2. The statue of Alexander the Great

The statue of Alexander the Great, located on the New Waterfront of Thessaloniki, very close to the White Tower, is one of the city's most photographed spots. 

This impressive bronze statue was created in 1973 by sculptor Evangelos Moustakas, who developed nine different models before finalising this one. It was unveiled on 30 August 1974, the feast day of St Alexander, and has been a city landmark ever since.

It honours one of the greatest military leaders and rulers in history. Alexander III of Macedon – universally known as Alexander the Great, was born in 356 BC in Pella, the ancient capital of Macedonia. He was the son of King Philip II of Macedon and Olympias and, from an early age, showed exceptional ability. He was educated by the philosopher Aristotle, who instilled in him a love of Greek culture and knowledge. At the age of 20, in 336 BC, he ascended the Macedonian throne after the assassination of his father. 

As king, Alexander launched a series of campaigns that changed the ancient world. In 334 BC, he invaded the Persian Empire and defeated Darius III in a series of landmark battles, including those at Issus (in today’s Turkey) and Gaugamela (in modern-day Iraq). By the age of 30, he had built one of the largest empires in history, stretching all the way from Greece to India.

As well as being an exceptional military leader, Alexander was a visionary. He founded numerous cities, the most famous being Alexandria in Egypt, and spread Greek culture throughout the East. He died in Babylon in 323 BC, aged just 32. 

The period following his death is known as the Hellenistic period. His death sparked significant conflicts over succession, resulting in the empire's division into separate kingdoms. One of Alexander the Great's successors, King Cassander of Macedonia, founded Thessaloniki and named the city after his wife, who was also Alexander’s half-sister.

The statue of Alexander stands 6 metres tall and, together with its base (made of marble from nearby Melissochori), reaches a height of 11 metres, making it the tallest statue in Greece. The horse Alexander is riding is Bucephalus, his famous and fearless companion. He is facing east, while his horse appears ready for battle. According to legend, Alexander – aged just 10 – was the only person able to tame the unruly Bucephalus.

Behind the statue, there is a wall with a bronze relief of the Battle of Issus in 333 BC, during which Alexander famously forced Darius to flee the battlefield. And the two collections of shields that you can also see symbolize the common Macedonian soldiers who participated in Alexander's campaign.