Thessaloniki is the second largest city of Greece and the most important centre of the area. Built near the sea, it is a modern metropolis bearing the marks of its stormy history and its cosmopolitan character, which give it a special beauty and charm.
Thessaloniki is Greece's second major economic, industrial, commercial and political centre, and a major transportation hub for the rest of southeastern Europe; its commercial port is also of great importance for Greece and the southeastern European hinterland. The city is renowned for its festivals, HELEXPO the international yearly exhibition, events and vibrant cultural life in general and is considered to be Greece's cultural capital.