White Tower of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki (must see)

Rising to a height of approximately 112 feet, the White Tower was constructed by the Ottomans in the 15th century, shortly after their capture of the city in 1430. It formed part of the coastal fortifications and was originally integrated into a broader defensive system that included walls and artillery platforms protecting the harbor.

From the outset, the tower served a military purpose and was incorporated into the city’s defensive perimeter. Over time, it became closely associated with imprisonment and punishment. By the 17th century, it functioned as a garrison and later as a prison. During the Ottoman period, it acquired the grim name Tower of Blood or Red Tower, reflecting its role as a site of executions. In 1826, during the suppression of the Janissaries ordered by the Ottoman sultan Mahmud II, imprisoned Janissaries in Thessaloniki were executed, further cementing the tower’s fearsome reputation.

In 1890, the tower was painted white and officially renamed the White Tower. Many historians interpret this act as a symbolic attempt by the Ottoman authorities to erase—or at least soften—the memory of the tower’s violent past, though no definitive explanation survives. Regardless of intent, the new name endured and became firmly established.

The area around the tower has also witnessed pivotal moments in modern Greek history. In 1913, King George I of Greece was assassinated near the tower, marking another dramatic episode linked to the site. During World War I, the tower was used by Allied forces as a communications center, and the surrounding defensive walls were dismantled. At the same time, the tower served as a secure repository for important antiquities.

Throughout the 20th century, the White Tower continued to serve practical functions. Thessaloniki’s air defense operated from the tower between 1912 and 1983, and it also housed a meteorological laboratory. Today, the tower is home to a museum dedicated to the city’s history, presenting exhibitions that trace Thessaloniki’s development from its founding in 316 BC to the present day. Visitors who climb to the upper level are rewarded with views across the city and the Thermaic Gulf.