Capital: Thessaloniki

Overview:

Thessaloniki is beautiful piece of land among the rivers Gallikos, Axios and Loudias, the Lakes Koronia and Volvi, and the Gulfs of Thermaikos and Strymonikos. The City of Thessaloniki has always been one of the largest commercial and communication centers in the Mediterranean. As it is seen from the remarkable numerous sights the history of the area goes back at the depths of the centuries, and the local festivities witness a great tradition. Today Thessaloniki is the second largest Greece's urban centre after Athens, a thriving city, known for its vivid entertainment, the organized international events and its endless nightlife.

Best Thessaloniki Sights:

• Countless Churches and Monasteries

• The White Tower

• Derveni - Sindos

• The Roman Market

• Rotonda, the temple of Zeus or Kaviros

• The Turkish Bei Hamam

Places to visit:

• Many interesting Museums

• The Delta of Axios River

• The Hot Water Springs (of Thermi, Lagadas, Souroti village and Apollonia spas)

• Nymphopetra, a series of calcareous formations, drilled rocks along wheat and tobacco fields

• The Lakes Volvi and Agios Vassilios

• The coastal resort Asprovalta

Special Events:

Of the most famous folklore events in the prefecture are the Carnival Festival at Sochos, with the "Dance of the Goats", the fire walking custom at Lagadas on May 21^st and the New Year's Eve party at Nymphopetra. Thessaloniki Municipality also organizes various festivals at the State Theatre, Open Theatre Days, Opera Performances, Cinema & Rock Festivals and Chamber Music Festivals all year round.

Best Thessaloniki beaches:

Perea, Nei Epivates, Nea Michaniona, Agia Triada, Epanomi on Thermaikos Gulf, Asprovalta, Vrasna and Stavros on the Strymonikos Gulf