The
White Tower is the landmark of our hometown and perhaps the mοst recognizable
spot in Thessaloniki. It is the most photographed monument of the
city attracting not only tourists but locals too. But
how many know its real story?
The
White Tower was for centuries part of the walls of the old city of
Thessaloniki. According to travelers' descriptions and old
representations of the city, the section of the wall along the
seafront, had three towers and the White Tower was the one at its eastern end. It was built in the 15th
century after the conquest of Thessaloniki by the Ottomans, to
replace an earlier Byzantine tower.
Throughout
its long history the towers name and use changed several times. At
first it was named “Lion Tower”, indicating the glory of the
Ottomans. During the 18th century it was called the “Fortress of
Kalamaria”. After 1826, it became a prison and a place where
executions carried out and its name became the “Blood Tower
” (Turkish:Kanli-Kule). In 1883, a convict whitewashed the tower΄s walls in exchange for his freedom, hence the name “White Tower”
. Sultan Abdul Hamid II gave the order so its former name would not
be inconsistent with the fresh reformist spirit of the time. After
the liberation of Thessaloniki in 1912 and its incorporation into the
greek state, the tower became public property.
The
six-storeyed cylindrical tower is 33.90 metres high and 21.70 metres
in diameter. A spiraling staircase leads to the top floor and the
observation platform which affords fantastic view of the city and
the sea.
Nowadays
the White Tower houses a permanent exhibition dedicated to the city
of Thessaloniki and its history. Visit the White Tower and enjoy a
panoramic view of the enchanting Thessaloniki!!!
