The White Tower, Thessaloniki: description, history, architectural features and reviews

This Greek city, stretching around the Gulf of Termaikos, invariably enjoys increased popularity among tourists from all over the world. During the rest in Thessaloniki (Θεσσαλονίκη) everyone has a unique opportunity to get acquainted not only with the wonderful nature, but also with historical sights. Famous for the whole world of monuments tell of the legendary past of the "bride Termaiku", as the local capital of Greece is lovingly called the cultural capital of Greece.

A sad holiday

The second largest city in the country, founded in 315 BC, is famous for its heritage, but the most famous corner is the visiting card of the capital of Greek Macedonia. Every year on March 25 Greece celebrates the holiday of independence from the Ottoman yoke. In Thessaloniki, this merry day is celebrated with sadness and tears in your eyes. The fact is that Macedonia was liberated last, and along with it - a suffering ancient city that survived for several centuries a lot of grief and pain.

On this day the White Tower (Thessaloniki) becomes a place of real pilgrimage. Here come urban residents with Greek flags in their hands and pray for those who died fighting for the independence of their beloved country. And to this day no one can say the exact number of people executed in the cellars of the tower, which received a terrible nickname "bloody".

When did the visiting card appear?

Λευκός Πύργος - the most recognizable urban structure, the first information about which can be found in the works of I. Kameniata. Despite the fact that the tower is called "white", the color of its stone walls is still gray.

The priest told how in 904, Arab pirates captured and destroyed the city, casually mentioning a fortified tower without a name, located next to the fortress wall. True, not everyone agrees that it is the White Tower (Thessaloniki) that is mentioned in the annals, in fact, by that time wooden structures were built that burned down in the fire.

A new mention of the structure occurs in the records of Archbishop Efstafios. He observes a tower overlooking the sea, describing the attack of pirates of Norman origin in 1185 on the city.

In the historical chronicles of the XV century, records are found of a certain tower Samarinas. It is noted that in 1430 the Venetians, under the rule of the Venetians, transferred to the Turks the long-suffering city of Thessaloniki.

White Tower: History

The question of when, in fact, there was a visiting card of the tourist center, remains open, and the exact date is not established.

A traveler from Turkey, E. Tselebi, points out that the building was most likely erected in the 16th century, during the reign of the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire Suleiman the Magnificent. However, not all historians agree with this version. The white tower - the symbol of the city of Thessaloniki - was built much earlier by Venetians or Byzantines, and the great commander and statesman only restored the ancient defensive structure. Initially, it was part of the fortification complex and connected with the city walls demolished in the last century.

The construction that was compared with the lion

The theory of scientists was confirmed by an Arabic inscription, which has not survived until our days. On the historical monument were broken the words that in the era of the ruler the great power was strengthened, and the tower protecting the city, belching fire, became formidable, like a lion. Allegory with the king of beasts symbolized the greatness and strength of not only Suleiman, but also the fortification, on which guns were installed. Their firepower instilled fear on all opponents.

Greek trace

Historians who have found the Greek footprint in the mysterious history of the emergence of the defensive structure, suggest that the White Tower (Thessaloniki) was built in 1535 on the site of old Byzantine buildings.

There is a suggestion that the famous architect M. Sinan, who erected a similar tower in the territory of modern Albania, designed the same in Thessaloniki. Born at the end of the XV century, the son of a poor mason built more than 300 buildings. Turkish conquerors sought to make a military career, and not engage in peaceful crafts, so the talented Greek was recognized as the chief architect of the Ottoman Empire.

Venetian trace

Another suggestion was made regarding the construction of the symbol of Thessaloniki. The specialists studied historical records and established that after 1430, when the Turks seized the city, a large-scale construction of a defensive complex began - a fortification structure that protected the harbor from attacks. Despite the fact that the builders were helped by the Venetian masters, the monument was made in the best traditions of Muslim architecture.

The structure was used as a barracks for soldiers, and later turned into a prison.

The Bloody Tower

In the XIX century, unrest began, which led to the liberation movement against the Ottomans. The Turks brutally suppressed the uprising, and in 1826 they executed about three thousand inhabitants.

The white tower in Thessaloniki was painted with the blood of unfortunate prisoners who had been tortured for a long time in its casemates. The stone structure was used as a prison for those who were sentenced to death. Repression and terror continued, and more than 25,000 city residents were tortured to death.

Two versions concerning the name of the fortification

At the end of the XIX century, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire came across a report about the massacres in the tower and was horrified. He gave the order to do everything to from now on the fortress was not associated with blood, and the authorities did not equate to despotic. The fort was immediately painted with lime and ordered to name the fortification of Beyaz-Kule - the White Tower.

There is one more version of why the fortification structure received such a name. When Thessaloniki went under the control of Greece, political changes touched the tower. Residents destroyed a stone fence, which was surrounded by a landmark, thus leaving the past years of occupation and marking the victory of good over evil. Authorities issued a decree to recolour the structure in a snow-white color, which symbolizes the purification of the city from centuries of suffering. Over time, lime was washed away, and now the local population says that the building has the color of buffalo skin.

The symbol of independence

In 1912, after the liberation of the city, when Northern Greece gained its independence, the historical monument was in municipal ownership and served as a radio beacon. In the 90's he was handed over to the Ministry of Culture of the country. Now it houses the Thessaloniki Museum with multimedia expositions, in which a complete description of the events that took place over the centuries is presented.

The White Tower (Thessaloniki), architectural features of which surprise tourists, beats all records of visits. Perhaps, this is the most strange symbol of the city - an unprepossessing low construction, and even built by the invaders during the occupation.

Historical monument

A stone structure 27 meters high rises in a small garden on the outskirts of the seaside promenade. The white tower has the shape of a cylinder with a diameter of 23 meters, and at its top is a small viewing platform six meters high, which offers a fantastic view of the coastal part of the cultural capital of Greece.

Open from 8.00 to 20.00 historical monument takes a huge number of guests, many of whom are our compatriots and Israelis. The beautifully preserved Ottoman fortification, 27 meters high, carries visitors several centuries ago.

The White Tower in Thessaloniki: reviews

Every evening around the site of the site, merry young local people gather, and foreign guests go on a small boat, moored nearby, on a city tour. Travelers admit that this is a very powerful structure, which makes an indelible impression. Visitors recommend to take an audio guide to learn a lot about Greece and Thessaloniki.

Near the tower are comfortable benches, on which it is so nice to relax in the shade. Particularly beautiful here in the evening, when the rays of the sun gild the stone walls and play on the smooth surface of the sea.

Tourists say that in every souvenir shop on all postcards, mugs, magnets, a tower is depicted, and even commemorative coins are issued on which the symbol of the sovereignty of Macedonia flaunts.

A wonderful city where every stone tells a centuries-old history, and modern monuments co-exist with the ancients, surprises with a special atmosphere. Here, the hearts of tourists, catching the barely perceptible breath of time, freeze. Residents remember the bloody events and pay tribute to local heroes every year who tried to free their homeland from the invaders.