Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece after Athens and the administrative center of Greek Macedonia . When you land at the airport, if you do not count the Greek signs around you, you can feel like you are in Izmir .
It may seem like a small, cozy city, but it has incredible traffic . As far as I can see, the only reason for the traffic is the traffic lights placed every 50 meters . If you add the time spent at the red light, it is sometimes as difficult as going from Beylikdüzü to Beşiktaş .
Before the Balkan Wars , only 15% of Thessaloniki’s population was Greek, 50% Jewish, 25% Turkish, and the rest were of other nationalities .
The birthplace of Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK and Nazım Hikmet RAN is Thessaloniki . Actually , I was in Thessaloniki in 2006 , but I did not have the opportunity to travel much. As far as I can see, Thessaloniki has not changed since 2006.
People are just like us . I had not tried the taste of ouzo when I went then, but this time I had the opportunity to try it. Ouzo may be a little light for those who like Raki, but it’s perfect for a raki enjoyment. I can confidently say that you can not get drunk. After 2 small bottle, you can only enjoy your time but you will not get drunk. Greeks know entertainment.
The most important places to visit and see in Thessaloniki are Hagia Sophia, White Tower, Atatürk House, Aristotle Square, Rotonda , Alexander the Great Statue, Arch of Galerius . Although we had a very limited time such as 1 day , we visited almost most of its places.
The most important thing that caught my attention was the school trips . In all of the historical places, young people – both primary school children and high school students – listened to their teachers to learn about their history. Greek and Aegean cuisine is already the same. Every dish had olive oil in it. Here are the places I visited and the places I recommend you to visit.
- Ataturk’s Home
The first name that comes to mind when talking about Thessaloniki is definitely Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The modest house with bay windows, which we have seen in books since elementary school, is also the most famous structure in Thessaloniki. This house, where Atatürk was born in 1881 and stayed for a period until 1912, when Thessaloniki was conquered by the Ottomans , was converted into a museum in 1953. Aya Dimitriya District, Apostolic The Turkish Consulate is located next to the house at number 75 on Pavlu Street. The items in the house, which is located in a three-storey and courtyard with its basement, were selected from the Dolmabahçe and Topkapı palaces in Istanbul. This museum house, which is the first visit of every Turkish tourist coming to Thessaloniki, is built in the style of old Turkish houses with a brick roof, stickers, and the first and second floors on the ground floor receive light through rectangular lattice windows. Located in the garden of Turkey’s Consulate General in Thessaloniki, Atatürk House can be visited between 10:00 and 17:00, 6 days a week except Mondays. Entrance to Atatürk House is free.
- The White Tower
The White Tower, the symbol of Thessaloniki, is a magnificent structure built during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent and located on the seaside of the city as a historical tower and museum today. The tower, which was used as a garrison and prison by the Ottomans, was baptized and painted white after Thessaloniki was captured by the Greeks as a result of the Balkan Wars in 1912. Although it started to be known as the White Tower after that day, Evliya Çelebi stated that the Kale-i Esed or Kalamarya Tower by the sea had 40 houses, 3 cisterns, and wheat warehouses for the tower, which returned to its old color over time, and that its cannons could only be delivered in Çanakkale and Rhodes. writes to be comparable. The tower can be visited between 08:00 and 20:00, 7 days a week.
- Aristotle Square
Aristotle Square (Aristotle Square), the main square where the heart of the city beats, is located by the sea. Aristotle Square, which is also one of the most famous places in all of Greece, is the starting point of many of the actions in the country with an extremely active political life. Aristotle, which is in a sense the Taksim of Greece, also hosts many cultural events such as festivals and Christmas celebrations throughout the year. It is an important tourist area for Thessaloniki and is also very popular with its many cafes and bars around it. The nearby Modiano Market is one of the most colorful and lively places you should see in the city.
- Rotonda
Rotonda , one of the oldest and most spectacular buildings in Thessaloniki , takes its name from its circular shape. Rotonda , which is a round structure, has an inner diameter of 24.5 meters and a length of 29.8 meters. There are two common ideas as to why the Rotonda , made in AD 300, was built. According to the first idea, it was built to be the tomb of the famous ruler of Rome, Galerious , but he died and was buried far from Thessaloniki. According to the second, more common idea, the building was built to serve religious belief and was dedicated to Zeus. Converted into a church during the Theodosius era, Rotonda is decorated with brilliant artwork and high-quality mosaics. These mosaics are also the oldest wall mosaics of the east and the most important works of art in Thessaloniki.
- Alexander the Great Manument
Alexander the Great Monument, one of the most important symbols of Thessaloniki Coast, which resembles a boomerang in shape; It is a building built in 1973 with donations collected by the public. Evangelos The Statue of Alexander the Great, made by Moustakas , has a height of about 6.15 meters. This structure, which has won the title of the highest statue in Greece with this data, fascinates its visitors with its walking area that offers a magnificent view of the Thermaikos Gulf.
- Galerius
Galerius , one of the most important symbols of the city of Thessaloniki in Greece, continues to exist in the city as a road to the palace of the famous emperor Galerius . The arch, which attracts the attention of both local people and tourists visiting the city, contains many historical symbolism. Kemer offers its visitors a lot of information about the cultural structure and architecture of the city.
- Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia or Holy Wisdom Church (Greek: Ἁγί α Σοφί α) is one of the religious buildings in Thessaloniki. This building, which was founded as a church and later converted into a mosque, is one of the oldest buildings in the city and is on the UNESCO list. There has been a church at this place since the third century, but the current structure was built in the 7th century. Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is taken as an example. Icons were drawn inside the church. The building’s plan is in the shape of a Greek cross and is one of the best examples of mid-Byzantine architecture. Sultan II of Thessaloniki. When Murat joined the Ottoman Empire in 1430, the church was converted into a mosque and a minaret was added. When the city fell into the hands of the Greeks in 1912, the Hagia Sophia Mosque (or the Great Hagia Sophia Mosque) was converted into a church again. Its minaret was destroyed. In 1988, fifteen monuments of Thessaloniki were listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
Thessaloniki is an exquisite destination where you can combine a cultural tour and a sea-sand-sun holiday with its magnificent geography. You can taste the best examples of Greek cuisine in Thessaloniki, taste wonderful dishes in taverns, and join those who make sirtaki accompanied by Greek music.
