Thessaloniki
(Greek: Θεσσαλονίκη), also known as Thessalonica or
Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of
Macedonia, the administrative region of Central Macedonia and the
Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace. Its honorific
title is Συμπρωτεύουσα (Symprotévousa), literally
"co-capital", and stands as a reference to its historical
status as the Συμβασιλεύουσα (Symvasilévousa) or
"co-reigning" city of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire,
alongside Constantinople. Thessaloniki is Greece's second major
economic, industrial, commercial and political centre, and a major
transportation hub for the rest of southeastern Europe; its
commercial port is also of great importance for Greece and the
southeastern European hinterland. The city is renowned for its
festivals, events and vibrant cultural life in general, and is
considered to be Greece's cultural capital. Events such as the
Thessaloniki International Trade Fair and the Thessaloniki
International Film Festival are held annually, while the city also
hosts the largest bi-annual meeting of the Greek diaspora.
Thessaloniki is the 2014 European Youth Capital.
Founded
in 315 BC by Cassander of Macedon - he named it after his wife
Thessalonike, a half-sister of Alexander the Great and princess of
Macedon as daughter of Philip II - Thessaloniki's history spans some
2,300 years. An important metropolis by the Roman period,
Thessaloniki was the second largest and wealthiest city of the
Byzantine Empire. Thessaloniki is home to numerous notable Byzantine
monuments, including the Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments of
Thessaloniki, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as several Roman,
Ottoman and Sephardic Jewish structures. The city's main university,
Aristotle University, is the largest in Greece and the Balkans.
Thessaloniki is a popular tourist destination in Greece. In 2010,
Lonely Planet ranked Thessaloniki as the world's fifth-best party
city worldwide, comparable to other cities such as Dubai and
Montreal. For 2013 National Geographic Magazine included Thessaloniki
in its top tourist destinations worldwide, while in 2014 Financial
Times FDI magazine (Foreign Direct Investments) declared Thessaloniki
as the best mid-sized European city of the future for human capital
and lifestyle. .
It was on that night when the Vardaris (strong north wind) was blowing
the prow conquering the wave, fathom after fathom.
The engineer has sent you to check the boiler water,
but you are remembering Smaro and Kalamaria.
You have forgotten that tune that the Chileans used to play.
- Holy Nicolas protect us, and Our Lady of the Sea -
The blind girl is guiding you, a child of Modigliani,
the cadet used to love her, and the two guys from Marmara.
(...)
Above your bunk a lazy snake is sleeping
and the monkey is turning in circles searching your clothes.
Excepting your mother nobody remembers you
on this frightful journey of disaster.
(...)
Under her red lights Thessaloniki is asleep.
Ten years ago girl, drunk, you told me "I love you"
Tomorrow just like then and with no gold on your sleeve
you will be, in vain, looking for the way to the Depot.
No comments:
Post a Comment