Aigai
The first capital of ancient Macedon, near the village of Vergina. Royal tombs were found here, including one thought to be that of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, and a UNESCO site museum covers them.
- Where
- Vergina, Central Macedonia, Greece
- Grade
- UNESCO heritage
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site, plus 8 for its grade
- Coordinates
- 40.4780, 22.3228
Get the Aigai stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at Aigai. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your Central Macedonia volume with your photos and a note.
Near Aigai
Dion 37 km
An ancient Macedonian sacred city at the foot of Mount Olympus, 17 km from Katerini. Its archaeological park holds temples of Zeus and Isis, a theatre and Roman baths, and a museum displays finds including a water organ.
Mount Olympus 44 km
The highest mountain in Greece at 2,918 metres, home of the twelve gods in ancient myth. Its summit Mytikas can be reached by hikers from Litochoro, and the area is a national park and biosphere reserve.
White Tower of Thessaloniki 55 km
A monument and museum on the waterfront of Thessaloniki, the city's best known landmark. The present tower likely replaced a Byzantine fortification, and it is thought to date from the 15th century under Ottoman rule.
Basilica of Agios Dimitrios, Thessaloniki 56 km
The largest church in Thessaloniki, dedicated to the city's patron saint and first built in the 5th century. It was rebuilt after a fire in 1917 and has fine early Christian mosaics, and is a UNESCO site.
Arch of Galerius and Rotunda 56 km
A Roman triumphal arch from about 300 AD and a nearby domed Rotunda, both built under the emperor Galerius. The Rotunda was later a church and then a mosque, and both stand on Egnatia Street in Thessaloniki.
Vale of Tempe 70 km
A narrow, steep sided gorge cut by the Pineios river between Mount Olympus and Mount Ossa. It is about 10 km long and was praised by ancient poets as a sacred place of Apollo.
Petralona Cave 72 km
A karst cave 300 metres above sea level on the western foot of Mount Katsika, about 35 km southeast of Thessaloniki. A fossil skull found here in 1960 is among the oldest human remains in Europe.
Varlaam monastery 102 km
The second largest of the Meteora monasteries, standing on a high rock reached by a long flight of steps. Its church was painted in 1548, and a museum holds icons and manuscripts.
More UNESCO World Heritage sites in Central Macedonia
Questions
Where is Aigai?
Aigai is in Vergina, Central Macedonia, Greece. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Dion (37 km), Mount Olympus (44 km), White Tower of Thessaloniki (55 km).
How do I get the Aigai stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at Aigai and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your Central Macedonia volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to Aigai before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your Central Macedonia volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
Collect your first stamp.
LOQAH is free on iPhone and Android, in India and 40 more countries, with more countries on the way. Stand at a place, collect its stamp, and keep every trip in a passport that grows.