A rather inconspicuous and yet one of the most popular Greek modern art installations can be found on the new Thessaloniki promenade just a few dozen metres south of the statue of Alexander the Great and the White Tower.

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Exactly 40 umbrellas mounted on 13-metre-high slightly inclined stainless steel poles are currently among the most photographed spots in Thessaloniki, at least according to Instagram statistics.

Zongolopoulos Thessaloniki artist

The unusual sculpture was created by Greek sculptor George Zongolopoulos, a native of Athens. Despite this, his fame as an "umbrella monument" makes him extremely popular and Thessalonians love this important figure of Greek modern art.

The umbrella installation was erected on the new promenade in 1997 after its inauguration 2 years earlier at the Venice Biennale.

The motif of umbrellas has appeared in the art of George Zongolopoulos since the 1980s and has been the subject of much conjecture. Zongolopoulos never specified the true symbolism, but hints suggest that the umbrella motif is meant to symbolize protection and hope in "bad weather".

Zongolopoulos created the Thessaloniki monument at the age of 92...

Illuminated with many colours

The umbrellas are illuminated by several diode lights and the Thessaloniki municipality actively uses this to accentuate various events.

The permanent normal colour of the lights is white, but for example on national holidays they are lit in white and blue, the Greek national colours, on the day of the fight against cancer in pink and we could go on almost forever.

Statue of umbrellas

Umbrellas at night

How to get to the Umbrellas?

The sculpture stands on the seafront and from the centre you can take a pleasant 20-30 minute walk along the sea to reach it. You can easily take a bus one way, as the bus stop is only about 70 meters from the Deštníky. Lines 1X, 3K, 5, 5A and 6 run to the centre.