What I can see

This is the elegant building you see dominating the harbour. It has symmetry in its composition, Neo-Renaissance and other eclectic elements on its facades and, at 200-metres long, a generous size. The central part of the building is taller and its endings are tower-shaped. The almost vertical roofing of the central part, with ornate decorated openings, seems to replicate earlier European standards (see the buildings and monuments of Paris). Nowadays, Thessalonians know it as the “Passenger Terminal”.

What I can't see

The building was founded by the finance minister of the Young Turks, Cavit Bey. It was built in 1910, by architect Eli Modiano (in collaboration with Alex Vallaury), who adorned the city with many more interesting buildings. The French influences are evident in this work, since Modiano was a graduate of the Ecole Centrale de Paris. It is the first city building, built with reinforced concrete, a revolutionary technique of the 20^th century. It suffered damages during the Italian bombing and the bombing of the harbour by the Germans in 1944. It was radically repaired in 1950. After 1978, there have been attempts to restore it, due to earthquakes and marine erosion. Unfortunately, the building faces static problems to this day, resulting in its desolation because of being hazardous. It is the only building that does not belong to the Port Authority but belongs instead to the Ministry of Finance. Its status became uncertain after it was transferred to the jurisdiction of an organization assigned with the privatization of public property.

Info

• Address: Port

Bibliography