Thessaloniki - Greece

Map of Greece

Thessaloniki is located in the North of Greece. It is the second largest city after Athens, the capital of Greece. According to the 2011 census, the municipality of Thessaloniki, the historical center, has a population of 322,240, while the Thessaloniki Metropolitan Area has 1,104,460 inhabitants.

Thessaloniki Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki throughout historyHellenistic Period

coin depicting King Cassander

King Cassander of Macedonia founded Thessaloniki in 315 BC. The city took its name from King Cassander’s wife, Thessalonike, who was half-sister of Alexander the Great.

Roman Period

During the Roman Era, the Romans built a long and wide road, Via Egnatia that ran through Thessaloniki. It connected Byzantium (now Istanbul) with Dyrrachium (now Durrës). In 306 AD, Thessaloniki acquired its patron saint , St Demetrius. There are still important remains from Roman Thessaloniki, such as the Arch of Galerius, Rotonda, the Roman Forum, the Hippodrome and the Roman Baths.

Byzantine Era

Byzantine Bath built in the 13th century

During the Byzantine Era, Thessaloniki was the largest city of the Byzantine Empire after Constantinople (now Istanbul). In 1988, UNESCO included 15 Early Christian Byzantine monuments in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Ottoman Era

Panorama of the city from Ano Poli (Upper Town)

During the Ottoman period, Muslims, Jews and Greek Orthodox were the principal groups in the city for about 400 years. The Muslims lived in Ano Poli (Upper Town) where there are still architectural remains of the period.

From 20th century on…

The passengers terminal

Today, Thessaloniki has become one of the most important trade and business hubs in Southeastern Europe, with its port, the Port of Thessaloniki being one of the largest in the Aegean.

European City of Culture

In 1997 Thessaloniki became the Cultural Capital of Europe and in 2014 it was the European Youth Capital.

Multicultural monuments of ThessalonikiThe Arch of Galerius

They built the Arch of Galerius (Kamara) in 299 AD to celebrate the victory of the tetrarch Galerius over the Sassanid Persians. It stands on Egnatia & Dimitrios Gounari Street.

The tomb of Galerius - Rotonda

Rotonda is a circular building. They built it in the early 4th century. They used it as a church.

Roman Forum (Agora)

The Roman Forum (Agora) had two-storey stoas (covered walkways). There were also two Roman baths and a theatre there.

Eptapyrgio

The walls of Eptapyrgio are located in the north-eastern corner of the city's acropolis. Their name means "Fortress of Seven Towers".

Hippodrome

The hippodrome was part of the complex of buildings that the Roman emperor Galerius built in Thessaloniki. It is located in the centre of Thessaloniki in a square named ‘Hippodrome Square’.

Church of Agia Sophia

The church of Agia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) is one of the oldest churches in Thessaloniki and UNESCO included it in the World Heritage List. It is the metropolis of the city.

Church of Saint Demetrius

The church of Saint Demetrius is dedicated to the patron saint of Thessaloniki. They built it in the early 4th century AD in the place of a Roman bath.

Church of the Acheiropoietos

The Church of the Acheiropoietos is a 5th-century Byzantine church. They probably named it “Acheiropoietos” (not made by hand) after an icon of Virgin Mary that was in the church.

Church of Hosios David

The church of Hosios David is a late 5th century church. It had a rich mosaic and fresco decoration.

Church of Panagia Halkeon

The Church of Panagia Chalkeon is an 11th-century Byzantine church. They dedicated it to Virgin Mary, and its name translates “The Virgin of the coppersmiths”.

The White Tower

The White Tower is a museum and a monument on the seafront of Thessaloniki. It is cylindrical with 6 storeys and it is 34 metres tall. It is the symbol of the city.

Monastery of Vlatades

They built the monastery of Vlatades in the highest part of Thessaloniki. It is an active monastery founded in the 14th century AD.

Church of Saint Aikaterini

The Church of Saint Aikaterini is a late Byzantine church. UNESCO included it in the World Heritage List.

Church of Saint Panteleimon

The Church of Saint Panteleimon is a late Byzantine church and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Church of Saint Nikolaos Orfanos

The church of St Nikolaos Orfanos is an early 14th century church. It originally formed part of a monastery and it is most notable for its frescos.

Church of the Holy Apostles

The Church of the Holy Apostles is a 14th-century Byzantine church and it was the katholikon (temple) of a monastery.

Church of Prophet Elijah

The Church of Prophet Elijah is a 14th-century church and its “Athonite” architectural style is unique in the city.

Bey Hamam – “The Baths of Paradise”

Bey Hamam, alternatively known as “The Baths of Paradise” was the first Ottoman bath in Thessaloniki built in 1444.

Alaca Imaret

Alaca Imaret Mosque or Ishak Pasha Mosque is a 15th-century Ottoman Mosque. It consists of a mosque with an imaret (public charity kitchen).

Government House

The Government House is an Ottoman-era building in central Thessaloniki, Greece. They built it in 1891 and today it houses the Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace.

Villa Kapantzi

Villa Kapantzi was built at the end of the 20th century. Its owner was the merchant Ahmet Kapantzi. Today it houses the Cultural Foundation of the National Bank of Greece (MIET).

Villa Allatini

Villa Allatini was built in 1898 and it was the countryside residence of the Allatini family. Today it houses the Administration of the Region of Central Macedonia.

Villa Bianca

Villa Bianca was built in the early 20th century as a residence for Dino Fernandez Diaz and his family. From 2013 it houses the Municipal Art Gallery.

Old Archaeological Museum

The Italian architect Vitaliano Poselli built the Old Archaeological Museum (Yeni Tzami) in 1902. It housed the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki after 1925. Today it serves as an exhibition center.

Modiano Market

They built Modiano Market in the centre of Thessaloniki around in 1922 and it is the traditional central market of the city. It took its name from the architect who designed it.

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Aerial view of central Thessaloniki. On the right the Aristotle University's campus.In 1925, the government of Alexandros Papanastasiou founded the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. It is the largest university in the Balkans. The Faculty of Philosophy is the earliest building of Aristotle University. The University's motto is engraved on the entrance.

YMCA Thessaloniki

The building of YMCA Thessaloniki was built in the period 1926-1934. In 1919 the YMCA introduced basketball to Thessaloniki for the first time.

Society for Macedonian Studies

The buildings of the Society for Macedonian Studies were built from 1949 until 1968. Today these buildings house a theatrical stage of the National Theatre of Northern Greece, the cinema “Aristoteleion” and the library and the art gallery of the Society.

OTE Tower

The OTE tower is 76 metres tall. They originally used it to make the first black and white television broadcasts in 1966.

Archaeological Museum

The archaeological museum was built in 1962. It is an example of the modern architectural trends of Greece.

The statue of Alexander the Great

The statue of Alexander the Great, the most famous king of Ancient Greece, on his horse is located in Nea Paralia. They erected it on the seafront near the White Tower in 1974.

Museum of Byzantine Culture

The Museum of Byzantine Culture opened in 1994. In 2005, the museum was awarded the Council of Europe's Museum Prize.

Aristotelous Square

Aristotelous Square is the main city square of Thessaloniki. It is an important tourist attraction with numerous cafés and bars.

Thessaloniki Concert Hall

Thessaloniki Concert Hall opened in 2000. It has two main buildings and it houses the Music Library and the Museum of Musical Instruments.

Thank you for watching this brief presentation of our city and its main monuments. We hope that you enjoyed it and that you will visit it soon…

Primary School of Anatoliko, Thessaloniki, Greece. February 2016