Rotunda of Galerius

Thessaloniki, Greece

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The Rotunda of Galerius is one of the oldest and most important monuments in Thessaloniki, built around AD 306 during the reign of the Roman emperor Galerius.

It was part of a large imperial complex that also included the nearby Arch of Galerius, and it may originally have been intended as a mausoleum or a temple. Over the centuries, the Rotunda served different religious communities, first as a Christian church, then as a mosque during Ottoman rule, and later again as a Christian monument. Its remarkable history is reflected in its architecture, which includes early Christian mosaics and a surviving Ottoman minaret.

The massive circular building is one of the best-preserved Roman structures in Greece and is renowned for its impressive dome and ancient mosaics. As part of the Paleochristian and Byzantine Monuments of Thessaloniki, it has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and remains a major cultural and historical attraction in the city.