White Tower of Thessaloniki
| White Tower | |
|---|---|
Λευκός Πύργος Beyaz Kule Kuli Blanka | |
The White Tower c. 2015 | |
| General information | |
| Status | Museum |
| Type | Fortress; garrison; prison |
| Architectural style | Early Ottoman |
| Location | Thessaloniki, Greece |
| Coordinates | 40°37′35″N 22°56′54″E / 40.6264°N 22.9483°E |
| Completed | c. 15th century |
| Height | 33.9 m (111 ft) |
| Dimensions | |
| Diameter | 22.7 m (74 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 6 |
.JPG){kind=link}
The White Tower of Thessaloniki (Greek: Λευκός Πύργος Lefkós Pýrgos; Turkish: Beyaz Kule; Ladino: Kuli Blanka) is a monument and museum on the waterfront of the city of Thessaloniki, capital of the region of Macedonia in northern Greece. The present tower replaced an old Byzantine fortification, known to have been mentioned around the 12th century, that the Ottoman Empire reconstructed to fortify the city's fortress some time after Sultan Murad II captured Thessaloniki in 1430. During the period of Ottoman rule, the tower became a notorious prison and the scene of numerous mass executions, most famously of the Janissaries who revolted during the reign of Mahmud II.
In 1912, as Greece gained control over the city, and the White Tower was substantially remodeled and its exterior was whitewashed. The White Tower has been adopted as the symbol of the city.