Thessaloniki city in greece. Holidays in thessaloniki. War Museum of Thessaloniki

Today Thessaloniki is one of the main gates of Greece. This is a seaport, railway. railway station, international airport “Macedonia”. The city is the capital of the region of Macedonia. Probably more than half of the tourists from the CIS come here. But Thessaloniki is not only a major transport hub. This city has a rich history, many attractions and places of interest for tourists. It contains valuable monuments of the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine eras.

Thessaloniki. The interweaving of modernity and history.

Thessaloniki was founded in 315 BC. King Cassander and named after his wife, half-sister of Alexander the Great, Thessalonica. Nowadays, a reminder of those distant times is the Ancient Agora and the Roman Forum, located in the very center of the modern city. Archaeologists have recently found these structures.

The city is also known as the city of the apostles. The first churches were founded here in 50 AD by the holy Apostle Paul, who wrote two epistles to Christians (New Testament, Epistle to Thessalonians). Now on the spot where the Apostle Paul prayed 2,000 years ago is the Cathedral of St. Paul.

In modern Thessaloniki, there are other places associated with the apostle Paul. There is one street leading to the Old Town, which has been called st. St. Paul. It leads to the hill where there is a beautiful little monastery, Vlatadon.

It was in this city that at the beginning of the 4th century, because of faith in Christ, the mayor of Thessaloniki himself, revered both in Greece and in Russia, Saint Demetrius, was martyred. He is considered the patron saint of the city. In the very center of Thessaloniki there is the Church of St. Demetrius.

The story of St. Demetrius, the patron saint of Thessaloniki.

Saint Demetrius was born in Thessaloniki at the end of the 3rd century and was the only son of a Christian family that had been praying for the gift of a child for many years. Demetrius's father served as commander of the army of Thessaloniki, and after his death, Demetrius took his place. They lived in a time of persecution against Christians, and confessed the faith in secret. Emperor Maximian (286-305) ordered him to rid the city of Christians.
Demetrius refused to obey this order, and even publicly announced that he was a Christian himself. Maximian interrogated him. Demetrius reaffirmed his faith and condemned the emperor's idolatry. The enraged emperor sent him into custody near the arena and Roman baths. Dmitry, knowing what was in store for him, asked his servant Lupus to distribute all his property to the poor. Before his execution, an angel appeared to him in prison and said: "Peace be with you, suffering of Christ. Be strong and courageous!" When Maximian was in Thessaloniki, he organized gladiatorial fights. He had an invincible gladiator-Leah, who threw his rivals on spears.
Nestor, friend of Demetrius, threw a challenge to this gladiator. Demetrius approved the young man's decision and predicted to him: "You will overcome, and then you will suffer for Christ." The next day, Nestor challenged Leah to a duel. Crossing himself, he prayed aloud. As predicted by Demetrius, Nestor won the duel, and the gladiator found death on the spearheads. Seeing that an inexperienced Christian youth had defeated an experienced gladiator, the crowd shouted: "Great is God Demetrius!" The emperor was furious, and ordered to behead Nestor. Upon learning that Nestor went to fight on the advice of Demetrius, Maximian executed him too. On October 26, 304, Demetrius was executed. Lupus, a servant of Demetrius, took the ring and his clothes.
Miracles began to happen to the people who fell for them. Maximian, having learned about this, also executed Lupus. Christians hid the body of the Saint in a well to preserve his relics, and then buried him. In 312, a church was built over the tomb, which still stands today. A few years later, a noble man named Leonty, having been healed by the relics of the saint from a fatal illness, built a large temple instead of a small one. But in 626 it was destroyed by a fire. It was immediately rebuilt and became even larger. This third temple was used as a mosque during the Turkish yoke (1430-1912), and then it was returned to the Orthodox.

Several years after the death of Saint Demetrius, Constantine the Great proclaimed Christianity the official religion. At that time, Thessaloniki was a free city with a population of 200 thousand people. One of the largest cities in the world. At one time there was a question: which city to declare the capital of the world. Thessaloniki or Constantinople?

For some time he lived in Thessaloniki and the famous philosopher Aristotle, being the teacher of Alexander the Great. Both of them are respected in Thessaloniki and they are named after streets, monuments are erected. The central park of the city is named after Aristotle.

A monument to the philosopher is erected on Aristotle Square.

On the embankment there is a monument to Alexander the Great himself.

The brothers Cyril and Methodius were born and raised in Thessaloniki. They grew up among the neighboring Slavs. In addition, Cyril studied with Photius, the future patriarch of Constantinople, who spoke many languages ​​(maybe he advised him to create an alphabet for us, who knows). The brothers mastered the Slavic language and later created a Slavic script, wrote down the Holy Scriptures in Slavic.

In 904, shortly after the death of these two great missionaries, Arab pirates attacked Thessaloniki and ravaged them savagely. Following them, taking advantage of the city's weakness, various conquerors attacked it for a long time. After the crusader campaign, Thessaloniki became the capital of the kingdom of the Franks. However, the power of the Latins was short-lived - in 1261 the city was conquered by the Byzantine Emperor Theodore Comnenus, and then by the Emperor Michael Palaeologus.

Thessaloniki during the Turkish rule.

After several decades of alternating rule of Venetians and Turks, Thessaloniki finally finally submitted to the Muslim authorities - in 1430, when Sultan Murad II took the city by force. The troops looted in the city for 3 days. Churches were turned into mosques. 23 years later, the Turks also captured Constantinople, and the Byzantine Empire came to an end.
The most famous monument of that era is now the White Tower, which has become the symbol of the city.

The White Tower once guarded the maritime borders of Thessaloniki by a series of walls and towers built during the reign of the Ottoman Empire by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent in 1530-1535. It was originally used as a barracks for sentries, and later it was a prison. The prisoners were also executed there. That's why the tower was nicknamed “Bloody Tower”. For several centuries, the tower was part of the old city walls, and separated the Jewish quarter from the rest of the city. In 1866, the city walls were torn down as Thessaloniki was annexed to Greece. It was then that she was painted white, which symbolized "cleansing". Now in the tower is the Museum of Byzantine Culture of Thessaloniki. You can go up to the observation deck, from where you can clearly see almost the entire city center. Well, and the sea, of course.

In the spring of 1821, an uprising broke out, the Athos monks sided with the rebels who were flocking to northern Greece. In retaliation, the Turks executed 3,000 people in Thessaloniki. Thessaloniki was finally liberated from Turkish dependence in 1912, on the feast day of the holy Great Martyr Demetrius.

Thessaloniki is modern.

The modern city can be called a metropolis by Greek standards. It is home to 1.1 million people. And most of the signs of a metropolis are there: problems with parking, traffic jams ...

The main place where a tourist needs to take a walk is the embankment (paralia in Greek). And all the streets of the central part are laid parallel to this paralia.

What is typical ... There is no fence on the embankment. Not that there is no granite at all.

