The city: Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki – the co-capital – the second largest Greek city, has always been and still is a convergence point of many nationalities and cultures. Thessaloniki is Greece's second major economic, industrial, commercial and political centre, and a major transportation hub for the rest of southeastern Europe; its commercial port is also of great importance for Greece and the southeastern European hinterland.
Thessaloniki, the largest city in the region of Macedonia, was founded in the early years of the Hellenistic period, during Alexander the Great’s ecumenical empire. It was also dominated by the Romans and later experienced the glories of the Byzantine era as the “co-reigning city” before succumbing to the ottoman onslaught.
Thessaloniki has the distinction of being a city of uninterrupted urban activity for more than 2,300 years. Over the centuries its strategic position has ensured that it has been one of the most important crossroads for the region as a whole. The city is developing rapidly and aims to continue to play a leading role in the Balkans.
Built near the sea (at the back of the Thermaïkos Gulf), it is a modern metropolis bearing the marks of its stormy history and its cosmopolitan character, which give it a special beauty and charm. The city is renowned for its festivals, events and vibrant cultural life in general, and is considered to be Greece's cultural capital. Events such as the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair and the Thessaloniki International Film Festival are held annually, while the city also hosts the largest bi-annual meeting of the Greek diaspora.
Built near the sea (at the back of the Thermaïkos Gulf), it is a modern metropolis bearing the marks of its stormy history and its cosmopolitan character, which give it a special beauty and charm. The city is renowned for its festivals, events and vibrant cultural life in general, and is considered to be Greece's cultural capital. Events such as the Thessaloniki International Trade Fair and the Thessaloniki International Film Festival are held annually, while the city also hosts the largest bi-annual meeting of the Greek diaspora.
The city's main university, Aristotle University, is the largest in Greece and the Balkans.
The city was always associated with the White Tower, the Kamara and the Castles, St. Dimitrios’ church and the Rotonda.
The city was always associated with the White Tower, the Kamara and the Castles, St. Dimitrios’ church and the Rotonda.
The entire city incorporates many monuments of varying architectural styles and quarters representing the entire gamut of history, and offers "multinational" flavours.
It’s worth seeing the Archaelogical Museum, the Museum of Byzantine Culture, the Folk and Ethnographic Museum, the State Museum of Contemporary Art, the Teloglion Foundation of Art, the Thessaloniki Cinema Museum, the Thessaloniki Science Center and Technology Museum, etc.
It’s worth seeing the Archaelogical Museum, the Museum of Byzantine Culture, the Folk and Ethnographic Museum, the State Museum of Contemporary Art, the Teloglion Foundation of Art, the Thessaloniki Cinema Museum, the Thessaloniki Science Center and Technology Museum, etc.
