7th Annual World Cultural Heritage Youth Symposium – “Hidden in plain sight: The Unknown Heritage of Thessaloniki” – Ιδιωτικά Εκπαιδευτήρια

7th Annual World Cultural Heritage Youth Symposium,

Athens-Loutraki, 22-26 April 2026
“The Unknown Heritage”

“Hidden in Plain Sight: The Unknown Heritage of Thessaloniki”,

by Hellenic College of Thessaloniki

Τhe concept of “Unknown Heritage”, which includes the monuments or landscapes that although they are not listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, are important for the local society, refers to elements of cultural heritage that, although visible and familiar, often remain unnoticed or underappreciated. It aims to bring to light the hidden stories, meanings, and cultural significance behind monuments and sites that people encounter in their everyday lives.
The project, titled “Hidden in Plain Sight: The Unknown Heritage of Thessaloniki”, was developed by students of the Hellenic College of Thessaloniki on the occasion of their participation in the 7th Annual World Cultural Heritage Youth Symposium 2026, as a member of the UNESCO Associated Schools Network.
The World Symposium is organized by the Hellenic Cultural and Educational Club for UNESCO with the support of the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO, the UN.RIC. and the UNESCO Chair of Intercultural Policy for an Active Citizenship and Solidarity (UoM), under the auspices of the Municipality of Loutraki.

Our participation in it belongs to the initiatives of the Department of International and European Programs of the Hellenic College of Thessaloniki and the Club for UNESCO (UNESCO Club) existed in it. The theme of the symposium “Unknown Heritage” and our contribution to it with the project “Hidden in Plain Sight: The Unknown Heritage of Thessaloniki”, was the motivation for all the following creations by a group of our three (3) participants students serving the SDG4,7 & SDG11 and “Transformative Education”.

The project focuses on the creation of digital works highlighting two iconic monuments of Thessaloniki: the White Tower of Thessaloniki and the Arch of Galerius. Through this approach, these landmarks are presented not only as well- known symbols of the city, but also as carriers of lesser-known historical, social, and cultural narratives.
The students engaged in a holistic and creative learning process throughout the project. Students followed an experiential and inquiry-based learning process.

They:

conducted research and gathered information from multiple sources,
carried out on-site visits to the monuments,
interacted with the urban environment and cultural context, and transformed their findings into creative digital and artistic outputs.
In addition, they made use of modern digital tools, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Εmerging Τechnologies such as Augmented Reality (AR), enriching their work with interactive and innovative elements.

The project was implemented within the framework of the school subjects of Civic Education, History and Informatics, promoting interdisciplinary learning, digital skills, cultural awareness, and active citizenship.

The project was completed by the two (2) Participants Students in the 7th World Cultural Heritage Youth Symposium:
Karypidou Christina-Anna (3 rd Class of Gymnasium)
Papadopoulou Konstantina (1 st Class of Lyceum)
with the collaboration and the support of the student, Mantziari Foteini (3 rd Class of Gymnasium)

Co-ordinator Teachers:
Dr. Anastasia Psallida, Head of the International and European Programs Department of the Hellenic College of Thessaloniki & Teacher ASPnet School Coordinator

Ioanna Kontou Founta, Study Supervisor of the Hellenic College of Thessaloniki

Christos Sarafianos, MSc Computer Science Teacher of the Hellenic College of Thessaloniki.

The projects involves:

Creation of two (2) Cards Postal “Echoes of the Unknown”, one for each monument… from our Beloved Hometown.
The two photographs of the cards postal created by one of our alumni, Pavlos Gioras, who had previously been awarded the Gold Prize with them in the International Photo Essay Contest for UNESCO World Heritage (2024), organized by the Korean National Commission for UNESCO.
Creation of two (2) Infografics in Notebooklm entitled; “A Sentinel Journey through Time” for the White Tower & “A monument of Imperial Triumph” for the Arch of Galerius.
Creation of two (2) Timelines in Canvas; “The Gateway to Tomorrow; History whispers the wisdom of Time” for the White Tower & “The Guardian of Memory” for the Arch of Galerius.
Creation of two (2) Escape Rooms in Genially; “Whispers of the White Sentinel” & “Between the Cracks of Time”.
An Interactive map in Genially for exploring the well-known landmarks of Thessaloniki and their “hidden” cultural narratives; “Follow a route”.
Two (2) presentations about the two monuments of Thessaloniki, the one about White Tower in Genially & Arch of Galerius in Notebooklm.
Creation of two (2) artistic models (mockups) for each monument; “The Tower of Light” & “The Arch of Time”.
Two (2) Augmented Reality (AR) Presentations of the two monuments in WebARStudio.
Creation of Carousel about the Presentation…HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, Bootstrap.
Two (2) podcasts inspired by the monuments, enhancing their project through audio narratives and digital storytelling. The first one entitled “The White Tower Diaries” and the second one “Kamara Chronicles: Echoes of an Empire» (the second one with the collaboration of our student, Omiros Papadopoulos)

By scanning the QR code, visitors are invited to explore the students’ work and discover a new perspective on Thessaloniki’s “Unknown” Cultural Heritage.

