Thessaloniki_EN

52
6 th walk:
NEA PARALIA – VASILISSIS OLGAS AVENUE
1.5 Theme gardens.
Along Megalou Alexandrou
Avenue towards the direction
of the sea, 12 Theme Gardens
cover an area of 76,657 m 2
and are just the ideal place for
spending your leisure time,
strolling or relaxing. They are as
follows: Garden of Alexander;
Garden of the Afternoon Sun;
Garden of Sand (with a café,
tennis courts and a playground);
Garden of the Seasons (includes
an amphitheatre open for various
events and a café); Garden of
Odysseas Fokas (playground
inside); Garden of the
Mediterranean (café included);
Garden of Sculptures (outdoor
contemporary art sculptures);
Garden of Sound (with flowing
waters); Garden of Roses (with
ornamental flower beds and a
playground); Garden of Memory
(with basketball grounds and
tennis courts); Garden of Water
(you will see lakes with plants
growing in water, a small waterfall
and a skatepark); and Garden of
Music with a space reserved for
music events. You can also ride
along the area’s 3 km cycle path.
This is also the location of the
Nautical Club of Thessaloniki.
1.6 Thessaloniki Concert
Hall.
It was inaugurated in 2000 on
a privileged location. The town’s
Byzantine history was the source
of inspiration for its architectural
planning and it is one of the
best equipped concert halls in
Europe. The facilities include a
hall providing seating for 1464
where concerts, dance and
opera performances as well as
conferences are held, and
a restaurant. The neighbouring
2 nd building of the Concert
Hall (designed by Japanese
A. Isozaki) includes halls for
concerts and conferences, a
Museum of Musical Instruments
and a Music Library. The
Poseidonio Sports Centre
is located nearby.
2 DEPOT AREA
The area was named after the
site of the tram depot buildings
and this complex has been
listed as a Historic Monument,
situated at the corner of Vas.
Olgas and Typa Streets. The
tram used to connect the city
centre with this area from 1893
until 1957. It is the easternmost
part of the Exoches area
[meaning Countryside] where
traces of its older atmosphere
still remain in several places.
MUST SEE:
2.1 Allatini Mills.
Deserted since 1990, this
complex of 14 listed industrial
buildings is quite impressive.
The complex’s construction
date is 1854 and the town’s
first steam-driven flour mill was
located by the sea. Originally
under French ownership, they
became property of the Allatini
family in 1882.
2.2 Vafopouleio Cultural
Centre.
Two contiguous buildings
form this structure which was
inaugurated in 1983 by the
Municipality of Thessaloniki.
The Centre hosts visual art
exhibitions, theatre and
music performances as well
as discourse events. Other
facilities include three libraries
one of which is a Children’s
library which contains over
14,500 volumes.
2.3 Ouziel quarter.
This complex of very
picturesque semi-detached
houses (defined within
Papandreou, Ploutonos,
Chaironeias and Dimitrakopoulou
streets) were built to house
the workers employed in the
tramway construction and
was named after the French
contractor Ouziel. In 1985
it was declared a protected
architectural monument and in
recent years a new generation
of residents occupies the
area. Built in the early 20 th c.
as a private residence, the
neighbouring Zardinidi Villa
(or Morpourgo) houses the
School of Music Studies, the
Conservatoire of Northern
Greece and an open air bar
2.4 Sofouli Street.
This main road connects
the eastern districts of the
Municipality of Thessaloniki with
the district of Kalamaria (see
p. 64). Along most of the way
it is lined with trees in front of
shops, cafés and restaurants
– a hotspot for the locals; the
seafront section of the road
affords a lovely view of the
city and you will also find cozy
little bars and ouzo tavernas
there. Between Logothetou
and Rossidi Streets notice the
complex of four detached houses
with a garden, which bear a
direct reference to that area’s
past countryside atmosphere.
3 VASILISSIS OLGAS
AVENUE
It used to be called the
Countryside [Exochon] avenue or
the Villas [Pyrgon] avenue and it
was a favourite promenade area
for the Thessalonians as it was
built along the waterfront amid
green surroundings. Nowadays,
6 th walk:
NEA PARALIA – VASILISSIS OLGAS AVENUE
53
57 58
59
57.
The church
of Saints
Cyril and
Methodius.
58.
The
Thessaloniki
Concert Hall.
59.
Allatini Villa in
Depot area.