Kalamaria between Coast and History

Kalamaria combines a 6.5-kilometer coastline with the history of Aretsou and several memorial sites. Architecture, photography, and the work of a historical archive add to this picture. This gives you different themes to consider when planning your trip: coastal areas, refugee history, and cultural heritage.

The Coast and History of Aretsou

The Kalamaria coastline stretches for 6.5 kilometers. The history of Aretsou is primarily associated with the arrival of Greek refugees from Asia Minor in 1922, when they founded the settlement in the area. For many refugees, the port of Aretsou was a place of arrival.

Historically, Aretsou developed into a popular destination for Thessaloniki residents to swim, eat, and enjoy themselves. Fishermen who came to Kalamaria by boat helped give Aretsou its reputation for exceptionally good fish. The settlement’s founding dates to 1922; its connections with leisure and fishing add further themes to the area’s history.

Events by the Sea

The Kalamaria Flower Exhibition is considered a regular event in Thessaloniki and features flowers and activities. Concerts and music evenings are held on a platform by the sea at Aretsou Beach. If an event is important to your travel dates, check the specific dates in advance.

Kodra and the Culture of Remembrance

Kodra is considered a public space open to everyone. The Grove of the Missing Cypriots, a memorial with 1,619 cypress trees, is located in Kodra Camp. Their number represents Greek Cypriots and Greeks who are missing as a result of the Turkish invasion and the occupation of 37 percent of Cyprus.

Architecture and Collections

Palataki, also called Kyverneio or Government House, is a neoclassical building on the cape of Mikro Emvolo, also known as Karabournaki. Neoclassical architecture draws on classical forms; the term describes Palataki’s architectural style. The Monument to the Fallen of Kalamaria depicts a reclining human figure symbolizing a soldier who fell in battle. The sacrifice is interpreted in a modern, abstract way. Palataki thus puts the building’s form at the center, while the monument conveys its meaning through a symbolic figure.

The Photography Museum “Christos Kalemkeris” was founded to protect and promote Christos Kalemkeris’s extensive collection. It includes albums and photographs on the Greek railway network, the antiquities of the Greek world, the Balkan Wars, and both world wars. Its scope therefore ranges from transport and antiquity to the conflicts of the 20th century.

The Historical Archive of Refugee Hellenism researches the history and identity of refugee Hellenism and preserves the memory of the Asia Minor Catastrophe of 1922 and the population exchange of 1923 to 1924. The museum covers several subjects and periods, while the archive has a more narrowly focused remit centered on the history and identity of refugee Hellenism.

Discover more destinations: Thessaloniki, Analipsi, Stavroupoli, Thermaikos, Nea Kerasia, Neapoli, Perivolaki, Vrasna

For the main travel overview: Thessaloniki.