Cathedral of the Virgin Mary’s Immaculate Conception, Thessaloniki

The Cathedral of the Virgin Mary's Immaculate Conception stands on Fragkon Street as a Catholic church featuring Renaissance design elements with three interior aisles supported by Corinthian columns. Colorful stained glass windows throughout the interior allow light to filter into the space, while the crypt below contains decorative artwork.

The current building was completed in 1900 and designed by Italian architect Vitaliano Poselli, replacing an earlier temple that occupied the same site starting in 1743. This marks over 250 years of continuous Catholic presence at this location in the city.

The cathedral represents the Catholic community in this predominantly Orthodox city and welcomes worshippers from different backgrounds who gather to observe their religious traditions.

The church is located at Fragkon 19, nestled between taller buildings, so it can be easy to miss unless you look carefully for its entrance. Services take place regularly in the mornings, with specific times available through the cathedral's website.

A French tobacco merchant named Frederick Charnaud funded the cathedral's construction, while a Slovenian Lazarist brother named Michael Bucar decorated the crypt with artistic details. This unusual combination of French, Italian, and Slovenian influences shapes the interior character of the building.