Visit the Museum for Macedonian Struggle in Thessaloniki
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The Museum for Macedonian Struggle is a historical museum in the center of the city of Thessaloniki in Central Macedonia, Greece. The museum aims to preserve the local history and cultural identity of Macedonia. The museum showcases the important history of this city. In this article you will learn about the importance of the Museum for Macedonian Struggle, the history, and how to get there.
Getting to the Museum for Macedonian Struggle
The Museum for Macedonian Struggle can be found in the city center of Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece. Thessaloniki is a port city found on the Thermaic Gulf of the Aegean Sea. If you’re visiting from outside of Thessaloniki, you can get to the city itself by plane, train, bus, or rental car. If you’re staying in the city, you can get to the museum via bus, taxi, or car. The museum is located on Proxenou Koromila Street in Aristotle Square. If you’re looking for something to do while in Thessaloniki, this museum is well worth your time.
About the Macedonian Struggle
The Macedonian Struggle took place in between 1904 and 1908. This is the period of time where there was a considerable amount of fighting designed to free the Greek state of Macedonia from Turkish and Bulgarian occupation. The struggle created a series of political, social, cultural, and military conflicts. The Greek Consulate of Thessaloniki (originally housed in the museum’s building from 1893 – 1912) would become the secret headquarters for the operation. This is where military officials would meet and guidelines would be given. The conflicts finally ended after the revolution of Young Turks in 1908 when they promised respect for people of all religions and ethnicities. They would create a constitution to make sure of this.
About the Museum for Macedonian Struggle
The museum is run by the Foundation of the Museum For the Macedonian Struggle. The building itself is a late 19th century Neoclassical building that was designed by Ernst Ziller. Exhibits included in the museum include uniforms, weaponry, personal effects of the leaders of the Macedonian Struggle, and over 1350 contemporary pictures, maps, newspapers, books, and paintings.
The museum consists of several rooms which are grouped to include the following, plus several other important topics:
- Information about Macedonia before the struggle, the Struggle in Western Macedonia
- Learn about the people’s role during the conflict
- Information about the struggle in Central and Eastern Macedonia
- Life-Size dioramas of scenes from the conflict.
In order to see the museum, you can take part in a public guided tour of the museum and play educational games. The museum is open from Monday – Saturday. Next to the museum you will find the Macedonian Struggle Crypt and the Metropolitan Temple of Saint Grigorios Palamas. When you’re ready to get a bite to eat, the nearby streets of Koromila and Leoforor Nikis are packed with cafes, restaurants, bars, and fast food.
If you’re a history buff and enjoy museums, the Museum For Macedonian Struggle is a place you shouldn’t miss when visiting Thessaloniki. Getting to know the culture and history of Macedonia is a unique and important experience to be had when visiting the city.
Categorized in: About Thessaloniki, Greece, Greek Travel Guide
This post was written by Greek Boston
