From sunrise to sunset and even after, with its bustling nightlife, Thessaloniki is a truly captivating place.
The second largest city in Greece, with a long promenade along the coastline, offers a lot to its visitors: bustling cultural life (concerts, theatre and film festivals, to name a few); shops from high street to high end (we found the elegant little shop of Vassilis Zoulias, the designer whose creations can be seen in the Emily in Paris series); welcoming cafes; bakeries offering fresh, tasty products all day; museums to explore; archaeological sites to discover and beautiful Byzantine churches to visit.
A little etymology
The town got its name from the half-sister of Alexander the Great and wife of King Cassander. The princess was named to commemorate her father’s, King Philip II’s, victory over the Phocians, with the help of the Thessalian soldiers. In Greek, Thessaloniki means the victory of the Thessalians.
The White Tower
The city’s most photographed monument, the Lefkos Pyrgos, or White Tower, is located on the waterfront of the city and hosts an exhibition about the history of Thessaloniki. It was used by the Ottomans as a fortress and a prison. In 1826, after the massacre of the rebellious janissaries, the tower acquired the name “Red Tower” because of the tortures and executions that happened inside. In 1890, the tower was whitewashed by a prisoner in exchange for his freedom. Although the tower is a bit greyish nowadays, not bright white at all, it retained its name.
The promenade
After visiting the White Tower and the enormous sculpture of Alexander the Great, we enjoyed a cold coffee and some snacks in the Café Castello on Leoforos Nikis Street, admiring the glistening sea in the distance. The beach promenade is a popular spot in Thessaloniki. Most cafes and bars stay open all night; therefore, it is a great place to explore the city’s nightlife.
Fashion, unique gifts, antiques, books, local specialities, food and drink – Thessaloniki is an excellent place for a shopping spree. I am still excited to be able to see Vassilis Zoulias’ amazing creations!
We did a little window-shopping on the main shopping street, on Tsimiski, and of course we found some great bargains because it was August, the end of the summer season. We ended up at the wonderful Aristotelous Square. Because of the heat, it was an absolute must to have an ice cream at the Paradosiako Bakery. The Greek word ‘paradosiako’ means ‘traditional’, and this is what I like to go for when exploring the tastes of a new place.
We then continued towards Corfu Park. There is a gorgeous little church here with a lovely garden, the Church of Panagia Chalkeon. We visited the Roman Forum (quite a challenge in the Greek summer heat) and the Holy Church of Saint Demetrios, who is the patron saint of the city. We walked back towards the seaside, and on the way, we saw the Rotunda, the circular Roman temple; took some photos at the Arch of Galerius; visited the Basilica of Galerius; and ended up having another drink (some fresh juice) at a seaside café.
It was only a short visit, but we will definitely be back to further explore this exciting place in northern Greece.
