Thessaloniki is the largest city of Macedonia in northern Greece, and the second largest in the country, after the capital Athens. It was founded in 316/5 BC. by the Macedonian general Cassander, who gave her the name of his wife and the half-sister of Alexander the Great, Thessaloniki.
Thessaloniki is located in the western part of the regional unit of Thessaloniki, at the edge of Thermaikos Gulf. It is built amphitheatrically on the slopes of the Cedar Hill and is surrounded to the east by the Sheikh Shu Forest. In Sindos there is the industrial zone of the city and to the south are the areas of the airport, Thermi and southeast the area of Panorama.
The city of Thessaloniki has a fairly extensive center, which gathers most shops, public services, attractions and recreation areas. Its area can be defined to the northwest of the Republic Square (also known as Vardarios Square), which is traditionally the center of the city and the beginning of km distance to Thessaloniki. Southeast is defined by University Campus, southwest of Niki Avenue and north-east of Agios Dimitriou Street.
Central highways are Tsimiski, Egnatia, Nikis, Lagada, Vassilissis Olgas, Monastiriou and Agios Dimitrios.
