Thessaloniki Castle

Location: Old Town Ano Poli

Αlso known as Heptapyrgion or Yedi Kule, the Castle of Thessaloniki is located in the Old Town, perched on top of a hill with magnificent views of the city, the port, and the Aegean Sea. It was built within the precincts of the ancient Acropolis, and, in its present form, it consists of two distinct parts: the Byzantine fortress and the more contemporary buildings that used to house the local prison.

Over the centuries, the constant threat of enemy raids made the frequent reinforcement of the town’s defenses an imperative need. The biggest construction phase took place around the late 4th or the early 5th century AD, while the last Byzantine additions to Thessaloniki’s defenses were made between 1369 and 1373, under the rule of Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos. Eventually, in 1430, the town was conquered by the Ottomans, who undertook the erection of an imposing tower by the main gate. It was actually this tower, the Yedi Kule, that gave the entire complex its present name. In total, even though “Heptapyrgion” means “seven towers”, the Castle now features ten towers. Those on the northern side date from the early building phase, while the ones on the southern side were probably added much later.

In the 1890s, Heptapyrgion was turned into a prison — a change that involved the demolition of all the buildings that stood inside the castle walls. New structures were erected within and outside the enceinte, altering the fortress’ original form. Its function as a prison continued till 1989. Meanwhile, the Yedi Kule was notorious as a severe place of torture, especially when many political prisoners were led there during the Metaxas Regime (1936-1941), the Axis Occupation of Greece, the Greek Civil War (1946-1949) and the Regime of the Colonels (1967-1974). Thus, the prisons of Yedi Kule were frequently mentioned in the underground rebetika songs. Today, the Castle of Thessaloniki is under restoration, yet remains open to visitors. The ground floor of one of the newer buildings houses a permanent exhibition on its grim recent history, while cultural events are often hosted on the premises as well.

After visiting Heptapyrgion, you can continue your walk along the city walls, which stretch —intermittently— for about 5 kilometers. Around them, one can still see a significant number of towers, some of which are quite well-preserved. Prominent among them are the Tower of Andronicus, opposite the historic Vlatadon Monastery, and the iconic Trigonion Tower on the northeastern side, where it is possible to enjoy breathtaking views. On the southwestern edge, in the present-day Dimokratias Square, travelers will find the quaint Fortress of Vardari (or Top Hane), surrounded by the Courthouse and other modern buildings.