Thessaloniki is a modern, lively metropolis that bears the marks of its turbulent history and cosmopolitan character. It has always had strong cultural and economic ties with the neighbouring countries of Southeast Europe and the Mediterranean and has been a major urban centre throughout its history since its foundation in 315 BC: from the Hellenistic, to the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman periods – few cities can boast of such a long historical presence in a leading role. These remnants form the canvas upon which a unique urban environment has developed, with strong traces everywhere of its multiculturalism, the intellectual and economic flourishing of the past, and its modern rebirth as a city of European standards. This book first outlines the history and the natural environment of the wider Macedonian region, before focusing on Thessaloniki itself: its museums and monuments, its history and culture, its neighbourhoods and environs, its nightlife and entertainment – a city kaleidoscope, which changes colours and shapes and gradually reveals its many different faces to the visitor who wanders through it.
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