Flights to Thessaloniki

Saloniki is the capital of Greek Macedonia, the regional territory of Central Macedonia, and the Autonomous Administration of Macedonia and Thrace. In 2007, the municipality of Saloniki, the historical heart, had a population of 385,406, while the Saloniki Urban Area had a population of 800,764 and the Saloniki Metropolitan Area had a population of 1,104,460.

Saloniki is Greece's second most important economic, industrial, commercial, and political hub, as well as a key transport hub for the remainder of southeastern Europe; its commercial harbour is also vital to Greece and the southeastern European hinterland. The city is known for its festivals and events, as well as its dynamic cultural life in general, and is regarded as Greece's cultural capital. Annual events include the Saloniki International Trade Fair and the Saloniki International Film Festival, and the city also holds the largest biannual gathering of the Greek diaspora. Saloniki was named European Youth Capital in 2014.

History of Saloniki, Greece

Cassander of Macedon established the city of Saloniki in 315 BC. By the Roman era, Saloniki was the second biggest and wealthiest city in the Byzantine Empire. It was seized by the Ottomans in 1430 and handed up to modern Greece on November 8, 1912. Numerous noteworthy Byzantine monuments may be found in Salonikii, including the Paleochristian and Byzantine landmarks of Saloniki, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as other Roman, Ottoman, and Sephardic Jewish constructions. Saloniki is a prominent Greek tourism destination. National Geographic Magazine named Saloniki one of the top tourist destinations in the world in 2013, while the Financial Times FDI magazine (Foreign Direct Investments) named Saloniki the best semi European city of the future for human resources and lifestyle in 2014. The downtown of Saloniki is also regarded as the most popular site for street photographers in Greece.

Things To Do in Saloniki, Greece

The White Tower

The White Tower, the city's icon, is certainly one of the top locations to see in Saloniki. The tower, which was built in 1535, was originally enclosed by thick walls since it was used as a jail during the Ottoman conquest of Greece. Many people were persecuted and killed there, earning the Tower the moniker "The Tower of Blood" or "The Red Tower." In 1890, it was renamed "the White Tower" after a prisoner completely repainted it white in exchange for his freedom. According to another version of what happened, the Greeks renamed it in 1913, one year after retaking the city. The White Tower Museum, which is devoted to Saloniki history from the Roman Era to the current day, is presently housed in the 34-metre-high tower.

Archeological Museum

The Archaeological Museum is a must-see for anybody visiting Saloniki, bringing Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, and Roman-era artefacts to light in the city and around Macedonia. In the city, there are artefacts from a 6th-century Ionic temple as well as a palace complex built by the fourth and fifth centuries emperor, Galerius. The "Gold of Macedon" display includes findings from Derveni, Sindos, Agia Paraskevi, Serres, and Leti cemeteries, to mention a few, and there is also a current show from prehistory until the end of the Bronze Age.

Hagios Demetrios

Following the martyrdom of Thessaloniki's Patron Saint Demetrius in the 4th century, a church was constructed on the same spot.

The original structures were constantly destroyed by the fire until the current construction, a five-aisled basilica, was built in the early 630s. The mosaic panels depicting Demetrius with children and the church founders, which date from the 630s to the 730s, are uncommon specimens of art from the time after Emperor Justinian's death. Unfortunately, a few additional priceless mosaics were destroyed in a fire in 1917. The crypt contains the Roman baths where Demetrius was imprisoned and executed, and it was forgotten about throughout Ottoman authority until excavations following the 1917 fire.

Aristotle Square

Following the martyrdom of Saloniki's Patron Saint Demetrius in the fourth century, a church was constructed on the same spot. The original structures were constantly destroyed by the fire until the current construction, a five-aisled basilica, was built in the early 630s. Aristotelous Square, on the city's coastline at Nikis Avenue, is a wonderful site to start a walking tour in Saloniki. The French architect Ernest Hébrard designed this magnificent plaza in 1918, but it would be several decades before the square was surrounded by its current mansion blocks, all of which are now listed structures. Aristotelous Square hosts almost all of Saloniki's public festivals (Christmas and New Year's), as well as cultural and political events and demonstrations.

Ladadika

Ladadika, a short walk from Aristotelous Square, is a historic neighbourhood with colourfully painted buildings, workshops, and shops on cobblestone lanes with café tables. Ladadika, one of the nicest spots to go out in Saloniki, was formerly a chaotic mercantile quarter. The name "Ladadika" stems from the stores in the district that used to sell olive oil and olive oil goods.

During the twentieth century's conflicts, the neighbourhood transformed into a global red light district, swarming with spies and companies and clients from all over the world. After a few decades of decay, the interwar architecture of the area was restored in the 1990s and 2000s.

Rotunda

At the beginning of the fourth century, Roman Imperial Galerius built a rotunda and linked arches to connect his palace to an emperor courtyard at the city's major axis. Following the position, when the Great civilizations were divided into four different kingdoms, this new imperial precinct was established as a new administrative framework, establishing Saloniki as a new capital.

Hagia Sophia

The current architecture of Hagia Sophia goes back to the 8th century. It was modelled after its namesake cathedral in Constantinople, and from Saloniki's annexation in 1430 until its independence in 1912, Hagia Sophia was a mosque.

Despite numerous misfortunes, such as fires in 1890 and 1917, the structure remains a remarkable example of Byzantine middle period architecture. The dome was not restored after the second fire until 1980.