Thessaloniki GP: free day activities

by ChessBase
5/28/2013 – Sunday was a free day at the FIDE Grand Prix in Thessaloniki – a city founded around 300 BC and named after a half-sister of Alexander the Great. A number of players used the opportunity to hop on the open desk bus and go on an extended sightseeing tour. They saw the Hagios Demetrios, the Heptapyrgion, and visited the landmark White Tower of Thessaloniki. Here is a pictorial report.

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From May 22 to June 03, 2013, the fourth stage of the FIDE Grand Prix Series 2012-2013 is taking place in Thessaloniki, Greece. Twelve players are competing in a round robin tournament with time controls of 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, 60 minutes for the next 20 moves and then 15 minutes and an increment of 30 seconds per move for each player. The Grand Prix Series consists of six tournaments to be held over two years, with 18 top players, each participating in four of the six tournaments. The winner and second placed player overall of the Grand Prix Series will qualify for the Candidates Tournament to be held in March 2014.

Free day activities

Sunday was the first rest day of the Thessaloniki Grand Prix, and a number of players used the opportunity to hop on the open desk bus and go on sightseeing tour.

You may recognize Firuza Kasimdzhanova, Etienne Bacrot and Alexander Morozevich

... and tournament leader Leinier Dominguez (right) with his father

The Church of Saint Demetrius (Hagios Demetrios), the patron saint of Thessaloniki,
dating from the time the city was the second largest city of the Byzantine Empire.

The Byzantine Castle or Heptapyrgion ("Fortress of Seven Towers", picture from Wiki) is a Byzantine/Ottoman fortification, probably first constructed in the fourth century.

It is the highest point on the north-eastern corner of Thessaloniki, with a breathtaking view of the city

Thank heavens graffiti is not easily possible on the ancient structures (or is it?)

A break for refreshments in a castle restaurant

Aristotelous Square is the city center of Thessaloniki. It was designed by French architect Ernest Hébrard in 1918, but most of the square was built in the 1950s. Many buildings surrounding the central square have since been renovated and its northern parts were largely restored in the 2000s.

White Tower of Thessaloniki is a monument and museum on the waterfront,
symbol of the city. It is 23 m (75 ft) in diameter and 27 m (89 ft) tall.

The tower has been altered substantially over the years. Until 1917 a 75 meter
wide chemise at the foot of the tower supported the heavy guns [image Wiki].

See, Leinier, you can take great pictures with a smartphone...

... but you have to shield it from direct sunshine to see them.

Photos by Anastasya Karlovich, Wikipedia

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