History

Μagnesia

Larissa

Τrikala

Κarditsa

Museum of Volos

Thessaly, with its four Prefectures (Larissa, Magnesia, Trikala and Karditsa), lies in the central part of mainland Greece and is one of the country’s largest Regions in size and population. It borders Macedonia to the north, Central Greece to the south, Epirus to the west and its eastern borders are washed by the Aegean Sea. Thessaly is surrounded by mountains –one of these being Olympus, residence of the twelve mythical Gods – that encircle a low-lying plain, which is in fact a structural basin formed towards the end of the Tertiary Period of the Caenozoic Era, when the water of a large lake escaped into the Aegean Sea through the valley of Tempi. A series of hills divides this plain into the Larissa and Trikala lowlands. The only river traversing Thessaly is Pinios, the third longest river in Greece. The Thessalian coastline is sheer, without any harbors and with very few low-lying and sandy areas in the Prefecture of Magnesia. The Northern Sporades island cluster, formed by Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonnissos and other smaller islands, is also part of Thessaly. The climate is continental with cold winters and hot summers.

Human presence in Thessaly goes back to the Paleaolithic Period, where man and beast coexisted 100.000 years ago.

Europe’s first Neolithic civilization was created in Thessaly in the 7^th millennium B.C. Significant remains of settlements from the Neolithic Period were found at Sesklo, Argissa, Otzaki Magoula, Dimini.

Thessaly is home to a major palatial centre of the Mycenaean civilization, Iolcus, which stood on the site of modern-day Volos. It was from Iolcus that the Argonauts set sail. This period of time was marked by the migration and relocation of various racial groups.

During these historical times, the Thessalians and Magnetes divided Thessaly into four states: Pelasgiotis, Hestiaeotis, Thessaliotis and Phthiotis, which together formed the Thessalian League. The period’s aristocratic families were the Aleuadae of Larissa, the Echecratidae of Pharsala and the Scopadae of Crannon. In the early historical period Thessaly was renowned for its cavalry and large grain production and exports. During the Persian invasion in 480 B.C. Thessaly did not put up any resistance and the Persians thus used the region as their winter base. In the 5^th century B.C. there arose instability and conflict among the Thessalians and the aristocrats were supplanted by tyrants.

Macedonian rule was replaced by Roman rule in 196 B.C. Many military operations took place in Thessaly during the Roman “civil” wars. Nero later ceded to the province of Macedonia. When Diocletian reorganized the Roman State, Thessaly and Magnesia became a separate province.

Christianity was prevalent in Thessaly during the 1^st century A.D. Thessaly, with Larissa as its capital, knew great prosperity from the reign of Constantine the Great onwards.

In the 4^th century A.D. the region began to suffer from successive raids by a number of barbarian tribes: Goths (382), Ostrogoths (482), Slavs (578-610), Saracen pirates in Demetrias (896), Bulgars (893-997), Normans (late 11^th c.) and Vlachs (11^thc.).

From 1205 to 1222 Thessaly came under the rule of the Franks, and in 1222 it was ceded to the Despotate of Epirus. After the creation of the Despotate of Thessaly, after the region passed once more into the hands of the Franks and Catalans and later the Byzantines, there followed a period of Serbian rule (commencing in 1348). It was at this time that monastic life flourished at Meteora.

The Ottoman occupation began in 1392-1393.This led to the islamisation of Thessaly’s feudal lords and great resistance from the poor. During Ottoman rule, Larissa became a characteristic example of a Turkish town. The Turks eradicated the feudalism that flourished in Thessaly after the 12^th century and settled predominantly in the plains, whereas the most vital segment of the Greek population fled to Magnesia’s mountains, the valley of Tempi, Kissavos, Olympus and Pindus. It was there that the klephts were active and the armatolikia –territories under the control of the armatoles- were formed. Small wool and cotton industries of some importance were established in these regions and a middle class that had ties with western Europe evolved. It was also there that efforts to achieve the spiritual awakening of the subjugated Thessalians were made, in which the Church had a major role. Larissa was an important military centre for the Ottomans in 1821. Thus, the Greek War of Independence was declared at Pelion, where the scholar Anthimos Gazis was active. In those years theft and piracy had reached a climax. Industrial centres began to fall into decline, while the urban centres of Larissa and Volos began to grow.