ΕNJOY THE STORY…

Echoes of the Unknown: Postcards from Thessaloniki

As part of the project, students created two artistic postcards inspired by the White Tower of Thessaloniki and the Arch of Galerius.

Titled “Echoes of the Unknown”, the postcards aim to highlight the hidden cultural narratives behind these well-known landmarks, inviting viewers to rediscover them through a fresh perspective.

The photographs were created by the school’s alumnus Pavlos Gioras, whose work has been internationally awarded.

Interactive Presentations & Digital Carousel

Students developed two digital presentations dedicated to the White Tower of Thessaloniki and the Arch of Galerius, using modern digital tools such as Genially and NotebookLM.

As an extension of their work, they designed and implemented an interactive carousel presentation, applying programming skills developed in their Informatics classes (HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, Bootstrap). The carousel presents selected content from the Arch of Galerius presentation in a dynamic and engaging way.

Augmented Reality Experience

The Augmented Reality (AR) experiences were developed by students of the Hellenic College of Thessaloniki on the occasion of their participation in the 7th Annual World Cultural Heritage Youth Symposium 2026, as a member of the UNESCO Associated Schools Network.

As part of the project, two AR experiences were designed and presented through a specially created printed calendar. Each page of the calendar features a visual trigger that, when scanned, brings the content to life through augmented reality.

Focusing on the White Tower of Thessaloniki and the Arch of Galerius, the experiences allow users to access video-based content created by the students using AI tools. Through this process, students combined historical research with digital storytelling and emerging technologies, enhancing both creativity and technological skills.

By merging print with immersive technology and artificial intelligence, the project transforms a traditional format into an interactive journey, offering a unique and engaging way to explore Thessaloniki’s cultural heritage.

Interactive Escape Rooms: Unlocking Hidden Knowledge

Students designed two digital escape rooms inspired by the White Tower of Thessaloniki and the Arch of Galerius, using the interactive platform Genially.

Each experience is built around a series of riddles and challenges, through which participants test their knowledge of the monuments. By solving each clue, they unlock the next “room”, gradually revealing the hidden stories behind these iconic landmarks.

Educational Value

Through this gamified approach, students enhanced their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, while reinforcing their understanding of the historical and cultural significance of the monuments.

Student Podcasts

The podcasts “The White Tower Diaries” and “Kamara Chronicles: Echoes of an Empire” are student-created audio projects developed by our students.

Through creative storytelling and narrative techniques, students explore the history and cultural significance of the White Tower of Thessaloniki and the Arch of Galerius. By combining historical research with personal expression, the podcasts bring to light the hidden stories behind these iconic monuments, offering a fresh and engaging perspective on Thessaloniki’s heritage.

️Interactive Map

The interactive map was designed as a dynamic digital experience, the map invites users to explore important landmarks of Thessaloniki that shape the city’s cultural identity. Through interactive elements users can discover sites such as the White Tower of Thessaloniki, the Arch of Galerius, the Seich Sou Forest, the Nea Paralia Thessaloniki, the Modiano Market, and the Walls of Thessaloniki.

Artistic Model: Bringing the Monument to Life

The artistic model was created by student Christina-Anna Karypidou and is inspired by the White Tower of Thessaloniki.

Through this creative process, the monument was reinterpreted into a three-dimensional form, highlighting its historical and symbolic elements.

Infographics & Timelines

Through visually engaging designs, students present key information about the White Tower of Thessaloniki and the Arch of Galerius, highlighting their historical significance, architectural features, and cultural role. By transforming complex information into clear and accessible visuals, the infographics enhance understanding and promote effective communication of knowledge.

Focusing on the historical evolution of the White Tower of Thessaloniki and the Arch of Galerius, the timelines present key events and transformations across different periods. By organizing information chronologically, students provide a clear narrative of how these landmarks have changed over time, offering users a deeper understanding of their enduring presence in the city.