Aristotle Street stretches from the embankment to the north to the hill, through Aristotle Square, Aristotle Park to the Church of St. Demetrius. Heart of the city.

Here in the courtyard is the central market.

Even higher is the so-called old town. There is also a part of the wall that used to be connected to the White Tower, like the Kremlin wall.

The whole city is very clearly visible from there.

The way there lies through the old narrow and very beautiful streets. It's easy to get lost in them, but I was lucky - I had a wonderful guide.

Well, and of course, a huge number of taverns and small shops with production on site.

Bread shop with a bakery.

Yes, it also has its own Moscow.

Confectionery shop with delicious baklava.

Suburbs of Thessaloniki. Sindos

All large (well, more or less large by Greek standards) industry is located in the suburbs. There are residential settlements near the industrial zone. One of these: Sindos.

He seemed very cozy and welcoming to me. In general, it is so.

Here, as in Thessaloniki, there are street cafes everywhere. Favorite drink-coffee frappe. They drink it slowly and for a long time.

In general, there is something to see in Thessaloniki, there is a lot to learn new.
There are still 10 times more attractions left than I was able to see. Beautiful city!

Vaughn and olives grow right on the streets of the city ...

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Useful information for tourists about Thessaloniki in Greece - geographical location, tourist infrastructure, map, architectural features and attractions.

sights

Guide

Thessaloniki is one of the largest Greek cities. It is located in the northern part of the country, in Macedonia - a historical region well known to tourists from all over the world as the birthplace of Aristotle, the enlightened saints Cyril and Methodius, the great martyr Dmitry Thessaloniki, the legendary conqueror Alexander the Great (the Great). It is dear to the Turks as the birthplace of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the first president of Turkey.

The name of the sister of Alexander the Great Thessalonica became the name of this city. The city was founded in the 4th century BC. Alexandra's sister became the wife of the Macedonian king Kassandra, the founder of Thessaloniki. In the city limits, by the will of Kassandra, there were two and a half dozen small settlements on the shores of the Aegean Sea. In the II century BC. Thessaloniki (Thessaloniki) was captured by the soldiers of the Roman Empire. After its fall, the city became part of another empire - the Byzantine one.

A convenient geographical position was both a joy and a misfortune for the city: in times of peace, the city flourished thanks to trade, and when some turmoil began, it first of all suffered from attacks - Romans, Goths, Saracen pirates, Bulgarians, Normans, Turks, who in different time visited Thessaloniki with not the most friendly intentions. The city also got it from the Nazis during the Second World War.

Thessaloniki resort is located on the shores of the Aegean Sea, more precisely, the Thermal Gulf. From the southeast, the city is "propped up" by the mountains of Chortiatis.

The weather in Thessaloniki is almost always sunny, but not too hot. The average temperature in Thessaloniki in July and August is around 30 degrees Celsius. These are the hottest months of the year. The warm sea allows the swimming season to open in May and close in October.
The temperature record in Thessaloniki was recorded in July 2007 and was 44 degrees Celsius.

Transport

Thessaloniki can be reached by sea, air and rail. 12 kilometers south of Thessaloniki is the international airport "Macedonia", which accepts both charters in Halkidiki and regular flights, including domestic and international flights. You can get from the airport to Thessaloniki either by taxi or by regular bus - the second option is cheaper.

From the railway station of Thessaloniki, which is called "New Station", you can go both to nearby cities and to the capitals of a number of European states - for example, to Belgrade, Bucharest, Sofia, as well as to the capital of the Greek Republic of Athens itself and to Istanbul - the capital of the neighboring Turkey.

The city is building a metro, which is due to open in 2020. It should be noted that the construction of the metro was started in the late 1980s and resumed in 2006. If the opening takes place, the second metro of Greece will appear in Thessaloniki.

The main transport to Thessaloniki is by bus, the schedule is posted on the website http://oasth.gr/. The resource is in Greek, but with the help of automatic translation, you can get the necessary information. For frequent trips during the day, you may need to purchase a daily ticket, for single trips - a one-time ticket. Tickets are sold at special outlets and on the buses themselves. At the entrance, the ticket must be punched, as was once done in Soviet trams and trolleybuses. On one of the buses, you can go around all the main attractions in about an hour - the number of this route is 50.

The specialty of Thessaloniki is its one-way streets. To go in the opposite direction, you need to find an adjacent street along which the same transport goes in the other direction.

Bicycle rental is another option for getting around the city.

Where to stay

In the central part of the city, for example, in the Ladadiki area, there are more expensive accommodation options, but all the sights will be literally close at hand. Accommodation in the Kalamaria area is also expensive, but it is greener, not as noisy and bustling as in the center. From accommodation facilities, tourists have access to such options as coastal hotels, up to "five stars" with their own access to the sea, budget hostels, apartment rentals.

Attractions and excursions

The spirit of the great events that took place on this land for several millennia creates the unique atmosphere of Thessaloniki.

The central and oldest part of Thessaloniki is outlined by the outline of the walls of the Byzantine period, and inside it is divided into two parts - historical and business. The historical part is called the Upper Town (or Ano Poli) and is protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. More than a hundred years ago, a terrible fire took place in Thessaloniki, which fortunately did not destroy the historic district of the city. To explore the Upper Town, you need to climb to the top of the hill, wander along the crooked narrow streets. Guests of the Upper City will be rewarded not only with a magnificent view of Thessaloniki from the hill, but also with a wealth of attractions from different eras - Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman. At the top of the hill is the Heptapyrgion fortress ("seven towers"). Its towers were built between the 4th and 12th centuries. From the end of the 19th century, the tower served as a prison.

The Roman period includes the forum of the 1st century BC, which the townspeople visited for bath procedures and gladiator fights. The Forum is located next to Aristotle's Square, but it is already a modern landmark - built in 1918 by the French architect Hebrard. Emperor Galerius (3rd century AD) left behind a triumphal arch in honor of his victory over the Persian army. The emperor rested in Thessaloniki, and the place of his burial is called the Rotunda of Galerius. The rotunda and the arch make up the burial complex and are among the oldest urban structures.

The sights of the Byzantine period are, first of all, temples. Basilica of St. Demetrius, located near the Roman Forum. It was built in the 5th century on the site of an early Christian church and was named after the patron saint of the city. The Church of St. Sophia - more precisely, its first building - dates back to the 8th century. Now tourists can see the new structure, rebuilt after the 1917 fire. During the Ottoman era, many Christian churches were turned into mosques, and this church also did not escape this fate.

To get acquainted with the frescoes of the late Byzantine period, it is worth visiting the church of the twelve apostles (XIV century), the temple of Osios David, the building of which dates back to the 5th century, and the frescoes - to the 12th - 14th centuries. Also, the basilica of Achiropiitos (5th century), the church of St. Nicholas Orphanos (XIV century), which was one of the few in Thessaloniki to avoid being converted into a mosque. An outstanding collection of icons is kept at the Vlatadon Monastery (14th century).

