Palace of Galerius (Navarinou Square)

The Palace of Galerius occupies Navarinou Square in central Thessaloniki, in the Central Macedonia region of Greece. It is the excavated core of an imperial residence built in the late third and early fourth centuries AD for the Roman emperor Galerius, who ruled the eastern provinces from the city. The complex once linked the palace, the hippodrome, the arch, and the Rotunda along a ceremonial route. Excavations, mainly after the city's great fire of 1917 opened up the area, have uncovered a large part of the palace grounds, and the remains now sit in the middle of a modern city square, open to the eye from surrounding paths. Visitors see the foundations of an octagonal hall, a peristyle courtyard, corridors, rooms with hypocaust heating systems, and well-preserved mosaic floors with geometric and figural patterns. The octagonal hall is often interpreted as a throne room or banquet space, and the scale of the walls shows how large the original complex was. Raised walkways and viewing points allow the layout to be understood from above, while information panels explain the function of each area. A visit takes around thirty to forty-five minutes. Daytime is best, when light shows the mosaic colours and the plan of the octagon, and early morning or late afternoon offers quieter walking around the square. The surrounding square has restaurants and cafes, so the site fits easily into a longer walk that continues to the Arch of Galerius and the Rotunda. Photography is simplest from the raised paths, which give an overview of the whole excavation.