10 Reasons to visit Thessaloniki to the Greek Macedonia

The White Tower 

Dotted with historic sights but resolutely modern, Greece’s second city is a destination worth visiting – the New York Times named it one of their top destinations for 2016. The laid-back yet vibrant atmosphere of the city is its calling card, but in case you need more reasons to visit, here is a list of why Thessaloniki deserves to be on your bucket list.

The City Is Walkable

Sprawling around the coastline of the Thermaic Gulf, Thessaloniki is filled with unique landmarks. The shore spans from the ferry harbour to the White Tower, and the many Byzantine churches and vestiges of past life sprinkled throughout the city and its historical districts make it ideal for sightseeing.

There Are Plenty Of Sights To See

With ancient ruins rooted in the middle of the city (from UNESCO sites including the Roman Agora, the Arch of Galerius, the Rotonda, the Byzantine Baths and the Crypt of Agios Demetrios), a plethora of museums – such as the Museum of Byzantine Culture, the Archeological museum and the Cinema Museum of Thessaloniki, built for the city’s status as Cultural Capital of Europe in 1997 – as well as astonishing churches (make sure to visit Aghia Sofia), you won’t have time to see and experience it all in one go. The city offers plenty of affordable accommodations and great eats to make your visit even more enjoyable.

It’s a Culinary Paradise

Thessaloniki’s cuisine is known across the country for its quality and variety. Because of its historical past, the city’s gastronomy boasts flavors from Pontus, Asia Minor, and Constantinople as well as Arab and Armenian influences that infuse traditional dishes with exotic nuances. You may easily find yourself eager to order the entire menu, but relax, the city is also perfect for long walks so you can burn off the extra calories later.

The City Is Conveniently Located

Set on the coast in northern Greece, Thessaloniki is the ultimate gateway to many destinations for a quick getaway, including the Halkidiki peninsula with its beautiful beaches, the region of Greek Macedonia with its picturesque little villages, or even the islands of Thassos or Limnos – are all nearby. The only thing required is a sense of adventure and a thirst for discovery.

Don’t Miss Your Chance To Visit The Ladadika District

This beautiful, walkable area is located off the Thessaloniki harbor and is a hotspot when it comes to eating and drinking. Named after the numerous olive oil shops that use to populate the area, it is the former bazaar and central market of the city under the Ottoman rule, now peppered with charming tiny tavernas, restaurants and bars and clubs that fill this lively historical landmark.

Προσθήκη λεζάντας

It Is Ideal For Shopping Addicts

It may not be as vast as its big sister Athens, but Thessaloniki still has a good selection of high-end boutiques and fast fashion retailers. Although the majority is located on Tsimikis street, the nearby streets of Pavlou Mela and Mitropoleos are home to designer boutiques. Fair warning, you may find yourself actually shopping till you drop.

It Offers Stunning Views

Thessaloniki has its own stunning vantage point, known as the Eptapyrgio Castle. This stunning fortress perched on the hilltops overlooking the city offers all-encompassing views that include the Gulf. Whether you visit it by day or at night (a common habit of young people), it is an attraction you shouldn’t miss. On your way back, discover the small little streets and drop by one of the small mezedopoleio to enjoy some local delicacies.

Downtown Streets Offer Insight Into The City’s Past

One of the first things that strikes you in Thessaloniki is the juxtaposition of buildings of different styles and influences. Throughout its history, the city was home to Greeks, Jews, Ottomans and refugees from Asia Minor, to name a few. These architectural vestiges are still visible today and are a real sight to marvel at while you’re walking the city. Check out Thessaloniki Walking Tours to find a thematic walk to inspire you.

It Has Its Own Natural Park

Nature lovers are not forgotten. Just 10 kilometers away, the Axios-Loudias-Aliakmonas National Park – considered to be one of the most important wetland systems in Greece and greater Europe – offers refuge for those looking to commune with nature. Covering an area of 38,800 hectares, it is ideal for any escape into the wild.