The ancient city fountains belong to the Ottoman period, the White Tower is a fortress that has defended the city from attacks from the sea since the 15th century, and also served as a prison and called it the “tower of blood”. It was also repainted in white in order to somewhat smooth out the impressions of the harsh past. Now the tower serves as a viewing platform and stores a collection of Byzantine antiquities. The 14th-15th centuries include such sights as Bey Hamam - the oldest baths, and the Alak Imaret Mosque, decorated with wall paintings.

Beach vacation

Because of the location of the port, people do not swim in the city itself. Thessaloniki promenade is for walking only. The most risky residents and tourists start swimming in the Kalamaria area in the eastern part of the city, while the more cautious go towards the island of Halkidiki.

It is believed that Thessaloniki is worth visiting for the sake of viewing architectural antiquities, and for the sake of a beach holiday, you need to go beyond it, to one of the villages located about 20 km from the city in the direction of the international airport. The names of the resort villages are Perea, Nei Epivates, Agia Triada, Nea Michaniona and Epanomi. You can get there by buses. Locals also love these places, they go there on weekends, and the traffic on the road becomes more busy. An alternative is to get by sea on one of the boats that depart from the embankment of Thessaloniki. Queues are also possible here during peak hours, so wake up early to catch your morning flights.

The beaches of the villages are equipped with everything you need - cafes, showers, cabins, sun loungers. A trip there should be planned for at least the whole day. One of their beaches - Potamos - has been awarded the Blue Flag label. The coverage of the beaches is sandy. These places are quite suitable for families with children.

In the city itself, there are few children's entertainment: there are amusement parks, a dinosaur park, and a family amusement park in Kalamaria. If you wish, you can drive 50 km to the park in the spirit of the Wild West. Even the Waterland water park is located outside the city, and there is free transport there. You can wait out the heat of the day with children in one of the green areas - Platanakya Park or Botanical Garden.

You cannot swim in the city, but boat trips are only welcome. Sailing away from the city and the port area, tourists can go diving, fishing. Still, the main activity here is excursions to get acquainted with history.

The reputation of a youth resort has been established for Thessaloniki, so the city has nightclubs, bars, discos, football and volleyball courts. In clubs, such as Maison Crystal, they not only dance, but also taste Greek wines. The most gamblers can go to the Regency Casino, and fashionistas - for shopping, for this there is a whole block in the city center.

In Thessaloniki, as well as in other cities of Greece, people travel for health as well. The city's clinics specialize in the treatment of a number of diseases: the respiratory system, reproductive system, digestive system, joints, as well as in rehabilitation after injuries and operations.

Food and souvenirs

In November, Thessaloniki hosts a local cuisine festival. But in other months, guests will be welcomed here with unchanged Greek hospitality - it will be tasty and abundant: seafood, feta, olives, olives, a lot of vegetables and spices flavored with olive oil, served with wine or raki grape vodka.

Restaurants in Thessaloniki "profess" not only Greek cuisine - there are pizzerias, steak houses, pastry shops, fast food - both local and European and American. Experienced travelers advise not to walk the beaten paths from one restaurant on the "red line" to another, but to go deep into the districts and look for taverns there - an authentic catering for the locals. It is there that Greek cuisine, according to gourmets, is revealed in all its essence. Taverns, for example, can be found in the Ladadik area. Also noteworthy are the fast food chain restaurants specializing in Greek cuisine - Giradiko and Suvladzidiko. From the names it is already clear that in one of them they like gyros, and in the other - suvlaki.

Traditional Greek souvenirs - sweets, olive oil, spices and seasonings, wine - can become "trophies" from Thessaloniki. In addition, from here you can bring some piece of jewelry bought in one of the many jewelry salons, a souvenir with local embroidery, a woolen rug, ceramics "imitating antiquity" artificially aged and painted based on ancient Greek myths.

Thessaloniki (Greece) - the most detailed information about the city with a photo. The main attractions of Thessaloniki with descriptions, guides and maps.

Thessaloniki city (Greece)

Thessaloniki (Thessaloniki) is the second most populous city in Greece, located in the north of the country in the historical region of Central Macedonia. It is the administrative center of the decentralized administration of Macedonia - Thrace and a major seaport. Thessaloniki is a beautiful city with a pleasant cosmopolitan atmosphere, where you can find many ancient monuments, admire the ancient Byzantine churches listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, sit in cozy cafes and enjoy traditional Greek cuisine.

Thessaloniki is considered the cultural capital of Greece. The city is famous for its vibrant and rich cultural life. The largest university in the Balkans is also located here, which attracts many young people. Thessaloniki is a city with an ancient and rich history. The old city was shaped by the ancient Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans. Therefore, here you can see both ancient monuments of the antique period and much more modern structures.

Geography and climate

Thessaloniki is located on the northern edge of the Thermaikos Gulf (Aegean Sea) and in the southeast it is bounded by the Chortiatis Mountains. The climate is subtropical. Summers are quite hot and dry with average temperatures of 25 - 27 ° C. Winters are cool with rare freezing temperatures. Sea water temperature from July to September is 24 - 26 ° C. You can swim from May to October.

Practical information

1. Population - more than 300 thousand people (agglomeration - more than 1 million people).
2. The area is 19.31 km².
3. Currency - Euro.
4. Visa - Schengen.
5. The language is Greek.
6. Time - UTC +2, +3 in summer.
7. Thessaloniki is famous for its shopping streets. The main ones are Tsimiski and Proxenou Koromila.
8. Thessaloniki's cuisine has an oriental character and is rich in spices. The Greeks consider the city to be one of the gastronomic capitals. This is all about local delicacies and inexpensive traditional dishes, not gourmet cuisine.
9. Thessaloniki is a youth city. Therefore, street food is very common here: souvlaki, gyros, crepes, fried chestnuts. Young people often prefer Goody's fast food chain.
10. Popular areas with many cafes and restaurants: Ladadika, Athonos, Ano Poli.

History

Thessaloniki was founded in 315 BC. Macedonian king Cassander. He named the city after his wife Thessalonica, who was the sister of Alexander the Great. In 146 BC. Thessaloniki was captured by the Romans. After the collapse of the Roman Empire, the city became part of Byzantium. Thessaloniki was located at the intersection of important trade routes from Constantinople to Rome and from Athens to the Black Sea region. This provided the city with rapid growth and wealth.

In the 6-8 centuries, Thessaloniki tried several times to take the Goths and Slavs. In 904, the city was captured and plundered by Saracen pirates. Most of the inhabitants were sold into slavery. At the end of the 10th century, Thessaloniki was conquered by the Bulgarians, and at the end of the 12th century by the Normans. In 1204, the city becomes the capital of the Kingdom of Thessalonica. However, already in 1246, this state was subordinated to the Nicene Empire. In 1387 the city was captured by the Turks. The Ottomans ruled Thessaloniki until 1402, when, after their defeat in the war with Tamerlane, the city returned to Byzantium.

