Under Ottoman rule, the city grew without the guidance of a general plan for expansion and had narrow streets. The absence of squares in pre-1917 Thessaloniki was addressed by Ernest Hébrard, who proposed a number of large squares in the city, including Megalou Alexandrou Square ("Alexander the Great Square"), now Aristotelous Square.
Under Ottoman rule, the city expanded without a general plan for growth, resulting in narrow streets. The lack of public squares in pre-1917 Thessaloniki was addressed by Ernest Hébrard, who proposed several large squares, including Megalou Alexandrou Square ("Alexander the Great Square"), now Aristotelous Square.