Rent today a very comfortable car from Pieria rent a car company to visit and experience the most important administrative, cultural and business center in Northern Greece. The second largest city in the country, Thessaloniki. We mentioned in a previous article some things about Thessaloniki. But there are not enough volumes to describe this fantastic city of Greece, Thessaloniki. The historical character of Thessaloniki is linked to its Byzantine life, an open Byzantine monument. ( Fifteen monuments ). They were inscribed in 1988 on the UNESCO World Heritage List. THE WHITE TOWER – ROTONTA – THE CHURCH OF SAINT DIMITRIUS AND THE EΠTAPYΓIO are the monuments, which initiated the history of Thessaloniki, which has to show Byzantine, Roman, Mata Byzantine, Ottoman, Jewish and Modern. With one of the dozens of rental vehicles from Pieria Rent A Car, you have the opportunity to see all these monuments, starting of course from the most widespread attraction and monument that adorns the beautiful Thessaloniki, the White Tower.
Thessaloniki – White Tower
The White Tower is now the ‘trademark’ of Thessaloniki. The date of construction of the White Tower cannot be determined. It is estimated that it was built in the 15th century, after the fall of Thessaloniki by the Ottomans in 1430. The White Tower is 33.90 meters high and 22.70 in diameter. The interior, which encloses the White Tower, consists of the ground floor and its six multimetric floors, which are connected by an internal staircase, which has a total length of 120 metres. The staircase itself winds in a circle in contact with the outer wall, creating a spherical core in the centre, reaching a diameter of 8.50 metres. In this way, a central circular hall is formed, with which smaller rooms are connected and communicating, opened in the thickness of the outer wall. The top floor is decorated only with a central room and on the outside a roof is created, which gives the visitor the opportunity to enjoy the magnificent view of this wonderful city, which goes by the name of Thessaloniki, and of course the endless sea.
White Tower – Name Change
The White Tower changed many names. You may have heard and some of the locals refer to it as “Tower of Leo” or “Tower of Kalamaria” and sometimes as “Tower of the Genitsars” and finally as “Tower of Blood”, which is based on the period when it became a prison and place of execution of convicts. The transformation in the name and appearance of the name took place in the second half of the 19th century. It is based on the period when, following pressure from England, the winds of reform began to blow in the Ottoman Empire. It was then realised that the name ‘Tower of Blood’ was not appropriate to the new ‘face’ and ‘style’ of this tower, which characterises Thessaloniki. As a result, in 1883, on the order of Sultan Abdul Hamit II, the Tower was renamed “White Tower” (“Beyaz Koule”). This process was undertaken by the convict Nathan Guelenti in exchange for his freedom. So that’s how its name remained to this day as the ”White Tower” .
Over the years, Thessaloniki has essentially become synonymous with the name “White Tower”, since the White Tower was left there from 1911, standing alone on the beach, after the demolition of the sea wall, the eastern wall and its enclosure. Around it, the White Tower is surrounded by hundreds of cafes, taverns, restaurants, pubs, etc., giving visitors the opportunity, after the magical tour offered by the White Tower, to enjoy their coffee, taste the traditional and local delicacies, but also the special, varied and modern gastronomic delights that Thessaloniki offers. But we will deal with these later.
Thessaloniki – Byzantine Wealth
Excavations have brought to light more than 300 Byzantine monuments. But the most important of them are preserved in the beautiful city of Thessaloniki. One of the most important monuments expressing Thessaloniki is the church of St. Demetrius. The patron saint of the city, Saint Demetrius, was martyred where the church is located. In this place there was a large complex of public baths during the Roman years, in which, according to tradition, the saint was martyred. The original temple , which was built in honour of the saint in the 5th century, was burnt down in 620 AD due to a very large earthquake and was immediately restored in approximately the same form.The Turks converted the much worshipped temple, which is housed in Thessaloniki , in 1493, into a mosque. However, they allowed a part of the mosque to worship the saint . After the liberation of the city the temple was restored to Christian glory. Unfortunately, however, the huge fire in 1917, which destroyed a very large part of the city, also touched the magnificent basilica in Thessaloniki. Most of the church was burnt down and its restoration, which remains to this day, took many years , being completed in 1947. The basilica of St Demetrios is five-aisled with a transept on the east.