In 1430, the Ottoman Empire regained control of the city. During the Ottoman period, Thessaloniki became one of the largest cities in Greece. At the same time, the ethnic and religious composition has changed dramatically. The Greek nobility assimilated with the Turks, mastered the Turkish language and converted to Islam. More than half of the population were Spanish Jews. Ladino became the main language in the city. The Greeks accounted for only 1/5 of the city's inhabitants. Most of them died during the military conflicts of the Middle Ages. Many Turks also lived in the city. Here, for example, the famous Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was born.

The Greeks took back control of Thessaloniki in 1912. During the Second World War, the city was occupied by German troops. As a result of the outflow of the Turkish population and the genocide of Jews by the Nazis, Thessaloniki became completely Greek.

How to get there

Thessaloniki Airport is located 15 km southeast of the city center and is connected with the following national and international destinations: Athens, Heraklion, Corfu, Santorini, Rhodes, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Basel, London, Stockholm, Oslo, Paris, Milan, Rome, Bergamo, Prague, Budapest, Warsaw, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Minsk, Bucharest, Yerevan. You can get from the airport to the city by 24-hour buses 01X / 01N.

Trains and buses connect Thessaloniki with Athens, Sofia and Belgrade. It is easy to get there by car from Athens, Istanbul, Belgrade, Tirana, Sofia.

sights

The central part of Thessaloniki, located inside the Byzantine walls, forms the oldest part of the city. It is divided into two parts: the main commercial area and, in fact, the historic center. The historical core of Thessaloniki is called Ano Poli or the Upper City and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area was practically not damaged during the devastating fire of 1917.

Ano Poli is located at the top of the hill. This atmospheric quarter is characterized by steep, winding streets, several artifacts from the Roman period, and a scattering of ancient Byzantine churches. Numerous fountains from the Ottoman era are reminiscent of Turkish influence. Odós Olympíados Street connects the Upper Town with the Lower Town, as well as with the old city walls and the citadel.

An interesting feature of the historical center of Thessaloniki is the sections of the old fortress walls. The first walls were erected around the city immediately after its foundation. Later they were strengthened during the reign of Constantine. In the 14-15th centuries, the Ottomans already built additional defensive structures and towers. By the 19th century, Thessaloniki was completely surrounded by powerful fortifications. Their length was 8 km. Later, the Ottoman government decided to dismantle the ancient walls that were holding back the growth and development of the city.

It is better to start a tour of the old fortifications from the Evangelistria cemetery to the north of the university campus. Here you can see the massive 15th century Trigonion tower, Anne's tower with a gate leading to the citadel, on the site of the ancient acropolis.

Heptapyrgion is a fortress of "seven towers", located at the highest point of the Upper City. It is believed that the northern towers were built at the end of the 4th century, while the five southern ones in the 12th century. Until the end of the 19th century, the fortress was a defensive structure, and then it was used as a prison for 100 years.

The White Tower is the most recognizable landmark of Thessaloniki, located on the picturesque waterfront. The tower was built in 1530 by the Ottomans to protect the city from the sea and was part of the city's fortifications. During the Ottoman period, it was a prison and a place of numerous tortures. Because of this, the building was called the "tower of blood". Later it was symbolically repainted white and called the "White Tower". Today you can climb the tower and enjoy the magnificent panorama of the harbor and the city. Inside there is a collection of a museum of Byzantine culture: early Christian coins, vases, mosaics, wall paintings.

Aristotle Square is the main square of Thessaloniki, designed in 1918 by the French architect Ernest Hebrard.

Ladadika is a historic area near the port with colorful 19th century buildings and provincial Mediterranean charm.

A few blocks from Aristotle's Square are the ruins of the Roman Forum (most likely an ancient agora). The center of social and political life of ancient Thessaloniki, built in the 1st century AD. and discovered by accident, it includes two Roman baths, as well as a small theater that was used for gladiatorial games.

Arch of Galerius is an ancient Roman monument built at the end of the 3rd century AD. in honor of the victory over the Persians. This building was the main entrance to the city. The arch had four spans and a marble façade decorated with intricate reliefs. Two spans and parts of the reliefs have survived to our time, which, by the way, are much better preserved than on the Arch of Constantine in Rome.

Rotunda Galeria (Church of St. George) is the most magnificent ancient monument in Thessaloniki, built at the beginning of the fourth century as a mausoleum for the emperor of the same name. At the end of the 4th century, the Byzantine emperor Theodosius turned the mausoleum into a Christian church. During the Ottoman period, the building was converted into a mosque. In 1912, the rotunda became a church again. The Rotunda has a cylindrical domed architecture similar to the Roman Pantheon. The dome has a diameter of 24 meters, and the height of the rotunda is 30 meters. The dome is decorated with magnificent mosaics inside.

Basilica of St. Demetrius is the main religious building of Thessaloniki, located north of the Roman Forum. This magnificent Byzantine basilica was built in the fifth century on the site of an early Christian church near an ancient Roman bath. Fragments of the bathhouse are still visible on the north side of the building, and the remains of a Roman road can be seen in the crypt. The church was named after the patron saint of the city of Demetrius, who was imprisoned and executed here in 306. For centuries, pilgrims came from all over the Byzantine Empire to venerate the relics of the saint, which were kept in a sarcophagus in front of the iconostasis. The church has rich interior decorations. During the Ottoman period it was converted into a mosque.

The Church of the Twelve Apostles is a lovely 14th century Byzantine brick church located on the edge of the old town, close to the Byzantine walls. During the Turkish period, the building was used as a mosque. The church boasts exquisite frescoes and mosaics from the late Byzantine period, which were discovered during restoration work in 1940. On the north side there is a cistern that belonged to a former monastery.

Church of st. Sofia is one of the most important historical churches in the city. The first religious building was built in the 8th century. In the 9-10th century, the church was decorated with expressive figured mosaics. From 1204 to 1430, the religious building had the status of a cathedral. In the Ottoman period, a mosque was located here. The original building has not survived after a large fire in 1917.

Church of st. Paul is a majestic modern church in the style of historical Byzantine architecture, built in 1922 on the site of a small chapel from the second half of the 19th century. According to legend, the church is located near the source where the Apostle Paul drank water.

Church of st. Catherine is a late Byzantine church located in the northwestern part of the Upper City. During the reign of Sultan Bayezid II, it was converted into a mosque.

Church of st. Panteleimon is a religious building of the late Byzantium period, built in the 13-14 century. Located in the eastern part of the old city near the Galerius arch.

The Temple of Osios David is a small Byzantine church that was part of the Latomu monastery. It was built at the end of the 5th century and is known for its magnificent mosaics and frescoes from the 12th to 14th centuries.

Church of st. Nicholas Orfanos is a small Byzantine church from the early 14th century, famous for its frescoes. Unlike most ancient churches, Thessaloniki was not converted into a mosque by the Turks.

