Interesting Museums to Visit in Thessaloniki
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As Greece’s second largest city, there is certainly no shortage of things to do in Thessaloniki. In fact, it’s an ideal city for people of all ages! Thessaloniki is vibrant and youthful, is an excellent city for walking, and has enough museums and historical sites to satisfy any history buff.
Here’s an overview of some of the best museums that Thessaloniki has to offer:
White Tower and Museum
The White Tower is one of the most distinct landmarks in Thessaloniki. The tower is part of the old fortification that used to be present around the city. Although these fortifications are no longer being used in the way that they used to, they are still an important feature of the city. The White Tower wasn’t the first tower built on this spot. Fortifying the city is not a new concept and there are some towers that came before. This rich history is showcased at the White Tower Museum located on site.
Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki
If you’re interested in the Ancient Greek Kingdom of Macedon, this is a great museum for your to visit. The Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki has an impressive collection of artifacts from prehistory and ancient times that come from Macedon and Ancient Greece as a whole. There are multiple floors here, so there is more than enough to keep you busy for a few hours.
Museum of Byzantine Culture
The Byzantine Empire was an important part of Greek history, and the Museum of Byzantine Culture provides the perfect backdrop to learn about it. This is one of those rare museums that is ideally suited to both beginners and those who have studied Byzantine history and culture for some time. As a result of that, this is a great museum for people of all ages. There are more than 3000 objects here, including mosaics, tomb paintings, and jewelry.
Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki has a rich Jewish heritage and history, and this beautiful museum is a nice tribute to that legacy. The museum is devoted to tracing the city’s Jewish history, beginning with the 15th Century up until the time when the Jewish population in Greece was decimated during the Holocaust. The museum itself is housed in the building that served as the headquarters of the old Jewish newspaper.
Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art
Sure, Greece does have an ancient history and past, but that’s not the only thing that is celebrated in this country. There is a modern culture, as well, and nothing displays that more clearly than the art that is created in present-day Greece. The Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art showcases modern Greek artists and their works and brings them to an international audience.
Ataturk House
The Ataturk House is one of those historical sites that is also a museum. The founder of Modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal, also known as Ataturk, was born here in 1881. In order to visit this museum, you will need to bring your passport and another form of identification since it is part of the Turkish consulate. However, it is well worth the effort.
Cinema Museum
If you want a fun and informative museum to visit while in Thessaloniki, you should stop into the Cinema Museum, which is all about the culture and history of the cinema in Greece. Here, you will see items related to cinema, such as cameras and projectors, as well as information about popular Greek movies. They also have a large cinema archive here with over 2000 films in its library.
When it comes to visiting Thessaloniki, there are a variety of things to do in addition to visiting some of the great local museums. When you’re not visiting a nearby beach, eating in a restaurant, or walking the streets, visiting a museum is the perfect thing to do! Plus, it gives you the chance to learn about different aspects of Greek history and culture.
Categorized in: About Thessaloniki, Greece, Greek Travel Guide
This post was written by Greek Boston
