Pasha’s Gardens, located close to the old town of Thessaloniki, are one of the most unique places in the city. Shrouded in mystery, the story behind their creation, which began many decades ago, still remains a major enigma.
This secluded green paradise is relatively unknown to visitors, and yet it harbours a wealth of ottoman architecture. The inscription on one of the walls dates the buildings to 1904. This park offers an atmospheric experience that is not to be missed!
The source of the construction of the park has been erased from the annals of history. There are, however, a few theories that try to explain its past. One supposes that it was a rendezvous spot and a clandestine gathering place for ottoman masons, or muslim mystics. Sephardic jews have also been linked to the park’s initial inception, as it is thought to be focused around a geomagnetic field. Close to a graveyard, the superstitious fear that the stones were struck by lightning when used in the building process. The most harrowing story suggests that occultists used the park for macabre sacrificial rituals.
The gardens of the Pasha were situated beyond the city walls in the historic core of Thessaloniki, affording a view of the metropolis and the sea. This area was selected for the building of the beautiful park while the former ottoman rulers of Thessaloniki discussed projects of renewing and modernizing the city, including the grounds behind the hospital later known as Agios Dimitrios. There is, however, an alternate, non-mystical story concerning the park.
Historians generally accept that Pasha’s Gardens were a grand park with decorative fountains and other constructions which gave an amazing sight of Thessaloniki. Sadly, there is no existing record of the Gardens' original appearance. In the early 20th century, refugees sought shelter in the buildings and used the resources to erect dwellings and revamp existing turkish structures. The gardens were abandoned for quite some time until tourists rediscovered them.
Pasha’s Gardens contain a wealth of whimsical stone structures, with some likening them to the Gaudi style. However, the unique design of the park is quite distinct and not easily categorized. The architects were given ample creative latitude and the structures they conjured up are truly remarkable. The park features a splendidly ornamented fountain, a cistern for rainwater, a tunnel, and a gateway that goes underground. All in all, it’s an experience unlike anything else.
Those who pay a visit to the Pasha’s Gardens have all attested to a profound spiritual presence. Mystics have incorporated a variety of symbols and figures in the architectural design, all of which remain elusive to interpretation, despite extensive efforts made by many to decode these mysterious symbols.
To get to the gardens, one must take bus no. 24 and disembark at the Agios Dimitrios Hospital.
Visiting Pasha’s Gardens at both day and night can provide a dramatic contrast in atmosphere. Those who seek a mysterious ambiance insist that the evening hours are just as picturesque. Travellers should take the opportunity to also appreciate the other attractions that surround the park, such as st. Paul’s Church, the fortress walls, and the Ataturk Museum.