Vlatadon Monastery is an old Byzantine monastery from the 14th century, which is considered one of the oldest and most important monuments of the Byzantine period in Thessaloniki. Known for a collection of Byzantine icons.

Basilica Achiropiitos is an early Christian basilica from the 5th century. It is considered one of the most striking examples of early Byzantine architecture and is known for its impressive frescoes and mosaics.

Bey Hamam is the oldest of the Ottoman baths in Thessaloniki with colorful wall paintings and marble pools. It was built in 1444 during the reign of Murad II.

The Alaka Imaret Mosque is a 15th century Ottoman mosque with wall paintings and interesting relief elements.

• Museum of Byzantine Culture - covers thousands of artifacts from the early Christian and Byzantine periods: frescoes, mosaics and wall paintings, ceramics and textiles.
• Archaeological Museum - collections of the Hellenistic, Archaic, Classical and Roman periods.

The history of Thessaloniki has become a symbol of the glory and power of the great Macedonian dynasty. It is with him that such names as the Roman emperor Galerius, the Apostle Paul, the warrior Demetrius, the brothers Cyril and Methodius, who contributed not only to the history of the city and state, but also influenced the course of the history of the whole world, are inextricably linked.

The city of Thessaloniki has been repeatedly destroyed due to enemy attacks and fires. Today he looks modern and young. At the same time, the ancient and Byzantine touches necessary for the appearance of the city are still present in the architecture, not allowing tourists to forget about its centuries-old history.

Thessaloniki is not only a first-class resort located on the shores of the bay, but also the main starting point for pilgrims to the Greek shrines of Athos, for those wishing to visit numerous excursions in Northern Greece and for shopaholics heading to Kastoria for the famous fur coats.

Climate and weather

The Mediterranean climate of Thessaloniki gives tourists and locals about 300 days of sunshine a year. The ideal months to relax here are from May to October. During this period, there is practically no rain. In the holiday season, the air temperature reaches + 27 ° С, water - +23 ° С. And in winter time here from +5 ° С to +13 ° С.

Nature

Thessaloniki and its suburbs will leave in the heart of every tourist a piece of their rarest beauty, rich flora, fauna and magnificent landscape. So, for example, in the area of ​​Lake Volvi you will be impressed by the variety of aquatic plants, trees and shrubs, as well as a large number of unique bird species: herons, storks, flamingos.

sights

Thessaloniki is of global importance in history and architecture, which is why the city is so attractive for tourists. Even the most demanding traveler will be conquered by the local historical monuments. The symbol of Thessaloniki is the White Tower. The archaeological museum displays an exposition of the treasures of the tomb of King Philip II of Macedonia. In addition, the triumphal arch of Emperor Galerius, the fortress walls in the Upper City, the churches of Hagia Sophia and the Holy Apostles, the Aristotle University and many other attractions are reminiscent of the centuries-old history of the city.

The most revered place among superstitious tourists is the Aristotle monument in the city center. Legend has it that those who hold onto the big toe of the thinker will definitely become wiser. It is no coincidence that the philosopher's finger is rubbed to a shine!

Nutrition

Everyone knows that Greek cuisine is distinguished by a moderate use of spices and herbs, simple recipes, its olive oil and fresh fruits and vegetables. But Thessaloniki also has an additional Macedonian orientation in cooking. Kutuki snack bars are a visiting card of local cuisine.

Café Delices is located on one of the busiest streets in the city, Tsimiski, and serves delicious French and Greek pastries. The best Greek coffee can only be tasted in the cafe on Komninou Street. A cozy atmosphere will be offered by the "Room with a View" at the Olympion Theater on Aristotelous. Only the Orizontes on the roof of the Electra Palace Hotel can compete with this cafe. And the luxurious secular atmosphere will be presented to you by the Melia restaurant on Mitropoleos.

Accommodation

Thessaloniki hotels will be able to satisfy any wishes and whims of tourists. The city provides its guests with an excellent choice so that travelers can enjoy their vacation to the fullest: The Met Hotel is ideal for a family vacation, Hotel Luxembourg for a romantic getaway for two, The Excelsior is the most fashionable hotel, an excellent hotel for absolutely any kind of vacation - Domotel Les Lazaristes.

Entertainment and recreation

Tours to Thessaloniki are becoming more and more popular every year. And this is no accident, because the tourism sector of the city is developed at the highest level. Magnificent wide sandy beaches stretch all the way to the suburbs. Comfortable hotels surprise tourists with their interior and range of services. On the beaches you can not only enjoy the sea and the sun, but also active recreation, such as diving or surfing.

The nightlife of Thessaloniki is in full swing at nightclubs. The promenade is filled with a huge number of different bars. Any tourist will find “the one” according to his preferences. Among the bars available in Thessaloniki, Thermaikos, Baraza, The Miles and Saxofono stand out. In the Ladadika quarter, with its old houses, you will find the splendid café Since 1915. The Vilka entertainment center awaits those who like to relax on the move. Vilka is known for several nightclubs and their different styles of music. But the most popular hangout place in Thessaloniki is Vogue, live music is played here almost every day.

The ideal end of the entertainment will be a boat trip. There are small yachts on the embankment near the White Tower, on which you can ride for free, you only need to pay for a drink. And having looked from the sea at the lights of night Thessaloniki, you will be convinced that you will definitely return to this city!

Purchases

Shopping in the northern capital of Greece provides tremendous opportunities for great shopping. Here you can find everything from simple souvenirs to well-known brands. You will not have to look for a field for maneuver for a long time, start from the city center.

We will provide a small list of the most famous shopping places:

Modiano - the largest Greek market where you can buy any ingredients for local cuisine;

Mediterranean Cosmos is a huge shopping center close to the airport with over 200 shops, 30 restaurants and many entertainment venues;

City Gate - a shopping center more modest than the previous one, but located in the center and open from early morning until late at night;

Alpha Odeon is a city cinema on Aristotle's Square, which also has a variety of shops and boutiques.

Having set aside a part of your holiday for shopping, do not forget that Thessaloniki has an unusual opening hours for shops: from Monday to Saturday, 9: 00-14: 00 and 17: 00-21: 00. Shopping centers operate on their own schedule, and souvenirs are sold from morning to night.

Transport

You can buy tickets for travel on the bus at the newsstand, using coins in the machine, or directly from the driver. The ticket price is 0.50 €, for the driver it is 10 cents more expensive. The ticket is valid for 70 minutes. In addition, you can buy a daily ticket for 2 €, and a weekly ticket for 10 €.

In Thessaloniki, the construction of the metro is in full swing, the commissioning of the facility is scheduled for 2014.

The international airport "Macedonia" is located 12 km from Thessaloniki, which serves international, local and charter flights.

There is a cycle track for 12 km along the embankment of Thessaloniki.

