What I can see

At the centre of the district, where the Franks of Thessaloniki lived, is the Catholic Church of the Unstained Conception of Our Lady. It is an impressive church with many neoclassical elements and a 40m tall bell tower, which nowadays is unfortunately lost among the multi-storey apartment blocks. Inside, the colonnades with the Corinthian capitals divide the church into three parts. Only a few stained- glass windows survived the bombardments of World War II.

What I can't see

The place of the church has an eventful history. The first church that existed at this point was of 1712, which was replaced in 1742 by a newer one (St. Louis). In 1839 it burned down, was reconstructed and demolished in 1864. It was rebuilt again in 1867 and destroyed again in 1897. The present church is the subsequent construction and the fourth in this spot. During the 20th century, the Catholic population of the city had declined. It was strengthened only in recent decades, thanks to Filipinos, Poles, northern Albanians and other Catholic immigrants.

Info

• Address: 19 Fragkon St.

Bibliography