Ano Poli

Why go

The 1917 fire spared much of this district, so its small streets and older houses give a different sense of Thessaloniki from the planned centre below. The walls and Terpsithea Square add views that make the climb worthwhile. A walk here also makes the height difference between the waterfront and the fortifications tangible.

What to look for

• Narrow lanes pass traditional houses above Olympiados Street.
• Terpsithea Square opens toward the city and gulf.
• The upper walls lead toward Heptapyrgion.

The full story

Ano Poli occupies the hillside between Olympiados Street and the city walls. Many of its streets and houses survived the fire of 1917 that remade central Thessaloniki, leaving a more irregular pattern than the broad axes below. Greek and Ottoman-era buildings stand within this older fabric, while churches, the bath and fortifications show how the upper quarter served different generations. The climb is part of understanding the place: turns in the narrow lanes reveal short views of the gulf, then the walls show the city’s wider shape. This upper position also shaped the district’s defences. Heptapyrgion and the wall line are close enough to connect in one walk, while smaller monuments such as Hosios David and the Byzantine Bath bring daily and religious life into that same landscape. Expect the terrain, not a neat grid, to set the pace.

Useful to know

• Start high and walk downhill if the steep streets would be tiring.
• Link a wall viewpoint with Hosios David or the Byzantine Bath rather than trying every lane.

Your next visit

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