Connection

Greece's cellular communication standard is GSM 900/1800. Q-Telecom offers the most favorable tariffs, including international ones. It is very easy to pay for communication services - using prepaid cards. Many tourists prefer local operators to roaming.

It is possible to call anywhere not only in Greece, but also in the world from a simple telephone booth. To make a call, you will need coins of 10 cents or a telecard, which is sold in kiosks and costs between 3 and 20 €. Calls from the hotel will cost more than the above option. It is important that after 20:00 there are discounts for phone calls.

And advanced Internet users will appreciate the free Wi-Fi, which is available almost throughout the entire territory of Thessaloniki. It has the largest Wi-Fi coverage in Greece, with 37 hotspots along the waterfront from Ambelokipi to Kalamaria.

Security

The crime rate in Thessaloniki is quite low, so here you don't have to worry about your own safety. Local police suppress any manifestations of deception of tourists quickly and harshly. It will be enough for you to observe basic safety rules and be vigilant in public places and transport. In addition, it is not recommended to switch to the topic of politics in conversation with local residents; sometimes they react harshly to it.

Business climate

Thessaloniki International Exhibition Center of HELEXPO in Thessaloniki is the largest in Greece. A number of exhibitions dedicated to summer vacations, furniture industry, medicine and much more are held here every year. The center, consisting of 17 pavilions, is located in the very heart of the city. During its existence, HELEXPO has earned a reputation as the most important exhibition center in the Balkans.

In early autumn, HELEXPO hosts the annual diversified international Hellenic Exposition. This is the most significant event in the political and economic life of Greece, which is always attended by the Prime Minister. The exhibition is purely commercial in nature and brings together a huge number of exhibitors from small private firms to corporations, and also connects production and trade. Although none of the exhibitions was complete without cultural and entertainment events. HELEXPO promotes the expansion and establishment of cooperation between enterprises within the country and abroad. Undoubtedly, this makes a significant contribution to the development of the Greek economy.

Real estate

Today Thessaloniki is a modern beautiful city with a developed infrastructure. Accordingly, real estate here is one of the most successful investment options in Greece. Recently, the rise in prices for it in certain areas of Thessaloniki is due to the construction of a metro line.

It should be noted that the costs of registration of a sale and purchase transaction and state tax are on average 15% of the value of the transaction object, and brokers' fees are from 1% to 4%. In addition, real estate in Greece is not empty walls - along with the premises, plumbing, kitchen, built-in wardrobes are sold.

On average, renting a three-room apartment in Thessaloniki costs from 250 to 350 €. During the season, the price can increase by 1.5 times.

If you find yourself in a difficult situation while on holiday in Greece, contact the tourist police. In every resort town, you can easily find a branch of this special service.

To get to the right place on time, focus on the names of streets and districts of the city, because sometimes they can coincide.

In Greece, all service personnel expect at least a small reward from tourists, so do not regret tips for taxi drivers and maids.

In contact with

In Thessaloniki are located: Aristotle University - the largest university in the Balkans, Macedonia airport and a major seaport, in terms of its economic importance, ranked second after Piraeus.

In the vicinity of the city there are a large number of small settlements, which are a place of tourism in summer and ordinary agricultural villages in winter.

City `s history

Antique period

The city of Thessaloniki was founded by the king of Macedonia Kassander in 315 BC. NS. The wife of the king Kassandra was the half-sister of Alexander the Great - Thessalonica, after which the king named the new city, uniting in it 26 smaller settlements that existed at that time along the shores of the Thermaikos Gulf.

It was then that the city acquired its Hellenistic character, which remained in general outline until the end of the 15th century. In 146 BC. NS. captured by the Romans.

Byzantine empire

With the collapse of the Roman Empire and the formation of Byzantine Thessaloniki found themselves in an advantageous geopolitical position at the intersection of roads from Constantinople to Rome and from Athens to the Black Sea region.

After the Arab conquest of Antioch and Alexandria, Thessaloniki became the second largest and most important city in the empire. At the same time, there was a diversification of the national composition of the city: a lot of southern Slavs, Roman-speaking Vlachs who immigrated from the northern mountainous regions, and later Gypsies, settled here.

The local natives were the holy great martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki (died in 306) and the saints Equal to the Apostles Cyril and Methodius (IX century) - the enlighteners of the Slavs.

In the 6th-7th centuries, the Goths and Slavs tried in vain to take Thessaloniki several times. In 904, Thessaloniki was captured by the Saracens, and 22 thousand inhabitants were sold into slavery. In 995 the Bulgarians took possession of the city for a short time. In 1185 the city was taken and plundered by the Sicilian Normans.

Since 1206, Thessaloniki has been the capital of the Latin state - the Kingdom of Thessaloniki, which was part of the Latin Empire. In 1224 the city was conquered from the Latins by the king of Epirus Theodore I Duca, and in 1246 it was taken by the Nicene emperor John III Duca Vatatz. From 1342 to 1349, the city was ruled by zealots. In 1347, Saint Gregory Palamas was elevated to the rank of Archbishop of Thessalonia (he died in 1359). From 1383 to 1387, the inhabitants under the leadership of Manuel II heroically defended themselves from the Turks who besieged the city, but in 1387 the city surrendered.

In 1387-1402 the city belonged to the Turks. After the defeat of the Turks from Tamerlane, it was returned to Byzantium. In 1423, power in the dilapidated city was transferred to the Venetians, who sought to control the Mediterranean and its trade and economic sector.

The Turks again besieged the city from 1426 to 1430, and finally captured the city in 1430. The Greek elite was going through a complete moral and psychological decline, the Greeks massively converted to Islam, their life and way of life were becoming Turkic. The city became part of the Ottoman Empire.

Ottoman Empire

Life in the city during the heyday of the Ottoman Empire underwent even greater changes, as did its ethno-religious composition.

During the Byzantine Empire, this Greco-Slavic city had over 200 thousand inhabitants and was the second Christian center of the empire after Constantinople.

At the end of the 19th century, not a trace remained of the former Greek power: more than half of the population were now Spanish Jews, and Ladino became the main language of the city. The Greek population now accounted for only about a fifth of the city's total population and was pushed to the sidelines of his life. A significant part of the Greeks was destroyed during the military conflicts of the Middle Ages. Many were sold into slavery to Muslims in Anatolia, where they were assimilated. Most of the Greek nobility and middle class converted to Islam and adopted the Turkish language. But many ordinary Greeks did not come to terms with Turkish rule and went to live in the mountains.

In the city, the Muslim quarter, in which mainly Turks and Turkic peoples lived, was also significantly expanded, the famous Ataturk was also a native of.

With the outbreak of the all-Greek uprising in May 1821, the Turks demonstratively executed about 3,000 Greeks in the city. The anti-Greek terror lasted from 1821 to 1823. By the time the city was liberated by Greek forces in 1912, Greeks and other Greek Orthodox Christians made up 25.3% of the city's population.

