Almost 20 years of postcrossing and only 3 officials from Greece. I loved that Faye wrote so much on such a limited space. In a few sentences, she told me everything I needed to know about the Heptapyrgion or Yedi Kule, the Castle of Thessaloniki, located in the Old Town.
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The fortress of Heptapyrgion is one of the best well-preserved fortification monuments in Greece, a symbol of the power of the city of Thessaloniki, but also a site with a heavy historical impact due to its use as a prison in recent years.
The fortress has towered over the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, for over 1,000 years. It was first constructed during the Byzantine era (330 AD to 1453 AD), although this most recent version was rebuilt by the Ottomans after they conquered the city in the 1400s.
After the Ottoman invasion, Heptapyrgion remained a prominent point within Thessaloniki’s acropolis. It was under the military’s control, becoming the residence for the city’s military advisor and a garrison for about 300 troops. But by the 19th century, the military’s interest in the fort had dwindled. It was soon converted into a prison.
To the Greeks, Heptapyrgion is haunted by memories of turbulent periods within their recent history. The fortress held political prisoners during troubled times like the fascist dictatorship of 1936, the years of Nazi occupation and the civil war that followed it, and the seven year-long military junta that began in 1967. Those interned there faced harsh conditions. Torture was common, and hundreds of inmates were executed at an infamous spot not far from the fortress. - in: https://www.thessalonikitourism.gr
After the Ottoman invasion, Heptapyrgion remained a prominent point within Thessaloniki’s acropolis. It was under the military’s control, becoming the residence for the city’s military advisor and a garrison for about 300 troops. But by the 19th century, the military’s interest in the fort had dwindled. It was soon converted into a prison.
To the Greeks, Heptapyrgion is haunted by memories of turbulent periods within their recent history. The fortress held political prisoners during troubled times like the fascist dictatorship of 1936, the years of Nazi occupation and the civil war that followed it, and the seven year-long military junta that began in 1967. Those interned there faced harsh conditions. Torture was common, and hundreds of inmates were executed at an infamous spot not far from the fortress. - in: https://www.thessalonikitourism.gr
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