After much battle, liberation came with the Berlin Treaty, by means of which Thessaly was ceded to Greece in 1881 and became the richest province in the Greek state. However, the ownership of most of the Thessalian land by a few big landowners led to a grave social problem, which gave rise to conflict that climaxed with the bloody events of Kileler (1910) and which was resolved through agricultural reforms and the expropriation of the estates known as chiftlicks. This resulted in increased production and the growth of industrial crops, viniculture, sericulture, arboriculture and stock breeding. There was industrial development in Larissa, Volos, Trikala, Tyrnavos and Velestino and agricultural, livestock and industrial products began to be exported. During the German-Italian occupation, Thessaly suffered great destruction and the ensuing civil war also left its scars on the region.

Makrinitsa

From 1950 onwards efforts were made to modernize farming in Thessaly, agricultural family businesses were formed, industrial crops increased, as did the production of fruit and vegetables, and nomadic stock breeding disappeared. Both domestic migration and emigration began to take place, mountain villages were deserted by their inhabitants who made for the modern urban centres, Larissa and Volos. The advent of modern transport and telecommunications boosted trade, tourism and industry, which was linked to local agricultural production.

Today, the primary sector is particularly strong in all of Thessaly’s Prefectures, boasting large agricultural production and considerable livestock numbers. The secondary sector in the Prefectures of Larissa and Magnesia is also noteworthy, with industrial zones spanning almost all manufacturing fields, while the tertiary sector is growing, with trade and services in the urban centres and remarkable touristic activity at Pelion, the northern Sporades islands, Meteora, Tempi, Pertouli and Lake Plastira.

VOLOS

Museum of Volos

The Prefecture of Magnesia borders the Prefecture of Larissa to the north and west, the Prefecture of Phthiotis to the west and south and the Aegean Sea to the east. The Prefecture of Magnesia includes the Northern Sporades island cluster formed by the islands of Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos and the uninhabited islands Kyra Panagia, Gioura, Psathoura, Piperi, Peristera and Skantzoura as well as other smaller islets that constitute the Northern Sporades National Marine Park, where the Monachus Monachus seal lives and reproduces. Half of the Prefecture’s terrain is mountainous. Spread along the Pagasitic Gulf, beautiful Pelion and its numerous picturesque villages, a mountain resonating with legends and traditions, was considered to be the summer residence of the Olympian Gods. The climate is mediterranean. The economy is based on agriculture, with Pelion’s arboriculture being a characteristic aspect thereof, on industry, on tourism in Pelion’s villages and on the islands, on fishing and on the craft industry, where agricultural products and woven textiles are made, as are local artifacts on the islands.

The region of Magnesia was inhabited from the Neolithic Period, as indicated by findings at Sesklo and Dimini. Its inhabitants included the Minyae, who are connected with the Argonaut Expedition, and in the 12th century B.C., the Magnetes, to whom it owes its name. Iolcus, the starting point of the Argonaut expedition and the northernmost centre of the Mycenaean  civilization, was an important city for the Magnetes, who sided with the Persians during the Persian Wars. In 292 B.C. Demetrius the Besieger founded Demetrias southwest of modern-day Volos in order to have control of southern Greece. In 167 B.C. Demetrias yielded to the Romans, which marked the beginning of its decline. The Palaeochristian Period saw the growth of Phthiotic Thebes, a city which was destroyed after the middle of the 7th century, leaving room for Demetrias to prosper once more. During the Ottoman occupation, which began in 1423, the region’s coastal cities fell into decline and their inhabitants fled to the villages on Pelion, whose economy and cultural life flourished during the 18th century. Following liberation from the Ottomans in 1881, Volos began to grow.

Eastern Pilio

Today, Volos is one of the largest cities in Greece and a major port with modern buildings, an excellent layout and a bustling economic, commercial, touristic and cultural life. University of Thessaly is a major contributor to the cultural life of Volos.

Municipality of Volos.
Athanasakeion Archaeological Museum.
Sesklo.
Dimini.
Train of Pelion.

LARISSA

The Prefecture of Larissa has a flat terrain. The Larissa plain, the most significant in Greece, is traversed by river Pinios, which flows through the valley of Tempi and into the Thermaic Gulf. The Prefecture of Larissa is the home of Olympus, the mountain of the ancient 12 Gods. Its highest peak called Mytikas or Pantheon (2.917 m.) is also the highest peak in Greece and the Balkan Peninsula. The Prefecture coastline is gentle in the north at the mouth of river Rinios and rugged in the south. The climate is continental, except in the coastal zone. The Prefecture of Larissa is one of the most agriculturally developed Prefectures in the country. Stock breeding, sericulture, small industry and the agricultural production processing industry are also strong, while forestry and fishing are limited. The Prefecture does not have many tourists. The only attraction is the village of Ambelakia (18th c.) where the first cooperative in Europe was formed, and the magnificent valley of Tempi, home of the Muses, nestled between Olympus and Kissavos.