Thessaloniki – Rotonda
With Pieria Rent A Car, you can also get to the Rotunda, in the heart of Thessaloniki.The Rotunda, for Thessaloniki, is one of the most imposing monuments. As its name indicates, it is an oval – circular structure, which impresses with its delicate architectural power and energy and excites us with the exquisite art of its sacred decoration inside. This famous construction of the Rotunda was fleshed out by Caesar Galerius in the 4th century AD. The large architectural complex it belonged to also housed a racecourse and a palace. With the prevalence of Christianity, the Rotunda in Thessaloniki functioned as a ”Martyrdom” , that is, a place of worship of the relics of the martyrs of Athos. Its mosaics compare with those of Ravenna in beauty and power. They were created in Thessaloniki and are the oldest surviving examples of the East. The Rotunda opened its doors to the public on 18 December 2015. This UNESCO World Heritage Site in Thessaloniki welcomed visitors with a religious concert after decades of restoration and consolidation work. And once the scaffolding was removed, came the dilemma of whether to finally put the Christian cross on top.
Thessaloniki – Daily Entertainment
Pieria Rent A Car even takes us out to have fun. When it comes to having fun in Greece, we immediately think of food, drinks, dancing, a coffee with friends, a walk for no reason, etc. The history, the geographical location, the traditional music and the natural environment created in the region a crossroads of flavours.
But when we want to talk about the cuisine in Thessaloniki and the culinary habits of its inhabitants, one should first realize that food in Thessaloniki is not only about satisfying hunger. Thessaloniki has one of the largest varieties of food and desserts that impress with their deliciousness and appearance. The time that people in Thessaloniki will spend both on Friday and in eating is a whole ritual, with the aim of satisfying or rather pleasing their taste buds and the enjoyment of both those involved in the process.
This unique relationship that Thessaloniki has with food, cooking and pastry at the same time, you can discover it both in the city’s restaurants that host flavours from international cuisine with a Northern Helladic essence to accompany them, but also in the countless tsipouradika, ouzeri, taverns and modern kitchens that await their visitors to welcome them and offer them pleasurable moments of tasting and gastronomy. The uniqueness of Thessaloniki’s cuisine is due to the fact that for almost two thousand years it has been home to so many people of different nationalities . Because throughout the centuries Thessaloniki has always been a crossroads of cultures and a port of countless visitors and conquerors. Even if he wanted to maintain a strict and specific framework in the cooking and flavors of Thessaloniki that would characterize it, this was probably impossible. Visit the market of Kapani where you can find crave fish -seafood , sardines , mussels , squid along with fish paste. Also find a traditional ouzo bar,where it is in abundance ,where you can enjoy traditional tsipouro and ouzo with delicious meze of mussel, seafood, and meatballs, salads with sesame and pomegranate, the stuffed vegetables, the pine nut, raisin, mint, dill and parsley dominated dishes, the fennel, and the quince, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg marjoram are there in sweet fillings to fill your palate! Thessaloniki celebrates food at every opportunity. A few years ago, the Street Food Festival started in Thessaloniki at the Thessaloniki International Fair. Food selections from every corner of the globe and unique flavours that will captivate even the most demanding visitor. Two music stages , three rest areas, kitchen lab, kids’ corner are some of the promises of the organizers. Afterwards,after buying the famous pretzel of Thessaloniki, enjoy a stroll along the beach, which is about five kilometres long, from the Concert Hall to the Port. With the Thermaikos Bay in the background, experience an amazing scenery.
Visit the twelve theme parks .The most interesting of these are: the Garden of Music , Memory , Roses, Sound and Water . Enjoy on the waterfront walking , cycling and dancing ! On the promenade and next to the Royal Theatre you will also find the tourist information kiosk which is open Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.
By Night!
The nightlife of Thessaloniki is indescribable. This is one reason why many young people choose this city for their studies, and not only. 
