Travel to Thessaloniki

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Thessaloniki Tour

Thessaloniki is located in Northern Greece, is the capital of the homonymous prefecture and extends all the way from the port to the slopes of mount Chortiatis. The modern city is connected to the old city. The wooden homes and the streets have eastern elements and are the only ones salvaged from the great fire of 1917. photo: G. Tsiantoukas Today Thessaloniki has a population of approximately 1,000,000 and is one of the few cities that have so many important monuments from the Ancient, the medieval and Byzantine period.

Thessaloniki was named by king Kassandros in 317 B.C., who named the city after his wife, Thessaloniki. She was the sister of Alexander the Great and daughter of Philip the 2nd of Macedonia and his wife Nikissipoli of Thessaly. From the first centuries of its creation, Thessaloniki played an important financial role in the Macedonian state, as the first port of Macedonia. As such, a new Hellenic center was created in the North, in a prime geographic location, that before long concentrated the commercial activity of the whole of Northern Greece becoming a large strategic, financial, cultural, religious center and altogether a center of Greek Civilization.

The attempts of the Romans to assimilate the city failed as Greek Civilization proved superior, having in fact the reverse effect on the Roman colonists. Thessaloniki, however, suffered from countless raids by the Slavs, the Bulgarians and the Goths, who nonetheless never succeeded in taking over the city, due to the courage of the locals and the city’s solid fortification. In many occasions the people’s faith attributed the salvation of Thessaloniki to its patron saint, St. Demetrius. Thessaloniki was also traversed by Egnatia road, the road that connected Constantinople (capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and now known as Istanbul) with Rome. It was in this city that Apostle Paul first preached Christianity. Thessaloniki was pillaged by the Saracens and the Normans, conquered by the Franks, the Turks and the Germans. In 1926 an institution that proved important for the financial and commercial future of the city was established. The International Exhbition. Its founder was Nicholas Germanos who inaugurated the exhibtion in 1927. Thessaloniki attracts visitors year-round as it is a major tourist attaction. Along with Chalkidiki and Pella these three destinations are a major attraction for visitors from every part of the world.

Worth Visiting... The White Tower. Built by Venetians in the 15th Century and later converted to a prison during Turkish occupation. The temple of Saint Demetrius which also includes a museum. The church of St. Sophia. Dating from the 8th Century AD. The Madonna the “Achiropiito” of the 5th century with its outstanding mosaics. It is believed that an image was created here without human intervention (!) Galerius' Arch, also known as Kamara. Built in 300 BC to remind the triumph of Galerius over the Persians. The Rotonda, also from the time of Galerius which was converted to a church by Theodosius the Great. The Turks in turn converted it to a mosque and now it is a church once again (St. George.) The seven towers. They were used in the city’s defense during Theodosius’ reign. They were modified in the Byzantine era and later by the Turks. In present day only one tower is preserved, which in recent history was used as a prison known as Gendi Koule. The National Theatre of Northern Greece. An art gallery is also hosted in the same building with exhibits of paintings from all over the world. The archaelogical museum, where one can take a journey in the history of all of Macedonia. The Panorama. A small town on the slopes of Chortiatis with a magnificent view to the city and the Thermaic Gulf. The city's sea-front for a promenade. One can see the White Tower and Alexander the Great's statue. The Ladadika district. Aristotelous Square. Seich Sou, an area replete in green, which provides a serene refuge from the city life. New Krini The Folkloric museum photo: G. Tsiantoukas ...and of course Tsmiski St., ideal for a shopping promenade. Also an excursion to Chalkidiki, Pella and Edessa should definitely be a part of your visit to Thessaloniki.