This is the oldest photograph of Thessaloniki

A rare document , the oldest photograph of Thessaloniki, will be presented for the first time on April 11, in an Exhibition organized by the Educational Foundation of the National Bank in Villa Kapanzti. The picture was taken in 1863 by photographer Joseph Zekeli and it depicts, according to the curators of the exhibition, "the city trapped within its walls and an impressive wilderness beyond them".

An engraving of Thessaloniki panorama



For the first time we see the city as it was 151 years ago, the walls that rose around it, the legendary tower on the platform, the Golden Gate. The panorama of the city also includes Eptapyrgio, the Vardaris and the White Tower fortresses, the old Ottoman Court, Tuba, Sheikh Su and the churches which had been converted into mosques: St. Demetrius, St. Sophia, Prophet Elijah, St. Panteleimon, the Twelve Apostles .

The printing of panoramic snapshots in engraving was a common practice at the time and it was done in 1866 with the purpose of being included in a book. The document remained buried in the archives of the Austrian library until it was brought back to "light" by a random search on the shelves of the library. The Educational Foundation of the National Bank presents it for the first time at its Cultural Centre in Thessaloniki, housed in Villa Kapantzis. The exhibition will be launched simultaneously with the exhibition "Macedonia - Cartography and History in the 15th - 18th century" and will last until Friday, July 13, 2014.

Exhibition hours: Until Friday, June 20: Tuesday 9.00 - 16.00, Wednesday & Thursday 14.00 - 21.00, Friday, Saturday & Sunday 10.00 - 18.00 and from Monday, June 23 onwards, Summer Hours: Monday & Tuesday 14.00 - 21.00, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 9.00 - 16.00.