At A Glance
The Municipality of Thessaloniki falls withing region of Central Macedonia in the northern part of Greece. This region is most famous for its capital city of the same name. With its major commercial port, the region’s economic success is bested only by the Municipality of Athens. Traditional and modern events and festivals are frequent and lively, giving it the reputation of being Greece’s cultural center, even being named Cultural Capital of Europe in 1997.
Thessaloniki is home to several museums and World Heritage sites to satiate the curious minds of world travelers with an appreciation for the significance of culture and history. For less thinking and more moving, Thessaloniki has a popular nightlife and ample beaches and lakes to enjoy.
Θεσσαλονίκη
Thessalian Victory
Attractions
- White Tower of Thessaloniki
- Ladadika District
- Aristotelous Square
- Rotunda of Galerius
History
The city of Thessaloniki Greece was founded in 315 BC by King Cassander of Macedonia. It got its name from Thessaloniki, wife of Cassander and half-sister of Alexander the Great. Thessaloniki, in greek, actually means the "victory of the Thessalians" in honor of a great victory won with the aid of Thessalian horsemen.
In 168 BC, the Romans conquered Macedon, making it a subordinate province with its capital in Thessaloniki. The city’s ideal location on the Thermaic Gulf and its proximity to the Axios/Vardar River Valley corridor leading north into the Balkans, helped turn it into a leading commercial center.
In 1430, Thessaloniki was captured by the Ottomans. Although much of Greece was liberated after the 1821 War of Independence, Thessaloniki and Macedonia remained Ottoman. In October 27, 1912 during the first Balkan War, the Greek army liberated the city,
