You’ve probably heard of Alexander the Great, the king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon in the fourth century B.C. Known for conquering lands as far away as India, and taking steps toward creating the world’s first multicultural empire, he was a legend even before his death at 32. But until recently, there were few historic places travelers could visit to learn about his life.
Now, the ancient city where Alexander was crowned is being brought to light in northern Greece. The Polycentric Museum of Aigai, opened in late 2022, is bringing back the original capital of ancient Macedonia, an hour’s drive west of Thessaloníki. (Greek Macedonia, which joined the country in 1913, includes the separate country of North Macedonia, bordering Greece.)
While the Macedonians had moved their capital to Pella, about 30 miles northeast, by the time Alexander was born, the older city of Aigai (near present-day Vergina) remained the center of political and religious life. It’s where Philip II of Macedon—Alexander’s father—was famously assassinated in 336 B.C. Alexander was hastily crowned in the palace afterward, and Philip was buried nearby.
Aigai was lost for around 2,000 years until 1997, when Philip’s tomb was discovered by archaeologist Manolis Andronikos. Open to the public since 1997, the Royal Tombs are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a subterranean museum in the tumulus (ancient burial mound) containing four royal graves, including Philip’s.
Visitors can walk between the tombs in the darkness and marvel at the door of Philip’s grave—adorned with a 2,360-year-old fresco depicting the king and Alexander hunting. Nearby, burial artifacts are on display, including ivory couches, rich textiles that once wrapped bones, and delicate golden wreaths and ossuaries. There’s even a set of Philip’s gleaming armor.
Alexander’s burial site has never been found—its location is one of the greatest mysteries of the ancient world. But the Royal Tombs offer a compelling glimpse of ancient Macedonian aristocracy, a contrast to the new adjacent museum which explores everyday life in the kingdom.
(New clues surface about where Alexander the Great’s tomb might be.)
The sites of Aigai are overseen by Angeliki Kottaridi, director of the Imathia Ephorate of Antiquities. She always wanted to tell the story of the commoners of the city, too. The new Central Museum Building does just that, transforming the remains of Aigai into a vast, “scattered” (or polycentric) site. In contrast to the low-lit Royal Tombs, the new showplace is made of gleaming white stone and flooded with natural light.
“I wanted this to have a different concept,” says Kottaridi, explaining the distinction between the two museums. “White is the light
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
The magnificent light shows, Aurora Australis and Aurora Borealis, are atmospheric phenomenon found near the north and south poles. Unlike the Northern Lights, the Southern Lights are a little more inaccessible and where you choose to view them might depend on how adventurous you're feeling—but the rewards might be far greater.
Seychelles, IkariaOne of Lonely Planet’s best-value destinations for 2024, the Blue Zone island of Ikaria is renowned for the longevity of its inhabitants. On an island dotted with spectacular coves, Seychelles beach, 15 miles west of the capital, Agios Kirikos, is still a major lure. It’s a steep scramble to reach the sand, which is indicated by a roughly painted arrow in the middle of the road near the remote port of Magganitis (itself famed for a taverna where they serve seafood fresh from the boat).
Luxury cruise expert Mundy Cruising has launched an extraordinary programme, The Ultimate Luxury Cruise, which combines iconic destinations, amazing travel experiences and superlative accommodations to create a 105-day journey, departing Tokyo on 14th April 2025 and finishing in Dubrovnik on 26th July 2025. Customer research at the top end of the market by Mundy Cruising has revealed a range of travel trends and priorities for its discerning client base, including longer trips, slow travel, iconic experiences, bucket list destinations and a desire to return to gentler (and arguably Pre-Covid) times.
The Mediterranean has long been a region of ancient history, incredible cultures and delicious cuisines. The countries surrounding the sea from which the region gets its name offers diverse opportunities for exploration, for every type of travel style.
Last week Lufthansa made history. Weeks ahead of its major European rivals, the airline resumed scheduled services to Israel. As of last Monday, the German carrier is offering four weekly flights between Frankfurt and Tel Aviv and three from Munich. The routes mark the first time the company has operated to the country since the start of the Israel-Gaza war in early October.
With a deluge of foreign visitors fueling seemingly nonstop development on once pristine Greek islands, local residents and officials are beginning to fight back, moving to curb a wave of construction that has started to cause water shortages and is altering the islands’ unique cultural identity.
With a deluge of foreign visitors fueling seemingly nonstop development on once pristine Greek islands, local residents and officials are beginning to fight back, moving to curb a wave of construction that has started to cause water shortages and is altering the islands’ unique cultural identity.
If you search for the hashtag Zante or Zakynthos on Instagram, almost half of the images of this Greek island are of a sandy bay dominated by the wreckage of an old ship.