With Pieria Rent A Car you can experience this part too. This side of this wonderful city is just as intense – maybe even more so – than the everyday life of the city. Here the fun never stops. Everyone who stays in the capital or even visitors report that the city By Night is an experience! Some of the most famous places in Thessaloniki are Ladadika , the Bit Bazaar, the Valaoritou area, the Port , Aristotelous Square and the center of Thessaloniki.
Ladadika
Following the most commercial street of Thessaloniki, Tsimiski Avenue, immediately after Eleftherias Square next to the port, we will find the famous Ladadika.
A unique and beautiful area, specially designed for pedestrians only, which is a favourite destination for locals and visitors alike, as well as for the city’s unique student community. Ladadika is one of the hottest spots in the city in terms of entertainment! It is essentially a mixture of the old and the new, of tradition and the present. The colourful historic and neoclassical listed buildings exude the spirit and character of old Thessaloniki, and are just five minutes away from Aristotelous Square for those who prefer walking. Today Ladadika welcomes locals and foreign visitors of all ages, combining its picturesque beauty with the many quality options for both food and drink. Espresso bars, cafeterias, taverns, beer houses and various clubs coexist in close proximity to each other. As the entire area is pedestrian-only, everyone has as much as they want and need in order to find the place they consider ideal. Don’t hesitate to have a little glass of wine extra, it will help you to get into the spirit of the area immediately !
Bit Bazaar
Bit Bazaar is a very popular destination for young people and definitely a favourite place for the student community. You will find it North of Aristotelous Square. It is a place, which is mostly revealed to those who seek it out. Hidden between buildings and galleries lies a small historical treasure. Memories from the past and smells of another era, hundreds of old objects and smiling people, always ready to tell you their story, will take you on a journey to narratives of Thessaloniki that no one has ever imagined existed.
At night the scenery is fantastic. Many beautiful tavernas, which serve wine, retsina and many appetizers have taken their place. Although a bit noisy,the atmosphere is warm and very friendly. The low prices in most of the shops and its location are the reason why students and young people prefer the area, but it is true that you will meet people of all ages here and have a good time.
Port of Thessaloniki
The Port of Thessaloniki, after its redevelopment a few years ago, is one of my favourite areas in the city. Very easily accessible by bus, it has a large parking lot, a large area for the kids to run around and great cultural and recreational spots. In the Port you will find three museums clustered together: The State Museum of Contemporary Art, the Film Museum ( open only on weekdays and with very nice film screenings ) and the Museum of Photography. The Kitchen Bar is a very friendly restaurant – café for children and families, with a nice menu and a lovely view of Thessaloniki Beach. When the weather is good – almost always in Greece – the Port is full of life with friends. Within walking distance is the city center, walking distance to other favorite areas.
Center of Thessaloniki
The centre of Thessaloniki is one of the most famous places in the city for walking, coffee, dancing, drinking and shopping. Many people travel miles and spend hours just for a few hours of fun in the centre of Thessaloniki. The place is bustling with life, as it never stops being crowded with people of all ages. The main reason to go there, after having a coffee in the enchanting city, is shopping. Countless shops, low prices, clothes, shoes, household goods, shop equipment and anything else one might be looking for are found there and it is the reason why everyone fights for a trip to the famous city.
Complete your stay in Thessaloniki with the classic Greek coffee accompanied with loukoumi ! Something so simple but at the same time so traditional. A daily habit of Greeks that lasts for years. The New York Times recognized Thessaloniki as one of the 52 places to visit in 2016, with an emphasis on its gastronomy, as we mentioned above, the cuisine of Thessaloniki is incomparable and unique and can enchant every visitor, since it combines flavors from all over the world. There are more cafes per capita than any other European city, according to National Geographic, which makes perfect sense. In Thessaloniki, and Greeks in general, when they go out for a walk, they want to enjoy it and take their time. To not have the stress of the hour on their minds. So that’s how the need for the construction for more and more cafeterias was created. Ranked in the “Top 10 Nightlife Cities” for 2015 and “Best Trips 2013” in National Geographic. One of the best mid-sized European cities of the future for 2014 in the Financial Times’ “Human Capital and Lifestyle” index.
Now by renting a comfortable car from Pieria Rent A Car, you can live this amazing experience that you will never forget! See more on the official site of Thessaloniki : https://www.thessaloniki.travel/el/