Overall Impact:                *** 3 stars – Galerius’ Palace impresses through its scale but, having been incorporated in the medieval and Ottoman city, the Roman remains consist of foundations and walls.

Access                                **** 4 stars – As with the other sites in Thessaloniki the site is well cared for and curated, and is only a short walk southwards from the Arch of Galerius toward the sea.

Atmosphere                      ** 2 stars – You will need to use your imagination to recreate the Roman Palace. It is overshadowed by modern housing, but hats off to the City Fathers for displaying such important remains in an area where space is tight.

Other                                  *** 3 stars – OK, it’s not Diocletian’s Palace at Split, and it’s in a busy city and hard to visualise, BUT it is Galerius’ Palace in Thessaloniki and very much worth seeing!

The above photo shows the remains of Galerius’ Basilica or audience chamber, with the nave to the left in front of us. We should be thinking here in terms of Constantine’s Aula Palatina which survives at Trier.

We can see here – above and below – the remains of the Peristyle Hall, with 11 rooms arranged round a courtyard with a fountain.

Above are the exposed remains of the Apsidal Hall. This was a magnificent part of the Palace between the Arch and the Basilica. It has two rooms and ended in a raised niche: was it a more private and intimate Throne Room? It had rich decoration with white and coloured marble on the walls.