Re-hellenization

At the very beginning of the Greek War of Independence, in 1821, the rebellious Greeks, led by Stamatios Kapsas, tried to take Thessaloniki with a battle, but to no avail.

The city was conquered by the Greeks only during the Balkan Wars of 1912-1913. Subsequently, as a result of the genocide of the Jews during the Second World War (Holocaust) and the outflow of the Turkish population, Thessaloniki again became almost completely a Greek city.

The appearance of the city changed significantly after the terrible fire in August 1917, which left more than 70,000 residents homeless.

During the Second World War, the city was occupied by German troops.

In 1943, Germany was preparing to transfer the city under the control of her allied Bulgaria in order to free up troops to be sent to the Eastern Front, but did not dare to take this step after mass protests throughout Greece and fearing an outburst of an already massive partisan movement.

The city was liberated by the Greek People's Liberation Army - ELAS on October 27, 1944, on the day of memory of Demetrius Thessaloniki, the patron saint of the city.

Slavic minority

In the area of ​​Thessaloniki and in the neighboring rural regions of the region of Macedonia, since the end of the VIII century (the Great Migration of Nations), a significant community of the so-called Solun Slavs or Macedonian Slavs has formed, who are close to modern Bulgarians and Macedonians.

According to the 1951 census, over 41 thousand speakers of the South Slavic speech lived in the entire region of Macedonia and mainly in the western nomes - Florina and Kastoria.

On May 24, 2008, on the Day of Slavic Written Language, the head of the non-canonical Macedonian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Stephen, officially rebuked the Greek government for pursuing a policy of Hellenization of the local Slavs. This statement provoked an official protest from Athens.

In the language of the local Slavic population, as well as in the Bulgarian and Macedonian languages, the city of Thessaloniki is called Solun.

Climate

The climate in Thessaloniki is Mediterranean, bordering on areas of continental and semi-desert climate. In general, it is characterized by an abundance of sunny days per year.

The highest temperature was recorded on 25 July 2007 at the meteorological station of the airport "Macedonia" and was 44 ° C.

The lowest temperature was recorded at the same station on January 26, 1963, when the temperature dropped to −14.0 ° C.

Snow can fall between early December and mid-March, although snow cover is low and melts within a few hours.

Economy

Thessaloniki is the second largest and most economically important city in Greece; it is a large industrial and commercial center.

On the territory of Greater Thessaloniki are concentrated enterprises of petrochemistry, metallurgy, metalworking and mechanical engineering, including the electrical engineering, shipbuilding and ship repair industries.

Thessaloniki is the main center of the country's textile industry, and there are also numerous pharmaceutical, tobacco and food industries.

In particular, in 1890 in Thessaloniki, the Tsantalis family founded the Tsantali wineries, in 1968 the Mythos brewery was founded. Every year, starting in September, International Exhibitions are held in Thessaloniki.

The port of Thessaloniki is the second in terms of cargo turnover in Greece, second only to the Piraeus port, it plays an important role in the life of the city. Using the free port, through the port of Thessaloniki, in addition to Greek cargo, cargoes from other states of the Balkan Peninsula and the entire south-eastern Europe are transported.

In the early 2000s, a new passenger terminal was opened here, which made it possible to further increase its capacity.

A large part of the city's workforce is employed in small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as in the service and public sector. In recent years, the city has begun a process of de-industrialization and transition to an economy based primarily on the service sector.

Transport

International airport "Macedonia" is located 12 km south of the city. In addition to international and local airlines, the airport serves charter flights with hundreds of thousands of tourists arriving on vacation in the nearby Halkidiki peninsula.

Thessaloniki is the largest railway junction in Greece. In addition to freight rail transport, Thessaloniki is connected by passenger traffic with Athens and with Belgrade, Constantinople, Bucharest, Sofia and Skopje.

Suburban trains connect Thessaloniki with the cities of Larissa and Edessa. The city is connected by bus with all cities of Northern and Central Greece.

The metro has been under construction in Thessaloniki since 2006. The expected commissioning is 2017.

A 12 km long cycle track network, mainly in the coastal part of the city.

The new latitudinal highway of European importance "Egnatia Odos", which runs like the ancient Roman "Via Egnatia" from the Adriatic-Ionian Seas to the Bosphorus, passes just north of the city and intersects here with the Athens-Belgrade meridional road axis. Ferry services link Thessaloniki with the northern islands of the Greek archipelago.

Due to its geographical position and its port, Thessaloniki has always been in the top five most important cities of the three empires throughout its history. During the Cold War and the partition of Europe, when Greece maintained its traditional friendly Greco-Serbian relations only with Yugoslavia, the city's importance as a regional commercial and transport center was limited. With the entry of neighboring countries into a single economic space with Greece, it is expected that Thessaloniki will again become a regional center.

Culture

In 1960, the annual Thessaloniki International Film Festival was held for the first time. In 1999, within the framework of the film festival, the International Documentary Film Festival was opened. At the end of November, the "Christmas City" opens at the exhibition center, which operates until the beginning of January next year.

The annual International Trade Fair is held in Thessaloniki.

The city is home to the National Theater of Northern Greece, Thessaloniki Concert Hall, opened on the eve of 1997, when Thessaloniki was chosen as the European Capital of Culture.

The National Television Network of the Macedonian Region is also based in Thessaloniki - Macedonia TV. ET3, the cultural and educational TV channel of the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation, broadcasts from Thessaloniki and is a Greek TV channel with the largest regional network. The private TV channel ANT1 also has a license to broadcast in the Thessaloniki region.

In 2011, Thessaloniki began the struggle to obtain the status of "EU Youth Capital 2014".

In 2013, the group Koza Mostra, whose members live in Thessaloniki, performed at the Eurovision Song Contest from Greece. Then they took 6th place.

Sport

Thessaloniki has a sporting history rich in events and successful moments, the city's clubs became the winners of the first ever Greek tournament in football, as well as in basketball and water polo.

Among the largest football stadiums in Thessaloniki are Tumba, Kleantis Vikelidis and the Kaftanzoglio National Stadium, which serve as the home stadiums of the football clubs PAOK, Aris and Iraklis respectively. All of them are founding members of the Greek Super League, in which they play in the current season. Among the clubs of Greater Thessaloniki are the football clubs Apollo, which is based in Kalamaria, Agrotikos Asteras and Evosmos.

The largest basketball arenas in Thessaloniki are Alexandrio Melatron, the home court of the Aris basketball club, the Sports Arena where the players of the PAOK club train, and the Ivanofio Arena, the home indoor hall of the Iraklis basketball club. All these teams play in the highest basketball league of Greece A1 Ethnics and take part in the Greek Basketball Cup, and Iraklis became the first winner of the Greek Championship. In addition, there is a YMCA arena.

Among the athletics sporting events that take place in Thessaloniki, the most significant annual Marathon is "Alexander the Great". The marathon ends in the historic center of the city in recognition of its ancient Macedonian continuity.

