1. The White Tower

Standing proudly on the waterfront, overlooking the Thermaic Gulf, the White Tower is the undeniable symbol of Thessaloniki, an eternal guardian that – quite literally – encapsulates the history of the city.

Its story begins in the late 15th century, during the Ottoman occupation of Thessaloniki that began in 1430.

It was built by the Ottomans on the site of an older Byzantine tower that dated back to the 12th century and was one of the three defensive towers connected to the city walls, which once enclosed the city from both land and sea but were demolished in 1873.

The White Tower was essentially the southeastern fortification tower, positioned where the eastern wall intersected with the sea wall. 

Its original purpose was purely defensive. However, over the centuries, it changed both its function and its name numerous times. 

In the 16th century, it was called the "Lion’s Tower", while in the 18th century, it was known as the "Fortress of Kalamaria", because of its strategic location near the Kalamaria district of Thessaloniki.

In the 19th century, it was also known as the "Tower of the Janissaries" and the 'Tower of Blood’… both relating to its time as a prison for heavily sentenced inmates, due to its walls being stained with blood due to the frequent executions carried out by the Janissaries. 

In 1890, a convict earned his freedom by whitewashing the tower with lime, which is how it got its current name, the White Tower.

After the liberation of Thessaloniki from the Ottomans in 1912, the White Tower became part of the Greek state and was given various other uses: among others, for storing antiquities, as a transmission centre for the Allies during World War I, as an air defence for the city, and as a meteorological centre.

Today, the White Tower houses a museum that traces the history of Thessaloniki from its founding in around 315 BC to the present day. And at the very top, there’s a balcony which offers panoramic views of the city and the Thermaic Gulf, which are worth the entrance fee alone. 

The permanent exhibition of the museum inside the White Tower showcases the history of Thessaloniki from its birth in 315 or 316 BC to the present day. It is organised thematically across six floors.

On the ground floor, visitors are introduced to the story of the founding of the city by the Macedonian king Cassander, one of the successors of Alexander the Great, and to many of the other personalities who have played an important role in its history. The first floor focuses on Thessaloniki’s urban development over the centuries. Exhibits here highlight key moments of the 19th and 20th centuries, such as the demolition of the city walls in 1873, the Great Fire of 1917 which destroyed around 70% of the city, and the subsequent urban redesign by the French architect and city planner Ernest Hébrard.

Moving up to the second floor, the theme is Thessaloniki’s history, highlighting seven major monuments from the city's three defining periods: Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman. Added to these are exhibits and photographs to illustrate other significant historical events, including the Greek Revolution of 1821, the Macedonian Struggle, the city’s liberation from the Ottomans in 1912, World War I and other pivotal events.

Continuing on to the third floor, you’ll learn about the people of Thessaloniki – those for whom the city was an ancestral homeland and those who arrived, whether by choice or necessity. The fourth floor is devoted to trade and the city's economy, as Thessaloniki has been a commercial hub since ancient times.

And on the final two floors, the fifth and sixth, the museum explores the artistic life of the city – especially in the 19th and 20th centuries – and something else that makes Thessaloniki unique in Greece: its flavours. Thessaloniki’s cuisine reflects its multicultural character, shaped by people of diverse backgrounds and cultures.

So, as you can see, the museum of the White Tower is the perfect starting point for understanding this fascinating city.