© The IMA 2013 Conference Thessaloniki City Thessaloniki, the Capital City of the Greek North is world known for the Ancient Greek,  Roman and Byzantine monuments, the charming shopping thoroughfares, the indulging  local cuisine and exciting nightlife. 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 largest city in the region of Macedonia, was  founded in the early years of the Hellenistic period, during Alexander the Great’s  ecumenical empire. It was also dominated by the Romans and later experienced the  glories of the Byzantine era as the “co-reigning city” before succumbing to the ottoman  onslaught.  Thessaloniki has the distinction of being a city of uninterrupted urban activity for more  than 2300 years. Over the centuries its strategic position has ensured that it has been  one of the most important crossroads for the region as a whole. The city is developing  rapidly and aims to continue to play a leading role in the Balkans.  Built near the sea (at the back of the Thermaikos Gulf), it is a modern metropolis  bearing the marks of its stormy history and its cosmopolitan character, which give it a  special beauty and charm. 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.  The city's main university, Aristotle University, is the largest in Greece and the Balkans.  The city was always associated with the White Tower, the Kamara and the Castles, St.  Dimitrios’ church and the Rotonda.  Major attractions • 'White Tower' on the water front. The absolute symbol of Thessaloniki;  • Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki: The most widely visited museum in  Thessaloniki, featuring exhibits from the Prehistoric Thessaloniki and the Archaic,  Classic, Hellenistic and Roman times. The 'Gold of Macedon' collection related to  the History of King Phillip II and Alexander the Great is undoubtedly the highlight  of the Museum;  • Roman Monuments dating back to the early 4th century a.D.;  • Museum of Byzantine Culture: Focusing in the Byzantine Civilization of Northern  Greece and Thessaloniki. This Museum is also the seat of the European Centre  for Research into the Byzantine Civilization;  • 'Ladadika' district near the port, known for the 'local color' and the sophisticated  entertainment options  Dining and Nightlife  • Aristotelous Square and Nikis Avenue – The most central square (part of it is  pedestrianised) and the waterfront avenue of the city, where cafes, trendy bars,  restaurants and street performers can be found;  • Navarinou Square – hangout for university students who frequent open air cafes  overlooking the ruins of the imperial palace from around 300 BC;  • Ladadika – near the port of Thessaloniki a picturesque neighborhood of restored  19th century warehouses and stores, currently housing sophisticated restaurants,  bars and live music scenes;  • Bar rows in the city center – cluster of bars with distinct character can be found at  Lori Margariti, Nikiforou Foka, Zefxidos and Iktinou streets.  Shopping  The city center is one of the most popular shopping areas in Thessaloniki. Shopping  malls and department stores are available both in the city ceter as well as in other city  districts. Some of the best – known shopping malls can be found in eastern  Thessaloniki (Thessaloniki Airport Area) and are easily accessible by ring road (public  transportation and taxis).  Transportations Public transport in Thessaloniki is served by buses. The bus company operating in the  city is the Thessaloniki Urban Transport Organization (OASTH) and is the only public  means of transport in Thessaloniki at the moment. It operates a fleet of 604 vehicles on  75 routes throughout the Thessaloniki Metropolitan Area. International and regional bus  links are provided by KTEL at its Macedonia InterCity Bus Terminal, located to the west  of the city centre.[  A public bus service is available 24 hours a day from the airport to the city centre, bus  number 78 or 78N. These bus services operate from the airport approximately every 30  minutes. Tickets cost €0.80 one way.  Taxi service in Thessaloniki is plentiful and economic. As a rough guide a taxi within the  city will cost approximately 5 Euros, a taxi to the airport will cost between 20 –30 Euros.   A double fare is applicable between midnight and 05:00 am.