Trucks that unload tons of sand, crews that sometimes set up basketball or soccer fields and sometimes sets for the filming of a Hollywood movie, giant screens that “sprout” in the Aristotelous Squarelooking towards the sea front, are images that no longer cause any surprise to the residents and visitors of Thessaloniki.

In the last 10 years and put, the central square of the city has proven that it has at least “a thousand faces” and each one is completely different from the other. It may be that on most days and hours the space is full of passers-by, of people coming and going, enjoying their coffee and food, sitting on the benches admiring the view towards Mount Thermaikos, however, it often changes and “transforms” to welcome public actions and events.

Those who took a walk in the last few hours from the most advertised spot in Thessaloniki would have seen that a huge sandy beach has been created that hosts a beach soccer tournament with soccer players tackling, dribbling and scoring under the hot sun.

Just 24 hours earlier, the same space was a huge basketball court for the 3×3 streetball tournament, while further back in time beach volleyball matches were held, where everything reminded of the beach. From the landscaped setting with the sandy coast, to the stands where dozens of spectators with hats and sunscreen were “camped” to watch the extraordinary spectacle of the sportsmen and women.

One of the first times that the sand had made a dynamic appearance was in the summer of 2012 when umbrellas and sunbeds were set up by the then vice-mayor of Youth, Sports and Volunteers so that citizens could enjoy the beach front in a different way, while it was repeated even more dynamically, with the addition of volleyball matches in 2014, as part of the actions for European Youth Capital.

Of course, it is not only sand that is occasionally placed in Aristotelous Square, as the area has in the past been “dressed” with a green lawn and turned into a rugby field. Also, the “heart” of the city has beaten as a handball court, as a Formula 1 racing track with eye-catching vehicles, as a racing bike track, as a dance arena and a whole lot more.

Hollywood shooting and cinema under the stars

Some remember the transformation of the square more vividly on a Hollywood set for the filming of the movie “The Bricklayer” which aroused interest. There, where the protagonist Aaron Eckhart “killed” the bad Clifton Collins Jr. in front of dozens of comparatists, but also countless passers-by who stopped to see the scene up close and take the necessary photos.

Still others recall with nostalgia the transformation of the space into an outdoor summer cinema, with the 2,000 plastic chairs placed side by side overlooking the sea and filled to the brim with spectators who attended unique open screenings of great films.

Her presence was also in the special moments State Orchestra of Thessalonikiin an open concert of honor and memory, for the 100th anniversary of the Asia Minor Catastrophe where literally not a pin was dropped from the people who had overwhelmed every corner of the square.

To the more “standard” annual transformations must be added the Christmas scenes created from the end of November and throughout the holidays, with the Christmas tree always stealing the show and all kinds of concerts with well-known artists and musical groups.

Customs and events are held from time to time, as well as actions for traffic education, for prevention in health matters, to raise awareness of citizens for social issues, while it is a gathering point for humanitarian aid whenever this is deemed necessary.

Chess games played four decades ago

Looking back even further into the past, it turns out that Aristotelous Square has always been particularly welcoming to open events. The older ones remember the distant 1984, when Thessaloniki welcomed her 26th Chess Olympiad.

Endless rows of green, school, desks and wooden chairs had “flooded” the Square with the more than 500 chess players from all over the world patiently and strategically moving their pieces on the chessboards with a view of Thermaikos, but the city to checkmate as she was the one who won the impressions.

Images from that Chess Olympiad were published in both the Greek press and the media abroad, with the Soviet Union emerging as the winning team in both the men’s and women’s categories.

Of course, during the 80s and 90s, Aristotelous also experienced moments of intense political pulse with the magnificent pre-election campaigns rallies of all parties.

For what purposes is Aristotelous Square granted free of charge?

Aristotelous Square is granted free of charge only for actions they have sporting or social or for events held under the auspices of the Municipality of Thessaloniki. Otherwise, if an individual or a company wishes to rent a part of it, they will have to submit the relevant application and if it is approved by the vice-mayor of Finance, they will be asked to pay a not inconsiderable price.

From the beginning of 2023 until today, Aristotelous Square was granted by the central municipality in 32 cases, of which 25 were free as they related to social-sports events, while the other seven concessions were given for a fee.

“As the municipality of Thessaloniki, we must promote events that have a social and sporting nature, in order to raise awareness among citizens of all ages. At the same time, through these actions we are giving life to the center of the city by highlighting its multiculturalism”, said Sokratis Dimitriadis, the Deputy Mayor of Finance of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, to APE – MPE.