Information
Landmark: Ano PoliCity: Thessaloniki
Country: Greece
Continent: Europe
Ano Poli, Thessaloniki, Greece, Europe
Overview
Perched on the hillside, Ano Poli-Thessaloniki’s Upper Town-brims with history and charm, from its winding cobbled lanes to the scent of baking bread drifting from old stone houses.Ano Poli, with its red-tiled roofs, winding cobblestone lanes, and sweeping views of the city and the Thermaic Gulf, feels like a living fragment of Thessaloniki’s past, where Byzantine, Ottoman, and Macedonian influences meet.Ano Poli’s charm lies in its traditional Macedonian-style homes-brightly painted walls, weathered wooden balconies, and roofs of warm red tile that glow in the afternoon sun.The preserved architecture makes the area feel like you’ve wandered decades into the past, especially beside the city’s glass-and-steel high-rises.The neighborhood is one of the rare spots that survived the Great Fire of 1917, even as flames swept through Thessaloniki and left much of it in ashes.Preserving it offers a rare glimpse into Thessaloniki’s rich mix of Ottoman and Byzantine heritage, like the curve of an ancient arch catching the late afternoon light.The Byzantine Walls, or City Walls, stretch along the edge of Ano Poli, their weathered stones once standing firm to guard Thessaloniki.You can walk along stretches of the old stone walls, most still standing strong, and take in sweeping views of the city from a handful of high lookout spots.Eptapyrgio Fortress, called Yedi Kule or the “Seven Towers,” crowns the top of Ano Poli, where it once guarded Thessaloniki and held its prisoners through the long Ottoman years.It’s been standing since the Byzantine era, and from its lookout you can see the land stretch for miles under a wide, pale sky.In Ano Poli, you’ll find a wealth of Byzantine and post-Byzantine treasures, from the tiny 5th‑century Church of Osios David, with its rare mosaics and hushed stillness, to the 14th‑century Church of Agios Nikolaos Orphanos, where vivid frescoes spill across the walls.The Vlatadon Monastery, still active and perched high above the city, offers sweeping views and remarkable Byzantine art.Between visits, wander into a tavern or a small café tucked along the cobbled streets, and linger over a plate of Macedonian specialties or a strong coffee with the scent of cinnamon in the air.Many of these spots are run by families, which gives the neighborhood a warm, lived-in feel-like the smell of fresh bread drifting from a corner bakery.In Ano Poli, quiet streets wind past bright shutters and stone walls, offering a picturesque escape from Thessaloniki’s busy center.Winding streets twist past ivy-covered walls, leading to hidden courtyards and tiny sunlit squares that make the neighborhood feel like a place untouched by time.People come here to stroll the narrow lanes, breathe in the scent of bougainvillea spilling over stone walls, or pause at the hilltop to take in the wide, open view.Ano Poli is a cultural gem in Thessaloniki, its maze of cobbled streets and old stone houses protected as a traditional settlement for their rich architectural and historical worth.Thessaloniki’s streets carry a vivid mix of Byzantine arches, Ottoman courtyards, and Macedonian stonework, each layer telling the city’s long story as a crossroads of civilizations.Ano Poli is stunning no matter when you go, but late afternoon or early evening gives you cooler air and a sunset spilling gold over the rooftops.Its steep, cobbled lanes can be tough if walking’s a challenge, yet for those who can, wandering on foot is part of the magic.With its layers of history and quiet charm, this hilltop neighborhood feels like stepping into Thessaloniki’s past.
