Libertatia Squat (Κατάληψη Libertatia)

Libertatia Squat occupies a neoclassical listed building at the junction of Stratou and Sarandaporou streets in the Faliro neighborhood of Thessaloniki. The building was squatted in May 2008, making it one of the longest-running occupied social centers in the city. The name references Libertatia, the semi-mythical libertarian pirate community of the 1600s.

The squat originally opened as an immigrant social center before evolving into a broader anarchist space serving housing, organizing, and cultural functions. For years it hosted a library, political discussions, film screenings, concerts, and served as a hub for anti-fascist and anti-capitalist activity in Thessaloniki.

On January 21, 2018, during a massive nationalist rally over the Macedonia naming dispute, a fascist mob attacked Libertatia and set it on fire while police stood by. The building’s interior was destroyed, including an extensive archive of political literature. Rather than abandon the space, the collective committed to rebuilding — work that drew repeated police raids and arrests over seven years.

The squat was evicted in August 2024 but re-occupied within days by a large crowd of supporters, forcing riot police to temporarily retreat. A second eviction followed in September 2024. The collective continues organizing and fighting to reclaim the building through legal defense and direct action.

Following the 2024 evictions, the groups that were based at Libertatia established Victoire Libertarian Space nearby in the Faliro neighborhood, where they continue their organizing work while maintaining the campaign to reclaim the original building.