City Tour

Today, the old historic city of Thessaloniki no longer exists. The terrible fire of 1917 destroyed its largest part, and what survived the fire was unfortunately abolished by contemporary views about growth and urban planning. The opportunity that was given for a unique in Greece urban planning intervention by the French urban planner Ernest Hébrard, was lost after strong pressures by certain social and ethnic groups. This intervention was never implemented and the only sign that reminds of this lost spring for the city is Aristotelous Square.
Nevertheless, among the densely built concrete masses, the remaining monuments of the city emerge dispersed here and there to reveal stubbornly the history of the city.

The Upper City (Ano Poli)
At the highest point of the walled historic centre, under the Acropolis, a residential area was developed that survived the fire of 1917 and was differentiated from the rest of the city because of its rising terrain and the decision to exclude it from the new urban plan.

Ladadika District
On the opposite side, near the port, stretches the Ladadika district. It used to be part of the port market that was set up in the 18th century outside the city walls.

City Intellectual Guide

Since the Roman times, Thessaloniki has boasted a rich intellectual life. However, its greatest period was in the Byzantine period, when it was promoted into a centre for arts and culture, mainly in the 14th century which was the golden age for the city both in literary and artistic terms.
In contemporary Thessaloniki, after the liberation, great names appeared in literature, poetry, painting, sculpture, music, theatre and architecture. The city’s cultural and intellectual life was further enhanced by numerous intellectual institutions, such as the Society for Macedonian Studies, “Techni” Macedonian Art Association, the Institute for Balkan Studies, the Vafopouleio Cultural Centre, and dozens other cultural associations and societies.

Thessaloniki Film Festival

Another important event for the city is the International Film Festival organized every fall, hosted in the renovated “Olympion” building. Many important film personalities have come to the festival, many new talents have made a name here, and many young directors have been given the opportunity to express themselves.

Thessaloniki Museums

A city with a history of 23 centuries naturally prides a rich collection of elements from its past. Today, Thessaloniki boasts many exhibition venues and museums that collect and exhibit important finds and other objects related to its history, the art and sciences that were developed in the city.
The most important museums of Thessaloniki are the following: Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki, Museum of Byzantine Culture, Museum of the Macedonian Struggle, Thessaloniki History Centre, Folklife and Ethnological Museum of Macedonia and Thrace, Museum of the Jewish Presence in Thessaloniki, State Museum of Contemporary Art, Historical and Art Museum of Thessaloniki, Water Works Museum of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki Cinema Museum, Museum of Ancient Greek, Byzantine and Post-Byzantine Musical Instruments, Technical Museum of Thessaloniki, Historical Archives of Macedonia, Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art.
University Museums: They belong to the relevant Schools and include exhibits related to the field of study of the particular School. These museums include:
• Folklife Museum (Faculty of Philosophy),
• Museum of Casts (Faculty of Philosophy),
• Museum of Modern Greek History (Faculty of Philosophy),
• Museum of Architecture (Faculty of Engineering),
• Palaeontology Museum (Faculty of Sciences),
• Museum of Embryology (Faculty of Health Sciences).

Art Galleries

Municipal Art Gallery of Thessaloniki, Macedonian Centre of Contemporary Art, Art Gallery of the National Bank, the Tellogleio Foundation, the Art Gallery of the University of Thessaloniki, the Art Gallery of the Society for Macedonian Studies.

"Dimitria" Festival

The “Dimitria” Festival has contributed significantly to the enrichment of the city’s cultural life.
The festival was first held in 1966 on an initiative of the Hellenic Tourism Organization and it later became an institution. It is actually a revival of the Byzantine “Dimitria”, a festival held in Thessaloniki every year from October 20 to the first Monday after the feast of the city’s patron saint, Saint Dimitrios (26 October); the festival was considered a succession of the ancient Kaveiria. This old “Dimitria” had the form of a public feast, where commercial transactions were the main event, although it also included artistic and religious events.
In the present “Dimitria”, music plays a leading role, but the festival also features theatre, opera, dance, art and literary activities.
The Municipality of Thessaloniki organizes the “Dimitria” Festival since 1973.

Thessaloniki International Trade Fair

The White Tower is not the only landmark of Thessaloniki; the International Trade Fair is another of the city symbols. It is the most important trade fair event in the country, that reflects the course of Greek economy and production.
The International Trade Fair grounds are in the city centre, opposite the university campus, covering an area of 8.5 hectares.
Every year it opens its gates at the beginning of September for 8 days. However, its activities are not restricted in this short period of time. Throughout the year, the International Trade Fair grounds host other smaller sectoral fairs, which promote the products of the specific sector. These sectoral fairs are the ideal time for commercial transactions, agreements and presentation of innovative ideas. There are also many parallel events, like conferences, seminars, meetings, lectures, and other artistic and cultural activities.