Thessaloniki’s unique fortified landscape is entering a new era as Greece’s Ministry of Culture completes a major restoration and enhancement project encompassing the Heptapyrgion, the White Tower and the city’s Byzantine walls. As part of the comprehensive initiative to upgrade the city’s cultural landscape, the monuments are now illuminated with a state-of-the-art architectural lighting system.
Inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1988, Thessaloniki’s Byzantine walls rank among the city’s most important monuments and stand as one of the Byzantine Empire’s most impressive defensive works. The city’s fortifications trace their origins to its founding by Cassander in 316 BC and evolved over the centuries through successive expansions, repairs and modifications.
Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said that since 2019, the Ministry has carried out—and continues to implement—major restoration projects across Thessaloniki’s Byzantine monuments. She stressed that safeguarding, restoring and showcasing the city’s historic walls has been one of the Ministry’s key priorities.
According to Mendoni, the restoration of the entire fortification complex is now being completed with a defining intervention: the illumination of the Heptapyrgion, the White Tower and the Byzantine walls.
“The new lighting scheme offers a contemporary aesthetic approach that highlights both the historical significance of the monuments and the architectural excellence of the fortification complex,” she said.
The project focuses on enhancing the White Tower, the Heptapyrgion and key sections of the walls, while upgrading existing lighting infrastructure where necessary. The aim is to improve the monuments’ nighttime appearance while ensuring the lighting system’s functionality, energy efficiency and long-term sustainability.
Special emphasis has been placed on the White Tower, Thessaloniki’s iconic landmark, which is visible from much of the city. Its new high-performance, bioclimatic lighting design reinforces both the monument’s architectural character and the city’s historic identity.
