Thessaloniki, located in Northern Greece is the country’s second-largest city, considered widely as its cultural capital and one of the best party places in the world. It is a coastal city located on the Thermaic Gulf in the Aegean Sea and has served as a chief commercial hub in the Balkans throughout the years. With an exciting clash of ancient and contemporary, Thessaloniki offers a wide variety of experiences for its visitors.
Thessaloniki is named after Thessalonike, princess of Macedon and Alexander the Great’s half-sister. It was founded as early as 315 BC and flourished as a leading city in the Greek Macedonian kingdom and after its fall, became the Roman capital of Macedonia. This was then followed by Byzantine, Venetian and Ottoman conquests which left behind lasting impressions on the city. Thessalonike today, displays a rich fusion of elements from all these cultures, which is visible in its architectural wonders and lifestyle.
In 1917, the unfortunate Great Fire of Thessaloniki destroyed over 30% of the city. It is very surprising that such a large scale fire originated from someone’s kitchen and spread to over two-thirds of the city. Several historical sites and homes were lost to the fire and over 70,000 people were stranded homeless. Following this incident, the city was rebuilt according to an urban plan which resembles most of the Western European city layouts.
The UNESCO listed Ano Poli, the Upper Town or Old Town was spared from the Great Fire and is the best place to experience authentic Thessalonian life. Along its colourful cobbled streets, you will find plenty of monuments reflecting the various cultures that resided here together with traditional Greek and Macedonian architecture.
The highlight of Ano Poli is the acropolis or ‘high city’, which consists of a Byzantine-Ottoman fortress, Heptapyrgion or Eptapyrgio. The name Heptapyrgion means ‘Fortress of Seven Towers’, but it actually has 10 ten towers. The views from the fortress are simply amazing – you can enjoy sights of the city, the sea beyond and on a clear day, even Mount Olympus, Greece’s highest mountain which is almost 80 km away! The city walls begin from here and you will find whatever remains of them, scattered around Ano Poli.
The most important monuments in Ano Poli include 14th-century Byzantine structures like the Vlatades Monastery, Church of Saint Nicholas Orphanos, Profitis Ilias Church and the Byzantine Baths and 15th-century Ottoman structures like the Alaca Imaret Mosque and Ataturk house museum, the birthplace of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, modern Turkey’s founding father.
Aristotelous Square, the central square of the city, is located on the waterfront and offers panoramic views of the Thermaic Gulf. It was designed by French architect Ernest Hebrard as a part of the ‘urban plan’ for Thessaloniki after the Great Fire. The square is lined with great dining options and also hosts multiple public gatherings, political speeches, rallies and festivals.
In the central part of the city, north of Aristotelous Square lies the ancient Roman ruins which were discovered by accident in the 1960s. It is a two-terraced complex which was believed to have been in use till the 6th century. The Agora consists of two stoas (columned walkways), Roman baths and a small theatre where gladiatorial games must have been hosted.
The UNESCO listed Rotunda is an imposing 30m high dome, located in the central part of the city near the Arch of Galerius. Both these structures were commissioned by the Roman Emperor Galerius in the 4th century, probably as his grave. However, the Rotunda was empty for years and finally became the first church in the city after the Byzantine conquest. It was later turned into a mosque during the Ottoman period. Today, it is neither a mosque nor a church and simply stands as an example of the city’s rich history and sometimes lends itself to host events and exhibitions.
The Arch of Galerius stands amidst an otherwise urban landscape, with three of its original eight pillars. The pillars are covered with marble panels featuring intricate carvings which are believed to be representations from Galerius’ life.
The 15th-century White Tower is the signature landmark of the city, located on the waterfront. It was initially a part of the Byzantine fortifications and later renovated by the Ottomans. During the 19th century, the Tower served as a prison where its inmates were subject to inhumane torture and executions. This gave it the names ‘Red Tower’ and ‘Tower of Blood’, and later came to be called ‘White Tower’ after it was whitewashed. Today, you can climb the tower for panoramic views of the city and the sea. The Tower also houses a small museum dedicated to the city’s past.
A short distance from here, near the waterfront, you will find the statue of Macedonia’s iconic figure, Alexander the Great on his famed horse Bucephalus. This area also has several beautiful parks overlooking the sea, which are perfect for an evening stroll with splendid views of the sunset.
Ladadika is one of the liveliest neighbourhoods in the city, located near Aristotelous Square and over the years has been a hotspot for various activities. It initially served as a market, filled with olive oil shops and in the early 20th century it turned into a red-light district. In the 1980s, the area got another makeover and today stands popular for its nightlife and culinary scene. Along with Ladadika’s beautiful neoclassical buildings, you will find an endless number of restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs, nightclubs and traditional Greek tavernas. If you are a party lover, then this is the place to be!
Apart from the churches in Ano Poli, you will find many others scattered around the city as well. One of the major churches is the Hagia Sophia, which dates back to the 8th century and displays strong Byzantine architecture. It was constructed to resemble Constantinople’s (present day Istanbul) Hagia Sophia. Other notable churches include Agios Athanasios, Agios Dimitrios, Church of St. Catherine and Agios Minas.
Thessaloniki hosts a rich set of museums which narrate its long history through the various eras. The Museum of Byzantine Culture which covers the Byzantine era with displays of manuscripts, sculptures, ceramics, paintings and coins, is one of the most popular. The Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki focuses on the city’s Macedonian and Roman eras and displays gold works, sculptures, tools and pottery. One of the highlight artefacts is the Derveni Papyrus, widely considered as the oldest book in Europe. The Teloglion Foundation of Art which is located on the campus of Aristotle University displays collections of notable art from Greece and Europe from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art, State Museum of Contemporary Art, Olympic Museum and Thessaloniki Science Center and Technology Museum are other popular museums to check out.
Thessaloniki might not be the shopping heaven in Greece, a title reserved for capital Athens, but it does offer a grand and lively shopping experience. Tsimiski street and Proxenou Koromila avenue host an array of expensive and luxurious shops and boutiques. Mitropoleos, Egnatia and Dimitriou Gounari are the other popular streets. And of course, there are the popular markets, Modiano and Kapani, which are much cheaper than the high-end stores and famous for authentic Greek products.
If you are looking to experience the cultural heart of Greece, then all the maps will lead you to Thessaloniki.
The combination of an ancient city with amazing parties isn’t something you come across every day. Thessaloniki with its dense history, vibrant cultural mix, rich architectural heritage, commercial significance and the most recent western makeover, stands testimony to the fact that the old and new can coexist in harmony.
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