked by the Romans. It entered a long period of decline, hastened by an earthquake around 90 BC, as its importance was eclipsed by nearby Thessaloniki. The city was abandoned by the 4th century AD.

thumb|Aerial view of Ancient Pella, facing south The first excavation was begun in 1914–15. The modern systematic exploration of the site began in 1953 and work has continued since then, uncovering significant parts of the extensive city.

The pebble-mosaic floors of Pella's rich houses are of particular note: some reproduce Greek paintings; one shows a lion-griffin attacking a stag, another depicts Dionysus riding a leopard.

Get around

Pella village is a small village where everything is within walking distance, although not flat.

See

thumb|Ancient Pella thumb|The Stag Hunt mosaic

Eat

There are a few restaurants in the center.

Sleep

There are no professional lodging options in Pella village, given its size. But there are usually a couple of Airbnb rooms available at not very cheap nightly rates.

Most people visiting stay in either Thessaloniki or Giannitsa.

Go next

Vergina - Burial site of the kings of Macedon Thessaloniki - The second largest city in Greece. Follow Alexander on a romp all the way to the Punjab