Aristotelous Square
Aristotelous Square is the main city square of Thessaloniki, Greece and is located on Nikis avenue (on the city's
waterfront), in the city center. It was designed by French architect Ernest Hébrard in 1918, but most of the
square was built in the 1950s. Many buildings surrounding the central square have since been renovated and
its northern parts were largely restored in the 2000s.
Aristotelous Square is one of the most famous places
in all of Greece and almost synonymous with the city of Thessaloniki itself. The square plays an
important role in the sociopolitical life not only of the city, but of the wider country as well. Numerous
large rallies and political speeches have been organized in Aristotelous Square, such as the rally for
Macedonia in 1992. Additionally the square is used for many cultural events, such as
festivals and the annual Christmas and carnival celebrations. It is an important tourist attraction
for the city, and the numerous cafes and bars that line up the square make it popular with the younger
generations.