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Set on the northern shores of the Thermaikos Gulf that opens into the Aegean Sea, Thessaloniki is approximately 550 kilometres north of Athens and in close proximity to Chalkidiki's beautiful beaches. It is the metropolis of the region of Macedonia, one of Europe's oldest cities and the second largest city in Greece.
Founded in 316 BC by Cassander, King of Macedonia, the city was named after his wife, Thessaloniki, sister of Alexander the Great. It was here that Alexander the Great established the seat of his great Macedonian Empire, imparting a legacy that has left modern Thessaloniki dotted with the treasures, temples and monuments of one of history's greatest leaders. Thessaloniki has the largest university in Greece, Aristotle University with about 95.000 students, which is one of the most established universities in the academic community in Europe. The city of Thessaloniki today offers the visitor an exciting experience, as it possesses the second largest and most important port in Greece, the International Fair which attracts commercial interest from all over the world- offers cultural events, theatres, Modern Art galleries, libraries, some of the most exclusive stores in Greece, an immense variety of high standard recreational facilities and examples of modern architecture, art nouveau and eclecticism. A few of the city's many attractions include the 16th century White Tower, Thessaloniki's many churches, in particular the 4th century Rotonda dedicated to St George, containing mosaics of the period, and the 8th century Agia Sofia, which was converted into a mosque during the Ottoman rule. |
