Thessaloniki in the Late 19th – Early 20th Century: Social and Cultural Life

The city and its history travel across the Balkans through the photography and archival image exhibition co-organized by the Liaison Office of the Hellenic Republic in Pristina and the Ίδρυμα Μουσείου Μακεδονικού Αγώνα και της Νεότερης Ιστορίας της Μακεδονίας (ΙΜΜΑ). The opening of the exhibition “Thessaloniki in the Late 19th – Early 20th Century: Social and Cultural Life,” hosted at the Fine Arts Hall of the University of Pristina, took place on Wednesday, February 25, in the presence of a large audience.

The exhibition presents Thessaloniki during a crucial historical period, highlighting it as a cosmopolitan metropolis of the Eastern Mediterranean, where economic activity, the social coexistence of diverse communities, cultural creativity, and new ideas shaped the “microhistory” of the city and its people.

As noted by the Ambassador, Head of the Liaison Office of the Hellenic Republic in Pristina, Ms. Eleni Vakali: “The idea for the exhibition emerged following the significant increase in visitors from Kosovo traveling to Thessaloniki in recent years. Our aim was to present the multifaceted past of the city, when the paths of people from the wider region intersected in Thessaloniki, during a period of major developments.”

The exhibition is curated by Professor Stavroula Mavrogeni of the Πανεπιστήμιο Μακεδονίας and Director of the Center for Research on Macedonian History and Documentation (KEMIT–IMMA). As she emphasizes: “The exhibition seeks to reconstruct the atmosphere of an era of transformation through the lives of the people of Thessaloniki, highlighting the city’s dynamism and resilience over time.”

The Director of IMMA, Ms. Athina Pavlidou, adds: “Through documents and images, the exhibition sheds light on the historical course of Thessaloniki and confirms IMMA’s role as a body dedicated to preserving and disseminating historical memory at an international level.”

Through rare photographic material and archival documents, visitors discover the social, economic, and cultural life of Thessaloniki. The exhibition presents the city as vibrant and evolving, where daily life, education, and new ideas shaped its identity, while also highlighting its enduring outward-looking character and the pivotal role of its port.

The exhibition is accompanied by a contemporary, luxurious printed catalogue, edited and printed by Dandelion Stories, which captures the exhibition narrative over time and serves as a valuable tool for visitors and researchers. The catalogue includes all the photographs and images featured in the exhibition, accompanied by explanatory texts placing them within their historical context. Within its pages, visitors can “travel” through the city’s socio-cultural journey and piece together significant aspects of its history concerning architecture, education, society, and its people. A short video using AI technology is also screened in the exhibition space, “bringing to life” photographs of the era and enhancing the visitor’s immersive experience.

The exhibition is based on material from the collections and archives of KEMIT–IMMA, the Alexandros and Lena Chaitoglou Collection, the Georgios Konstantinidis Collection, as well as works by the painter Kostas Gounaris, which depict the urban and social life of the period.

Following the completion of its presentation in Pristina on March 3, 2026, the exhibition will be transferred to Thessaloniki and hosted at the premises of IMMA, offering the city’s public the opportunity to explore its history, culture, and people through the same comprehensive narrative.

Among those attending the exhibition opening were the Mayor of Pristina, Perparim Rama; members of parliament from the governing party; members of the Foreign Affairs Committee; heads and representatives of diplomatic missions; the Rector of the University of Pristina, Professor Arben Hajrullahu; representatives of the French Institute; representatives of the Jewish community; officials from international organizations; professors and students of the University of Pristina; students of the Greek language at the University’s Foreign Languages Center; journalists; and a large number of visitors.