Greece's second largest city, capital of Macedonia in the north,
was the realm of Alexander the Great and named after his sister,
Thessaloniki, when it was founded in 316 BC. It sits in a bowl
framed by low hills, facing a bay on the Gulf Thermaikos. Despite
being one of the oldest cities in Europe, today Thessaloniki is
lively and modern, more attractive than Athens with wide avenues,
parks and squares. In 1917 most of the city was destroyed in a
massive fire, and rebuilt later. This is not a high-rise city,
though, because the area is prone to earthquakes and regulations
have been imposed preventing the building of skyscrapers. This
means that residents and visitors alike can enjoy the seaside
situation of Thessaloniki, with views aplenty from the city
streets. The main squares are Platia Elefterias and Platia
Aristotelous, both on the waterfront and alive with cafes and
restaurants, children playing or people just strolling.
Thessaloniki, having been under Ottoman rule for long periods in
its history, has been left a legacy of numerous Byzantine churches,
and museums housing Byzantine art and artefacts. The city also has
a heritage of early Christian communities, particularly the
renowned monasteries of nearby Mount Athos.
