Thessaloniki

A crossroads between East and West, Thessaloniki developed quickly after its foundation in 315 BC by the Macedonian King Kassandros; he called the city after his wife, Thessaloniki, who was the half sister of Alexander the Great. In 165 BC it was conquered by the Romans, who were succeeded by the Byzantines and the city became the second biggest in the Byzantine Empire. So many Byzantine churches survive today that Thessaloniki has been designated a World Heritage Site.

Thessaloniki is like an open-air museum and as well as these fabulous churches there are ruins and monuments from the Ottoman period such as the White Tower, the city's symbol. These ancient buildings and archaeological sites sit alongside contemporary buildings, modern shops and numerous coffee shops

Cultural life in Thessaloniki is rich, with year-round culture: concerts, theatre, opera and cinematic festivals. Its museums revive the rich and multicultural past of the region showcasing finds from Classical, Roman and Byzantine times to contemporary folkloric and ethnological exhibits.