We stubbornly walk in Thessaloniki, whose streets resemble a natural archeology site, despite the heat.. We believe that getting to know a city is possible by walking, and feeling its people and culture will come through street interaction.
While the avenues and streets overflowing with the smiling people of the Aegean motivate people to travel more, the history and regular settlement structure is at every breath. It makes us feel like we are in our own country.
As we move towards the beach from the house where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was born and today used as a museum with the Turkish Consulate General, the gentle slope draws our route.. Surrounding the archaeological sites, which are meters below today’s road level, the Greeks managed to integrate the city with its historical texture.. Everyone walking between the rows of shops, while continuing their shopping, also looks at the archaeological remains under protection.
Kamara
In Thessaloniki Kamara (Galerius Arch), one of the most important meeting points of the city, was built to honor Caesar Galerious, one of the four great leaders of the Roman Empire and the ruler of the Balkan Peninsula.. Caesar Galerious has an important place in the history of Thessaloniki, as he made the city the capital of the region in 299.
One of the two parallel walls of the Kamara, a part of which is still standing today, has completely disappeared, while two-thirds of the western wall stands in the middle of the city.
Marble carved inscriptions on the still standing walls of the arch depict the victories of Galerious against the Persians.
Taking the Rotonda and the magnificent arch behind us, we turn our direction once again to the coast, to the seaside.. Today, we are approaching the White Tower, one of the symbols of Thessaloniki.
Following the excavations carried out by a group of archaeologists, we also take a look at the souvenir shops where products with Thessaloniki logo and symbols are sold.
Just like in Turkey, we reach the White Tower from Thessaloniki’s promenade, after overcoming the persistent sellers who try to get cheap open perfumes tested in the middle of the street.
