Philippi: A place of timeless grandeur

It is a place like no other, where visitors can wander among magnificent monuments from the Classical, Roman and Byzantine eras.

The first to exploit the area’s natural wealth systematically were settlers from the island of Thasos, who founded the city of Krenides around 360 BC. Seeking protection from Thracian incursions, they made the fateful mistake of appealing to the Macedonian king Philip II, who, recognizing the city’s strategic and economic importance, seized it for himself.

Philippi flourished during the Hellenistic period and, after the Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, was transformed into a Roman colony. The spread of Christianity left its indelible mark as well, for it was here  that the Apostle Paul established the first Christian church on European soil in 49/50 AD.

Today, Philippi is the most important archaeological site in Eastern Macedonia, proudly displaying a rare blend of cultures and historical eras. Its walls and acropolis, the Roman forum, and the Early Christian basilicas still stand as witnesses to its past. Yet, the most striking emblem of the city’s transformations through time is its ancient theater: originally built under Philip II, it was later converted into a Roman arena for gladiatorial games, and eventually repurposed into workshops during the Early Byzantine period.