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Thessaloniki
Is the Metropolis of
Northern Greece, the second largest city in Greece and one of the oldest
cities in Europe.
It has a history of more than 2300 years, it is the home of the
Macedonian dynasty.
It was founded (316 B.C.) by Cassander the King of Macedonia. He
named the town after his wife, who was the daughter of Philip and
half-sister of Alexander the Great.
Over the long centuries of its history it has been distinguished as
the foundating stone of the Hellenistic world, as a seat of the Roman
empire, as a cradle of the Christian faith, as the twin-capital of
Byzantium, as the urban centre in the Ottoman Empire after
Constantinople and as the metropolitan centre of the Balkans from
the Middle Ages through to modern times.
It is built in a natural amphitheatre around the Thermaic Gulf and
rising from the sea to the foot of Mount Hortiatis.
Thessaloniki with one million inhabitants is today a modern European
city, center of international commerce and offers pleasant stay to
tourists for shopping and entertainment.
A stroll through the streets of the town takes you to a lot of historical
monuments.
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The White Tower, the symbol of
Thessaloniki, is a monument and museum on the waterfront of the
city. It is built by the Venetians in 1430 and was part of
the walls of the old city.
During the Roman occupation in about 300 A.D. Thessaloniki was
raised by the emperor Galerius to the status of an imperial seat.
The Arch of Galerius (Kamara), the Roman Forum, the Palace
of Galerius, Hippodrome, Rotonda, (became later
Christian church with very important mosaics) are characteristic
monuments of this period. |
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All the phases of Byzantine architecture and
painting are represented by churches, ramparts,
fortresses and towers. The whole city is a
living Byzantine museum.
The churches of Aghios Demetrios (7th century),
Aghia Sofia (7th century), Ahiropiitos (5th
century), Panaghia Chalkeon (11th century),
Osios David or Latomos monastery (6th century),
Aghia Ekaterini (13th century), Aghii Apostoli
(14th century), Vlatadon monastery (14th
centuary) are among the most brillant Byzantine
religious monuments with unique wall paintings
and rare mosaics.
During the long period of Ottoman occupation (
1430- 1912) everything declined until the moment
when the Greeks were able to acquire some
control over the regions economy in the 18th
century.
From this period are remnants of Turkish
monuments as baths, mosques, markets mostly in
the center of the town and in the upper city,
Ano Poli. |
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Upper City, Ano
Poli
Entering this part of the city is like entering
another world with an oriental flavor. Old
neighborhoods with narrow lanes and gardens,
renovated old houses or new ones built in
traditional style, a lot of small typical
tavernas, but also important old churches and
remarkable fortresses and towers from the
Byzantine period.
In Thessaloniki
there are a lot of museums and galleries.
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The Archeological Museum, the Museum
of Byzantine Culture, the Athletic Museum, the Museum of Folk Art
and Ethnology, the Gallery of the National Bank, the Municipal
Gallery, the Museum of Cinema, the Museum of Photography, the Museum
of the Jewish Presence in Thessaloniki, the State Museum of Modern
Art, the War Museum, the White Tower Byzantine Museum etc.
Nowadays Thessaloniki is a modern cosmopolitan city of particular
charm with distinct signs of its long eventful history.
It offers a big variety of modern cultural life. Opera, ballet,
concerts, theatres, exhibitions, the Song Festival, the
International Cinema Festival, the Demetria Festival every autumn
and other events.
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Thessaloniki International Fair
- Helexpo
The International Trade
Fair (organized for the first time in 1925) takes place in Thessaloniki
every September and displays domestic and
foreign products of all kinds.
Helexpo. the National Fair Organization, holds throughout the year
about 20 specialized international exhibitions (AGROTICA, DETROP,
FURNIDEC, FILOXENIA etc.) on the premises of the Thessaloniki
International Fair. |
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Shopping
Thessaloniki is a modern city with numerous
shops and boutiques for all demands. Local
artisans specialize in leather, furs, copper and
bronze work and fine jewellery.
Thessaloniki is also famous for its food
markets. The most well known is the Modiano
market. A visit there is an interesting experience.
A two-acre hall of clamoring vendors, stalls
overflowing with produce, meat and fish. Next to
Modiano there are small taverns, coffe shops,
places serving ouzo, very popular with a lot of
artists. A few steps away you discover the
Louloudadika (an outdoor flower market) and the
crumbling terra cotta walls of the 16th century
Turkish-Jewish baths. Other
traditional markets are those of Vlali, Kapani,
Agora Solomou, Vardaris or Bezesteni and Stoa
Karasso with innumerable little fashionable
objects.
A few blocks away there is a district
with a great number of coppersmith’s shops. On
this area in the center of the city an oriental
atmosphere is obviously. |
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Gastronomy-Entertainment
Thessaloniki is famous for the traditional
dishes, especially fish and seafood.
Ladadika, the seashore at Krini, the Modiano
market and Ano Poli are packed with ouzeries and
picturesque tavernas with unique atmosphere and
unforgettable appetizers.
In Thessaloniki one can find a great variety of
bars, pubs, discos, nightclubs or bouzouki
places near the airport for overnight
entertainment.
The Regency Casino located adjacent to the
International Airport operates on a 24-hour
basis offering a large variety of game action
slot machines and table games. |
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