Thessaloniki_EN

32
3 rd walk:
HISTORIC CENTRE (2)
MUSEUM AREA
and exhibits, see p. 76).
10.2 OTE [Hellenic
Telecommunications
Organisation] Tower.
It was built in 1969 to plans
by architect Al. Anastasiadis,
as the Organisation’s
exhibition pavilion, and for
covering the city’s telecom
needs. It dominates against
the city’s horizon as it reaches
a 70-metre height – including
the antenna. Its storeys house
radio stations and at a higher
level there is a caffé with a
rotating floor (completes a
revolution in 70 min.), where
the city and seafront views
are amazing. At a very short
distance lies the Radio
Museum which is worth your
visit (see the exhibits on p. 78).
10.3 Alexandreio
Melathron.
Also known as Palais des
Sports, this sports arena is
located on the NE side of the
Thessaloniki International Fair
grounds. Constructed in 1966,
it has played an active part
in Thessaloniki’s history ever
since, as major sporting, art
as well as political events have
taken place in it over the years.
It is a round edifice with a
seating for 4,800, and it used
to be the largest indoor sports
arena in Greece until 1985.
Today, it is the home ground of
Aris basketball team.
10.4 Angelaki Street.
It runs along T.I.F.’s west
side and it is lined with cafés
and bars that are particularly
popular with students at the
adjacent University campus.
This is also were several
radio stations have their main
offices as well as ERT3 - the
state-owned TV station. At
the location where Angelaki
and Egnatia Streets cross
(Syntrivaniou sq, see p. 37)
you will notice the impressive
18-metre tall sculpture, (1966,
G. Zongolopoulos).
11 3 rd ARMY CORPS
It is outlined by 3 rd
Septemvriou, Stratou,
Kaftanzoglou and Lampraki
Streets and it covers part of
the former Pedio Areos. The
main building (Headquarters)
in Stratou Ave. was built in
the years 1900 – 1902 by
the Italian architect V. Poselli
to be used as the Turkish
army barracks. In 1916 -
1917 it served for several
months as the seat of the
temporary “Government of
National Defence” led by El.
Venizelos. The War Museum
is housed in a building,
designed by V. Poselli during
the same period, in Lampraki
Street, (see p. – for museum
exhibits). Under the west
side of 3 rd Septemvriou Ave.
paved surface there are
visible remains of a cemetery
basilica (4 th -7 th c.) as well as
of a grave of a Christian martyr.
12 PAPAFI AREA
It extends east of the grounds
of the 3 rd Army Corps and it
was named after Papafeio
Orphanage that once dominated
the area.
MUST SEE:
O Melitefs Papafeio
Orphanage (33, Papafi and
Katsimidou Sts.). Construction
was completed in 1903
(to plans by Xen. Paionidis),
after a bequest made by
a Thessalonian called I. Papafis
(1792 – 1866) who lived
and died in Malta (former
name: Meliti). This is a typical
classical style building with
three floors and a propulaeum
in the main entrance. It served
as a male boarding school and
it was also used as military
barracks and hospital. It is
surrounded by impressive
gardens with a small church
built there of late.
YFANET textile factory.
Located at a short distance
from Papafeio Orphanage,
the factory covered an area of
4,000 m 2 and used to be one
of the largest textile units in
Macedonia from 1926 until
1964 when it was closed down
and deserted. Plans are made
to transfer here the State
Museum of Contemporary Art
(see p. 75). Until this is done,
locals use the place as a venue
for various events and there is
also a library, a reading room
and a café. At a short distance
you can visit one of the very
few remaining macedonian
tombs (3 rd c. BC) that were
unearthed in the town at the
corner of Papanastasiou and
Omirou Sts., as well as the
remarkable 1891 neoclassical
edifice of Ippokrateio Hospital
at 49, Konstantinoupoleos St.
3 rd walk:
HISTORIC CENTRE (2)
MUSEUM AREA
33
31 32
31.
Papafeio
Orphanage
after
which the
surrounding
area was
named.
32. Exterior
view of
Alexandreio
Melathron
Sports Arena
(aka Palais
des Sports
or Nick Galis
Hall).