21. Thessaloniki Port (Pier Α)

Since ancient times, the Thermaic Gulf has been a focal point for international trade between Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East, which is why Thessaloniki has always been an important commercial, economic and military centre in the region. And the city’s commercial port, where you find yourself now, has been central to that history since its very foundation… in other words, from around 315 BC and the time of Cassander, the King of Macedonia, who named Thessaloniki after his wife, the half-sister of Alexander the Great.

The key moment for the development of the port came during the early Byzantine years, in the early 4th century AD, when Constantine the Great rebuilt it from scratch to accommodate more ships. Commercial activity, and with it Thessaloniki's prosperity, grew steadily through the long Byzantine and subsequent Ottoman periods.

By the end of the 19th century, with the entire Eastern Mediterranean buzzing with commercial activity, there was the need for Thessaloniki’s only ports to be brought up to the standards of other Mediterranean ports. France was the leader in port projects and Marseille in particular was a model for all Mediterranean ports. So, it was only natural that, in 1888, it was a French company that undertook not just the modernisation but also the operation of Thessaloniki’s port.

The new buildings that were added at the beginning of the 20th century were, architecturally speaking, groundbreaking for their time. Made of stone and brick, those that remain are now classified as protected monuments by the Ministry of Culture. The warehouses of Pier A date back to 1904 and were constructed to the standards of the warehouses in Marseille. 

In 1912, Thessaloniki was liberated from the Ottomans and passed to the Greek State. Since then, the port has seen a range of activity, from the unloading of industrial and household goods and munitions to the arrival of thousands of refugees during the 1920s and 1930s Greek-Turkish population exchange and, more recently, cruise ship passengers.

It was bombed during World War II and, although it was rebuilt at the end of the war, took many years to regain its former glory. One of the turning points came in 1997 when Thessaloniki was named European Capital of Culture. Among the many regeneration projects carried out in the city was the redevelopment of the warehouses of Pier A and their allocation to cultural institutions. Since then, the port of Thessaloniki has found yet another way to open its doors to the city's residents and become part of their daily lives.

There are two museums on Pier A of Thessaloniki’s port that belong to the Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki, or MOMus for short: the Thessaloniki Museum of Photography and the Experimental Centre for the Arts, housed in Warehouses A and B1, respectively. Both museums host rotating exhibitions and projects. 

The Museum of Photography aims to promote and familiarise the public with the art of photography, exploring both contemporary and earlier movements. The Experimental Centre for the Arts promotes contemporary experimental art, encouraging artistic fusion, integration, and cross-disciplinary or hybrid relationships. It plays a key role in supporting young artists, organising open calls and residencies.

When visiting the Museum of Photography, be sure to take in the stunning view of the old Customs House, built in the early 20th century under the supervision of engineer Eli Modiano, who also designed the Modiano food market. Another ideal photo spot is the striking installation "Curate Our Traumas" by Vassilis Psarras, displayed at the front of the Experimental Centre for the Arts.