Thessaloniki is Greece's second largest city with a rich history dating back to its founding in 315 BC. It boasts significant landmarks like the White Tower and the Church of Saint Demetrius, and hosts cultural events like the 'Demetria' festival and the International Thessaloniki Film Festival. The city is also known for its numerous museums, architecture, and the largest exhibition event in Greece, the International Fair of Thessaloniki.

1. THESSALONIKI

2. Thessaloniki is the second
largest city of Greece and
the capital of the Prefecture
of Thessaloniki. It is a city
with rich history that
attracts the interest of
historians and archaeologists.

3. Founded in 315 BC by
the King Kassandros of
Macedonia, the city took
its name from the half
sister of Alexander the
Great, Thessaloniki, who
was the founder’s wife,
as well. The name was
given after the
significant victory that
Macedonians achieved
against the Thessalians.
(I’m not afraid of an army of
lions led by a sheep. I’m afraid
of an army of sheep led by a
lion.)

4. The White Tower of
Thessaloniki is an Ottoman
fortification construction of
the 15th century (probably
built between 1450-1470).
Today it is considered the
landmark of Thessaloniki and
it is what has remained from
demolished Ottoman
fortifications.

5. The Arch of Galerius and the Rotunda are neighboring early 4th-century
monuments in the city of Thessaloniki. The Rotunda is also known as
the Church of Agios Georgios or St. George (in English) .
Arch of Galerius
Rotunda

6. The Church of Saint Demetrius,
or Hagios Demetrios , is the main
sanctuary dedicated to Saint
Demetrius, the patron saint of
Thessaloniki , dating at the time
that Thessaloniki was the second
largest city of the Byzantine
Empire. In honor of the patron
saint, a series of cultural events,
called “Demetria”, take place in
October and November every
year.

7. The history of the "Demetria"
takes us back in the Byzantine
period, in the 12th century
AD. The love of the
Thessalonians for the patron
Saint Demetrios, led to the
establishment of a feast to
honor him. In early years, the
festival has had mainly
religious and commercial
purposes. The events had
been hosted in various cultural
sites such as City Hall, the
Bensousan Khan, the Municipal
Theatre and in a lot of
museums and galleries in the
city.

8. The International Thessaloniki Film Festival is the premier South
East Europe Film Festival, that presents themes of the annual Greek
film production. It is the main and oldest festival in the Balkans for
the creations of emerging filmmakers all over the world.
BEST
MOVIE
BEST
MOVIE

9. The city has a lot of other festivals and events like: Thessaloniki Food
Festival, the Night Half Marathon, the world rowing, Reworks, e.t.c.

10. The International Fair
of Thessaloniki, is
beyond any doubt the
largest exhibition
event of the country.
Since 1926 the main
purpose has been to
support and promote
Greek manufacturing
and entrepreneurship
always in conjunction
with the development
of the national
economy.

11. The Concert Hall is a modern, international cultural and conference
center, which can accommodate a wide range of events such as concerts,
theatrical plays and opera, ballet, art, cultural exhibitions and
conference events.

12. The construction of the new City
Hall started in 2005 . The
advantage of the new City Hall is
that almost all municipal services
are in a building with a parking place
nearby and thus reducing
unnecessary travel within the city.

13. Thessaloniki is well-known not only
for its festival, but also for its
museums such as: the
Museum of Byzantine Culture, the
Sports Museum, the Children's
Museum, the Folk-Ethnological
Museum of Macedonia-Thrace,
Goulandris Natural History
Museum, the Archaeological
Museum, etc.

14. In Thessaloniki you can
visit a lot of neoclassical
houses like: the Casa
Bianca, the “Olympian”
Theatre Villa Aladdin,
Villa Mordoch, the Ahmet
Kapantzis mansion etc.

15. THE END
George L.
George M.
Lazaros P.
Nick M.
Maria P.
Sofia-Maria L.