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A great place to start a tour of Thessaloniki is with an iconic symbol of the city, the White Tower, or Lefkos Pyrgos (Λευκός Πύργος), an important Ottoman monument.
History
The White Tower was built around 1535, possibly by Ottoman master architect Mimar Sinan, to replace an older Byzantine tower. It’s the last surviving tower from the Ottoman walls. During Ottoman occupation, the tower served as a prison, fort, and garrison. It was also called the Red Tower or Blood Tower because of the tortures and mass executions that occurred there. The tower was whitewashed in 1912 when Thessaloniki was liberated and reunited with the rest of Greece.
Visiting the Tower
Admission between April and October is €6 (as of May 2024). The rest of the year it’s €3. The official website has more info.
Exhibits
Once inside, a ramp spirals up to the top with a stop on different levels of the tower. Each level contains an exhibit on the history of Thessaloniki and the region. Over 3,000 artifacts are on display, dating from between the 2nd and 20th centuries. The permanent exhibition makes up 11 rooms in all.
Once at the top, the views are breathtaking. Click here for a virtual tour.
Another View
One of my favorite views of the tower is while walking along the sea down Nikis Avenue (Leoforos Nikis).
