Thessaloniki, or in colloquial speech also just called Thessaloniki for short, is with about 360,000 inhabitants in the city center the second largest city in Greece, after Athens, and the capital of central Macedonia as well as the economic and cultural center of the region of Macedonia. Usually, the metropolitan area with smaller cities and municipalities than Thessaloniki is also included, resulting in a total population of about 900,000. The city is located northwest of the 1,200 m high “Chortiatis”; it borders the Thermaic Gulf and was once named by the Macedonian king Kassandros after his wife Thessalonike – a half–sister of Alexander the Great.


It is a cultural, university, industrial, trade fair and port city in one and a regularly crossed waypoint of international transport routes. The airport “Makedonia”, located 13 km outside the city center, is one of the hubs in international aviation, because in addition to regional connections, it also has many lines to the most important airports in and outside Europe. Last but not least, well-known twin cities such as Cologne, Melbourne, San Francisco and Tel Aviv speak in favor of international integration.
Among other things, Thessaloniki is mainly an approach destination for transit to southeastern Halkidiki. The city has a very modern expressway and rail network, which is classified as more relevant than that of Athens and guarantees a high, unrestricted mobility. Various industries of the city are of concern to the whole of Greece. These include the food industry, the tobacco industry, the furniture industry and the solar industry, most of which is headquartered in Thessaloniki. The international autumn fair, which is held here every year, is the most important industrial and trade fair in Greece. It is also worth mentioning the Ministry of Northern Greece, which issues daily visas for non-Greek visitors to the Republic of Athos.
Where is biblical Thessalonica today?
What is Thessaloniki called today?
Which part of Greece is Thessaloniki?
What was the religion in Thessalonica?