YESTERDAY – TODAY – TOMORROW: THESSALONIKI TRAVELS THROUGH SPACE AND TIME

Thessaloniki, the "nymph of the Thermaic Gulf", which has struggled for entire decades to acquire the splendour it deserves and to be "crowned" the queen of the Balkans.

As I make my way through the heart of the city, I realise that within me grows the desire that this city, aged and unkempt from decades of urban decline, should be transformed into an emblematic bridge of culture and international commerce. A bridge that will unite East and West.

Closing my eyes, I dream of the Thessaloniki of 2030. Its central concrete square scatters the scents of flowers into the air, from the Ancient Agora all the way to the blue of the sea of the Thermaic Gulf, while as I cross it towards the seafront, the light that springs from the Upper Town scatters its radiance and bathes every corner of it. The scenery changes with every step, and the various thematic sections carry me from the future, through futuristic elements, to the past and to the sturdy columns of the Hamza Bey Mosque. The city's history "embraces" its future in harmony.

Impressed by the new Aristotelous, I set off for the famous "Confex park", on the grounds of the Thessaloniki International Fair, by way of Alexandrou Svolou. The pedestrianised street, which connects the Holy Cathedral of the Wisdom of God with the modern Metropolitan Park, has been transformed into a street of high aesthetics, with beautiful cafés, distinctive gastronomy options and retail shops with high footfall. A route that gives me the opportunity to enjoy the Byzantine history of the city through the contemporary face of Thessaloniki.

My steps bring me to the entrance of the "Confex park", where the futuristic architecture and the redevelopment of the natural landscape compose a magnificent Metropolitan Park of recreation for both the residents and the visitors of the city. The exit from the city's southern Gate, from the White Tower and Nikis Avenue heading towards the port, has become a point of reference for visitors. The historic street, now pedestrianised, scatters a gentle light around it, allowing strollers to enjoy the sight of the White Tower. The redevelopment project, one of the largest in the historic centre, as well as the "Γ"-shaped road axis, give visitors the opportunity to enjoy the route from the Metropolitan Park to Eleftherias Square, which has now found the place that befits it within the city.

At its heart it hosts the imposing "F-Tower", the new futuristic architectural symbol of the city, standing 108 metres tall. A project that left its mark on the urban balance, completely changing the profile of the historic square, transforming it into a modern commercial park, with underground infrastructure across five levels. The first level is a road junction connecting Mitropoleos, Dragoumi and Venizelou streets and Nikis Avenue up to the White Tower, while the ancient history of Thessaloniki is displayed in its glass showcases. The remaining four levels make up a car park, serving the residents of the centre as well as the city's visitors.

The tower, in the new image of Thessaloniki, from the very first day of its operation, managed to become a point of reference, contributing to the enormous increase in tourism and, by extension, to its economy. At the top of the magnificent tower stands the "360 sky roof", which offers a breathtaking panoramic view, from the peak of Mount Olympus and eastern Thessaloniki to Chortiatis and the western entrance of the city, in an aerial tour of the city's monuments and its famous coastline, from the mouth of the Gallikos River to Angelochori.

A building of high aesthetics, inspired by the city, with a bold architectural interpretation, with waterfalls that "lick" its southern glass side and flow down into the Thermaic Gulf, while the densely planted balconies and parks add a note of greenery to this concrete corner of the city.

The upgrading of the historic centre of Thessaloniki is the largest urban redevelopment project in the modern history of the city. At the same time, an important and integral part of this effort is also the stations of the ultra-modern METRO, which operate for the first time in the world also as museums of rare antiquities, impressively illuminated, that reveal the wealth of history and carry the visitor to the past, with an awareness of the precious journey from Yesterday to Today and a gaze fixed steadily on Tomorrow.