The Ministry of Culture is completing the project to restore and highlight Thessaloniki’s unique fortification complex, the Eptapyrgio, the White Tower, and the city’s Byzantine walls, highlighting them with modern lighting.

The Byzantine walls of Thessaloniki, a monument of major historical and archaeological significance, have been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1988.

The proposed interventions aim to highlight the White Tower and the Eptapyrgion, as well as individual sections of the walls, as well as upgrading the existing lighting where deemed necessary, with the aim of enhancing the appearance of the monuments at night and ensuring the system’s functionality and long-term maintenance. In particular, the White Tower, a landmark of Thessaloniki visible from most of the city, is highlighted through lighting that meets high, modern bioclimatic standards.

The Byzantine walls of Thessaloniki are one of the most imposing fortifications of the Byzantine Empire. The city’s fortifications date back to its founding by Cassander in 316 B.C. and evolved over time through successive renovations, expansions, and repairs. During the Byzantine period, the fortifications developed into a wall approximately 8 km long, reinforced with towers and a rampart, which ended at the Acropolis. There, during the late Byzantine era, the Eptapyrgion was established, which served as the inhabitants’ last fortified refuge.

During Ottoman rule, the Eptapyrgion underwent extensive renovations as it served as a defensive refuge and administrative center for Thessaloniki. From the late 19th century until 1989, it was used as a prison and was subsequently transferred to the Ministry of Culture. Of the original perimeter of approximately 8 km of walls, about 4 km remain visible today, constituting a complex series of construction phases, dominated by the layout of the Late Roman and Early Byzantine periods (4th–5th centuries). The monument continues to dominate the landscape of the modern city, defining its historic core.