Ano Polis Walking Tour

Sightseers should start their Ano Polis excursion with the superb aerial city view from the Tower of Trigoniou; then walk west along the inside of the seaward wall (the wall should be to your right). Walk a few yards past the second portara (large open gateway), and to your left is the entrance to the grounds of Moni Vlatdon and its tiny chapel dedicated to Sts. Peter and Paul. The Eptapyrghion is north along Eptapyrghiou. Backtrack to the Tower of Trigoniou and continue west along Eptapyrghiou to the first wide street on your left, Dimitriou Poliorkitou, and take the broad flight of stairs to the beginning of the Old Turkish Quarter toward the sea. Follow Dimitriou Poliorkitou west, bearing left, and take the winding descent to the left and then to the right until you come to the doors of the 5th-century Osios David. Turn right and continue down the narrow cobblestone street to the first intersection. Follow Akropoleos to the small Romfei Square; walk east along Kryspou, Aiolou, Malea, and Kodrou to Irodotou, in order to see the beautiful frescoes in the exceptional 14th-century Ayios Nikolaos Orfanos. Walk downhill toward the modern city on Apostolou Pavlou, the legendary path Apostle Paul took to the Upper City to address the Thessalonians, and cross busy Kassandrou; passing by modern Turkey's founder Ataturk's house.