My Short Trip to Thessaloniki - Part 2: Exploring Upper Town of Thessaloniki

Hi Friends

I wrote about my journey to Thessaloniki and my arrival in the morning in the first part of my short trip to Thessaloniki. I will share my experience of exploring the upper town of Thessaloniki in the second part of my travel series.

I had something to eat and then went to the hotel. After checking in, I wanted to rest a little. I hadn't rested at all and was sleepless after an eight-hour bus journey. Towards evening, I left the hotel to explore the centre of Thessaloniki. The hotel was within walking distance of the the tourist attractions. There was a significant change in Thessaloniki compared to previous years: the opening of the Thessaloniki metro, which had been under construction for about 25 years. The reason for this metro line taking so long is clear from the photos below.

Because a great history lies beneath the city of Thessaloniki, historical artifacts were unearthed in every place where the metro was excavated. Inside the metro, a museum has been built for the historical artifacts found during the excavations. I didn't have the opportunity to observe this because I didn't use the metro on this trip. I was walking towards the White Tower in Thessaloniki at sunset. On the way, I dropped by the Hagia Sophia Church. I had been there on my previous visit as well. This time, I happened to be there during a mass. As I mentioned in one of my old posts, Hagia Sophia Church is one of the oldest churches in Thessaloniki. It was built based on the Hagia Sophia Church in Istanbul. Hagia Sophia Church was also converted into a mosque during the Ottoman period, and after the recapture of Thessaloniki, it was turned back into a church by the Greeks.

Leaving Hagia Sophia Church, I continued walking towards the White Tower. The streets were lively because it was weekend, but the area around the White Tower was even more vibrant due to the famous pirate boats offering tours with live music. I had spent time around the White Tower until the sun got down and went back to the hotel to rest. I was very tired as I had walked about 25,000 steps.

The next day was my last day in Thessaloniki. I would return to Istanbul that evening. I left the hotel early in the morning to explore the upper town of Thessaloniki. Having breakfast somewhere, I decided to go to Atatürk's house at first. However, Atatürk's house had been under restoration for a long time and it was still not finished.

Those who came like me could only see the around of the house. Leaving Atatürk's house, I continued walking towards Ano Poli, known as the upper town of Thessaloniki. Ano Poli is very different from the center of Thessaloniki, with its colorful houses built predominantly in the Ottoman architectural style. While walking, I passed through the Tsinari (Plane Tree) neighborhood of Ano Poli. This used to be known as the Turkish quarter. There is a famous tavern here called Ouzeri Tsinari, similar to Turkish old coffee houses. I recommend you visit it if you visit Thessaloniki.

I continued walking upwards. There were also Turkish and foreign tourists walking to see the walls of Thessaloniki, just like me. The weather was very hot. After about a 45-minute walk, I reached the Trigoniou Tower (Chain Tower). This area was known as Yedikule during the Ottoman era. Its current name is Heptapyrgion, similar to Yedikule in Istanbul. The tower and walls were built during the Ottoman period, extending to the northwest of the area. It was once used as a dungeon, just like in Istanbul. From the balcony, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Thessaloniki.

I spent about two hours in Heptapyrgion. There are places to eat and drink after exploring. After having a coffee at a cafe, I walked back down the streets I had come from. It was four o'clock in the afternoon, and it was time to return to Istanbul.

I have come to the end of My Short Trip to Thessaloniki travel post series consisting of two parts. I hope you have enjoyed reading them thus far. All the photographs in the post series belong to me. See you on another travel adventure, stay healthy.