Thessaloniki

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 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, which is one of the most established universities in the academic community in Europe.

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.

Useful websites:

> Thessaloniki: www.saloniki.org
> Municipality of Thessaloniki: www.thessalonikicity.gr
> Aristotle University of Thessaloniki: www.auth.gr
> Thessaloniki International Airport Macedonia: www.hcaa.gr
> Weather in Thessaloniki: http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/GRXX0019_c.html

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> Malév Hungarian Airline
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