Heptapyrgion, Thessaloniki

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Exploring the centuries-old abandoned fortress known as the Heptapyrgion of Thessaloniki is like stepping into its dark past. Once a notorious prison, its walls bear witness to a history tainted with torture and brutal executions.

Towering over the city for over 1,000 years, this fortress was originally built during the Byzantine era (330 AD to 1453 AD) and later rebuilt by the Ottomans in the 1400s. While its name means "fortress with seven towers” in Greek, it’s a bit of a misnomer as it has 10 towers.

After the Ottoman conquest, the Heptapyrgion became a prominent point within Thessaloniki's acropolis, serving as a military residence and garrison. However, as the armed forces became less important in the 19th century, it was turned into a prison. For the Greeks, the fortress holds haunting memories of turbulent times, housing political prisoners during periods such as the fascist dictatorship (1936 to 1941), the Nazi occupation (1941 to 1943), the civil war (1946 to 1949), and the military junta (1967 to 1974). Inmates faced harsh conditions, with torture being common, and numerous executions taking place near the fortress. After the prison closed in 1989, restoration and archaeological work started, allowing you to experience its eerie ambiance. After entering via a narrow corridor, the guardhouse marks the beginning of a journey that immerses you in the prison's isolation. High walls envelop the surroundings, blocking both views and sounds from the outside world. As you pass by locked iron doors of cells and venture into the dark, cold solitary confinement wing, you can almost feel the presence of prisoners still lingering in the air.