17th Mediterranean Conference on Control and Automation

General Background

Thessaloniki is the second city of Greece and the administrative centre for the north. Its history dates back more than 4000 years. The city of Thessaloniki was founded in 316 B.C. on a site of old prehistoric settlements dating back to 2300 B.C., by Cassander, king of Macedonia, and was named after his wife, sister of Alexander the Great.

During the Byzantine era, Salonica, as it was then known, was the second city after Constantinople (Istanbul), remaining so until its sacking by Saracens in 904. It was restored to the empire in 1246, reaching a cultural "Golden Age" until Turkish conquest and occupation in 1430. Until just a few decades ago the city's population was mixed as any in the Balkans. Besides the Turks, who had been in occupation for close on five centuries (and even Mustafa Kemal Pascha, today known as Kemal Ataturk was born here), there were Slavs, Albabians and the largest European Jewish community of the period. In World War II when all but a fraction were deported to the concentration camps, in the worst atrocity committed in the Balkans.

Situated on the shores of the Thermaikos Gulf, Thessaloniki is divided in a modern area and the old town. The old town is where most of the sights are. In the old town it will be mostly Byzantine churches and buidlings that you are looking for. They are what Thessaloniki is famous for. You can get glimpses of "Old Salonica" in the walled Kastra quarter of the city, on the hillside beyond the modern grid of streets. In the modern areas you will find examples of recent architecture, that are interesting enough if you are into that kind of thing.

Thessaloniki is well known for its active scientific community with three Universities, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , the University of Macedonia and the Alexandrian Technological Institute . The city is also known for its variety in entertainment ("Ladadika", " Milos ", "Vilka") etc.

One of Thessaloniki's important advantages is its direct access to lots of interesting nearby locations: the beaches and resorts of Chalkidiki and Pieria, the major archeological sites of Pella, Vergina and Dion, the worldwide uniquenesses of Mt. Athos and Mt. Olympus and more!

Further Info

Municipality of Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki at Wikitravel

Access

By airplane: Thessaloniki "Macedonia" International Airport (SKG)
By train: OSE

Transportations

City Bus: City buses are the most common way of transportation in Thessaloniki. You can buy tickets from tobacco shops or newspaper kiosks (€0,50), and inside the bus (€0,60). More information will be obtained from the concierge of the Conference Hotel.
Taxi: If you need taxi, just call:
Leukos Pyrgos, Tel. (+30) 2310 214900
Euro Taxi, Tel. (+30) 2310 866866
Radio Taxi, Tel. (+30) 2310 508090