Thessaloniki Maps

Thessaloniki is Greece's second-largest city and the capital of the Macedonia region in northern Greece, with a metropolitan population of approximately 1 million. Founded in 315 BCE by Cassander of Macedon and named after his wife, Thessalonike (half-sister of Alexander the Great), the city has served as an important cultural and economic center throughout its history. Thessaloniki functions as the primary port and university city of northern Greece.

The city contains exceptional Byzantine monuments, with fifteen Early Christian and Byzantine structures designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Rotunda, built in the early 4th century CE as a Roman mausoleum, possibly for Emperor Galerius, was later converted into a church and features remarkable 4th and 5th-century mosaics. The nearby Arch of Galerius, constructed in 303 CE to commemorate Roman victories over the Persians, displays detailed relief sculptures depicting military campaigns.

The Church of Agios Dimitrios, dedicated to the city's patron saint, is the largest church in Greece. Originally built in the 4th century and rebuilt after a fire in the 7th century, the basilica contains Byzantine mosaics and frescoes. The crypt houses the remains of Roman baths where Saint Dimitrios was martyred. The Church of Agia Sophia, modeled after Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, dates to the 8th century and contains impressive dome mosaics, including the Ascension of Christ.

The White Tower, the city's most recognizable landmark, was built by the Ottomans in the 15th century as part of the city's fortifications. The tower now houses a museum documenting Thessaloniki's history. The Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki displays artifacts from throughout Macedonia, including spectacular gold finds from the royal tombs at Vergina, discovered in 1977 and believed to belong to Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great.

The Byzantine Museum contains one of the world's finest collections of Byzantine art and artifacts. The Museum of Byzantine Culture presents comprehensive exhibitions on Byzantine and post-Byzantine civilization. The upper town, Ano Poli, survived the devastating fire of 1917 that destroyed much of the lower city, preserving traditional Ottoman-era architecture, narrow streets, and Byzantine churches. The area provides views over the Thermaic Gulf.

Thessaloniki has a significant Jewish heritage, having once hosted one of Europe's largest Sephardic Jewish communities. The Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki documents this history, though the community was nearly destroyed during the Holocaust. The Thessaloniki Concert Hall hosts musical performances and cultural events. The waterfront promenade, redesigned in recent years, extends several kilometers and serves as a popular gathering space. The city's university, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, founded in 1925, is Greece's largest university. An annual international film festival, established in 1960, attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts. The city remains an important commercial and industrial center for the Balkans.