Photo gallery

Founded: 315 BC NS

Population: 365,000 (2007) agglomeration: 1,104,460 (2011)

Postcode: 53x xx, 54x xx, 55x xx, 56x xx

Telephone code: +30 2310

Time: UTC + 2

Useful information

Saloniki, Thessaloniki
Greek Θεσσαλονίκη, Thessaloniki
tour. Selanik
Art-Slav. Solun

Etymology of the name

According to legend, the city was founded by the Macedonian king Cassander and named after his wife Thessalonica, the half-sister of Alexander the Great and the daughter of the Macedonian king Philip II, the Thessalian princess. She, in turn, was named Thessalonica from the merger of two words - Thessaly and Nike (Greek Θεσσαλοί + Νίκη, is Thessaly + victory), since she was born on the day of the battle on the Crocus field, as a result of which the Macedonians and Thessalians won a victory over Phocis , thanks to which they actually won the Third Holy War as a whole.

At different times, the name of the city changed its forms, with a slight change in spelling and certain phonetic changes. Thus, Strabo during the Hellenistic period named the city of Thessalonica (Greek Θεσσαλονίκεια) in honor of the princess of Thessalonica. In general, in the Hellenistic period, it was a tradition to create geographical names derived from the names of monarchs: for example, Philip - from Philip II of Macedon, Seleucia - from Seleucus I Nicator, Alexandria - from Alexander the Great, Kassandra - from Cassander the Great, and the like. Along with Thessalonica, in the Hellenistic era, the name Fettalonica was also used (Greek Θετταλονίκη), and during the Roman period, as evidenced by the inscriptions and coins of that time, the form Thessalonikeon (Greek Θεσσαλονικέων) appeared to designate a polis. In the post-Byzantine centuries, historians, geographers, travelers and politicians used two forms of the name of the city at the same time: Selanik from tour. Selanik and the Slavic form Solun.

sights

Thessaloniki is rich in monuments of early Christian and Byzantine architecture, which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. These include:

• Basilica of Saint Demetrius, built between 313-323 and rebuilt after a fire in 629-634. The main relic of the temple is a shrine with the relics of the great martyr Demetrius of Thessaloniki, the patron saint of the city, and six mosaics of the 7th century that survived the period of iconoclasm that survived the terrible fire of 1917.
• The Triumphal Arch of Emperor Galerius and the Late Roman Church of St. George - the Rotunda of St. George), created in the tomb of this emperor (Arch and Tomb of Galerius). Some of the oldest structures in the city are parts of the palace or burial complex of Emperor Galerius. The rotunda has preserved mosaics from the end of the 4th century.
• The Church of Hagia Sophia is the world's best-preserved iconoclastic temple complex, built between 690 and 730.
• The Church of the Holy Apostles (1312-1315) is a striking architectural monument of the Palaeologus era.
• The Basilica of Achiropiitos is one of the oldest surviving early Christian basilicas (mid-5th century).
• The Church of St. Panteleimon is a cruciform one-nave church dating back to the beginning of the Palaeologus era (XIII century).
• Latomu Monastery with the preserved Church of St. David, built in the late 5th - early 6th centuries.
• The Church of St. Nicholas Orfanos is the cathedral church of the not preserved Vlatadov monastery (beginning of the XIV century).
• The Panagia Chalkeon Church is a cross-domed church dedicated to the Mother of God (first half of the 11th century).

The main architectural symbol of the city is the White Tower, built on the shores of the bay in the 16th century on the foundations of more ancient structures. The flagpole for the Greek flag above the tower is the mast of the Turkish battleship Fetih Bulet, the flagship of the Aegean squadron, which was sunk on October 18, 1912 - at the very beginning of the Balkan War of 1912 - by the Greek destroyer -11, who managed to break through at sunset into the port of Thessaloniki. Three shots, of which two hit the target, sinking a Turkish ship, were fired by Dimitrios Eleusinotis. The bust of the destroyer commander Nikolaos Votsis, who later became admiral, is installed in front of the White Tower.

The fortress and towers dominating the historical part of the city date back to the 14th century.

City museums

• Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki
• Museum of the Macedonian Struggle
• Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art
• State Museum of Contemporary Art - the backbone of the museum is the Russian avant-garde from the Kostaki collection
• Museum of Ancient Greek, Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Musical Instruments
• Museum of Byzantine Culture
• Science Center and Museum of Technology (Thessaloniki)
• War Museum of Thessaloniki
• Municipal Art Gallery of Thessaloniki
• Folklore and Ethnological Museum of Macedonia and Thrace
• Museum of Photography (Thessaloniki)
• Jewish Museum (Thessaloniki)
• Musical Museum of Macedonia

Jewish community

The Jewish community of Thessaloniki developed, first of all, at the expense of the Jews expelled from Spain in 1492 and their descendants (Sephardim). Since the XVI century. Thessaloniki was home to the largest Jewish community in Greece. The Jews called Thessaloniki la madre de Israel (the mother of Israel) and the "Balkan Jerusalem." The main language of the Jews of Thessaloniki was Ladino, the language of the Sephardic Jews.

During the Ottoman rule, Jews made up more than half of the city's population and most of the city's trade was concentrated in their hands. The city also had a community of Jews who converted to Islam, who moved to Thessaloniki in 1680 and were mainly engaged in trade.

After the annexation of the city to independent Greece in 1912, 61,000 Jews lived in Thessaloniki. The Great Fire in 1917 destroyed almost the entire city center, including the homes of 50,000 Jews. Most of the victims immigrated to the United States, Palestine and France.

In 1922, the government granted Jews full rights of citizens of Greece and in 1926 again confirmed the rights of Jews as full-fledged citizens.

At the beginning of World War II, 50 thousand Jews lived in the city. The local population and the Italian military tried to protect the Jews from the Nazis. By 1943, the Nazis began to take measures to liquidate the Jews of the city - the Jews were herded into the ghetto, which was located near the main station, and later the Jews began to be deported to death camps. By the end of the war, 96% of the Jews of Thessaloniki had died.

After the war, the community revived, and in 2000, 2000 Jews lived in the city. Large communities of immigrants from Thessaloniki are located in Israel and the United States, and Israeli singer Yehuda Poliker even recorded the song "wait for me, Thessaloniki" in honor of the city.

A memorial in memory of those killed during the war was opened in 1997 at the gathering place of Jews by the Nazis for deportation to death camps. The memorial was desecrated by Nazi symbols in 2002 and 2003.

Also on May 13, 2010, several gravestones in the Jewish cemetery were desecrated with anti-Semitic inscriptions “burn Jews” and “Juden raus”, one was set on fire. Police arrested 3 neo-Nazis involved in the incident.

Mayors of Thessaloniki

In the 2010 local elections, incumbent mayor Vasilis Papageorgopoulos, a member of the New Democracy Party, lost to Yiannis Butaris, the PASOK candidate. The new mayor took up his duties on January 1, 2011.