Meet The Bougatsa, Thessaloniki’s Finest

You may have figured it out already, but Thessaloniki deserves its place on any true foodie’s bucket list. One of the main items that must be tried and adopted is the bougatsa. This (usually) sweet phyllo pie has, like so many other Greek specialties, a long history – but is now considered as the ultimate Thessalonian breakfast. Make sure to pop by Serraikon, one of the oldest bougatsa shops in town to try this local delicacy.

Bougatsa, a typically Thessalonian treat from Thessaloniki, Greece | © avlxyz/WikiCommons

source : CULTURE TRIP

The Hellinikon - Urban Development Project, Athens

The Hellinikon - Urban Development Project, Athens

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The vision of LAMDA for the development of the former Hellinikon airport is the design of a pioneering development for Athens, with emphasis on the creation of a world class Metropolitan Park covering an area of 2,000,000 sq.m., as well as the enhancement of the Coastal Front, both fully accessible to the public.

The Project consists of an integrated urban development model that will combine the area’s natural beauty and unique inherent characteristics with landmark buildings and state-of-the-art infrastructure. The ‘green’ and ‘smart’ design approach of the Project will offer world-class services and amenities while improve the standard of living of the entire Attica area’s inhabitants.

The investment will include a diverse range of residential communities, hotels, shopping centers, family entertainment venues, museums and cultural venues, health and wellness centers, significant space for sports and recreation, a modern business park with an educational and R&D hub as well as the total regeneration of the existing marina and the entire Coastal Front that will, along with the Park, will be the major attractions of the site.

The Project constitutes the largest urban regeneration project in Europe, designed to add significant new investments and uses in the areas of tourism, culture, entrepreneurship, innovation and in the environment. Thus, it is expected to have a positive effect not only on the region of Attica but on the entire country as well.

The investment amounts to € 8 bn., and is expected to create 10,000 permanent jobs during the construction period and 75,000 jobs (IOBE study, July 2016) during its maturity. Moreover, the Project is expected to substantially contribute to the repositioning of Athens as one of the major world class tourist destinations as it will provide a significant number of new units as well as thematic tourism venues, expected to attract at least 1 mil new tourists while significantly reduce seasonality and at the same time increase the average stay over and spending of tourists in Athens. The Hellinikon Project investment is expected to contribute to the country’s GDP by 2.4% until the development’s completion date, while contributing a total of over € 14 bn. in taxes to the Greek State over the same timeframe.

For more information please visit Hellinikon’s website: http://www.thehellinikon.com

Greek tourism in the Thomas Cook trap

The damage from its bankruptcy although it has not yet been calculated is huge and many Greek businesses can be destroyed.

The bankruptcy of a tourism giant such as Thomas Cook has naturally rocked international tourism and this has had dramatic repercussions on Greece.

An unexpected domino of developments has affected hotels, tourist agents, procurers, workers, and travelers.

Thomas Cook over the last years was one of the main supporters of Greek tourism bringing millions of tourists to major destinations such as Crete, Rhodes, Kos, and the Ionian Islands.

The damage from its bankruptcy although it has not yet been calculated is huge and many Greek businesses can be destroyed.

The damages of the company’s bankruptcy have not yet been calculated yet they are enormous and can shut down many businesses.

By all accounts, especially during the years of the crisis, Greece’s productive model must change.

Obviously since tourism is Greece’s main revenue-raising source, unavoidably such a major collapse will wound the economy.
In a period that economic expectations and the investment climate are improving an unpredictable external factor is creating conditions of alarm and concern.

Due to the tourism concentration in our country we are much more vulnerable to international turbulence.

For years there were warnings about the dependence of the Greek tourism product on to two or three major tourism players and that this involved unforeseeable and uncontrollable dangers.

The great dependence of the economy on tourism revenues render it much more vulnerable to pressures and to the collapse of giants such as Thomas Cook.

Obviously tourism will retain a hegemonic role but it is also obvious that other sectors of the economy must be developed.
The exploitation of Greece’s sun, sea, and natural environment have a limit.

Greece has other productive sources and human resources to modernise and adjust the tourist product but also to develop sectors of the economy which today are not competitive.

There are opportunities and possibilities as long as one avoids easy answers and a dependence on oligopolistic giants which with their greed can as in the current case cause grave harm to businesses and the economy.

ΤοΒΗΜΑ Team

25.09.2019, 05:10