Modiano Market, Historic covered market in central Thessaloniki, Greece
Modiano Market is a covered market in the center of Thessaloniki, Greece, with two floors housing food stores, tavernas, and shops selling local products. The building has a cross-shaped layout and a glass roof that lets natural light into the interior.
Construction began in 1922 and was completed in 1925, but the market was inaugurated in 1930. It was built on the fire zone destroyed in 1917 and rebuilt under the Hébrard plan, on the site of the Talmud Tora synagogue in the Jewish Kadi quarter. The architect was J. Oliphant, with engineer Eli Modiano as project owner. It was listed as a protected building in 1983 and a historic monument in 1995.
On the ground floor, vendors sell fresh fish, cheese, and olives from the region, and the smell of spices fills the air. It is a place where you can watch the daily rhythm of Thessaloniki life up close.
The market sits close to Aristotelous Square and is easy to reach on foot, as it connects two main streets in the city center. Morning is generally the best time to visit if you want to see the stalls at their fullest.
The market stands on the site of the Talmud Tora synagogue, which was destroyed in the 1917 fire that cleared the area. The building was listed as a protected monument in 1995, and in 2024 it was shortlisted for the Mies van der Rohe architectural prize after its 2020–2022 renovation.
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