Pinios River

The region of Larissa has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Tools and fossilized human and animal bones dating from the Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods and Bronze Age were discovered on the shores of river Pinios. The Pelasgians and Lapiths wete the first to inhabit Larissa. Acrisius founded the city, whose first king was Aleuas, the son of Thessalus and grandson of Hercules, who came from the aristocrats Aleuadae (6^th c. B.C.). The ancient acropolis of Larissa was built on a hill near river Pinios. To the south was a theatre of marble (3^rd c. B.C.) which survives to this day, and beyond it lay the agora, where the foundations of public buildings and bases of columns and statues have been found, and where the temples of Apollo Kerdoos (the Bringer of Profit) and Athena stood. The city was prosperous throughout its history. In the 5^th c. B.C. it was head of a League comprising Pelasgiotis, Hestiaeotis and Perraebia. During the Persian Wars it sided with the Persians and during the Peloponnesian War with the Athenians. It was conquered by the Macedons (344 B.C.) and Romans (196 B.C.) and during the Byzantine Period it was seized by the Goths (395), Ostrogoths (482), Normans (6^th c.), Bulgars (9^th and 10^th c.), Crusaders, Catalans (1309) and Serbs (14^th c.). In 1423 the city was captured by the Ottomans, who brought settlers from Iconium in Asia Minor, the so-called Konyari, to the city. It was then that the estates known as chiftliks were formed. The Ottomans renamed Larissa Yeni Sehir (New City) and made it their military and administrative centre. In the 17^th century Larissa had many mosques and drew European merchants and diplomats. In the 18^th century its trade boomed and it became a major Jewish centre in Greece. During the Orlov Revolt (1770-1774) the city suffered under the Turks and Albanians. In 1821, it was used as a military centre from where the Turkish armies drove south. In 1881 Larissa was ceded to the Greek state and from then on began to grow rapidly. It was bombed during the Greco-Italian War. The inhabitants of Larissa were deeply involved in the Resistance during the German Occupation.

Municipality of Larisa.
Archaeological Museum of Larisa.
Folklore and Historical Museum of Larisa.
Ancient Theatre A of Larissa.

ΚΑRDITSA

Plastiras Lake

The Prefecture of Karditsa is the smallest of Thessaly. The Agrafa and southern Pindos mountain ranges span the western and south-western part of Karditsa, whereas the Thessalian plain lies to the north and east.

The oldest findings in the region, such as traces of hamlets, walls and items for everyday domestic use, go back to the Neolithic Period. One of the most significant finds is the Temple of Apollo in Plastira Municipality, the tholos tomb in Metropolis Municipality, the castle in Kallithiro and the funerary monuments in Argithea. Slavs, Vlachs and Catalans invaded the area during the Byzantine Period. The Fanari Castle dating from this period still stands today. Over a period of three centuries, beginning in the mid 15^th century, Turkish settlers, known as Konyari, took up residence in the area and grew rich at the expense of the locals. That was when the chiftliks (large estates) were created. Many churches and monasteries were salvaged from the time of the Ottoman occupation. In the early 17^th century the town of Karditsa was founded and soon it became the centre of commerce between the lowland and highland. The town was inhabited by Muslims and was a base for the Turkish army. The inhabitants struggled valiantly against the Turks. Very important personages from the area are George Karaiskakis, a hero of the 1821 Revolution, and Prime Minister Nikolaos Plastiras, leader of the 1922 Revolution. The years following the liberation were marked by efforts to achieve economic rebirth in the area, however these efforts were intercepted by the invasion of the Italians and Germans. The population’s participation in the resistance was large. The plateau of Nevropolis functioned as an airport for the resistance. Karditsa was the first European town to be liberated from German conquerors during World War II (2-9-1943).

Today the town constitutes the administrative, economic and cultural centre of the Prefecture. It is a calm, typical Thessalian town with a good town plan and large squares in the town centre that are connected by walkways.

The economy of the Prefecture is based on agriculture (it is worth mentioning the superb table grapes and particularly the Mesenicola black variety), whereas stock farming and industry are not particularly developed. The few small factory units process agricultural, stock-farming and forestry products. However, in the last few years commerce and tourism have developed, particularly due to the utilization of Lake Plastira. The town has a lively cultural life, hosting a series of annual festivals such as the Karaiskakia festival, the Panhellenic Amateur Theatre Festival, the International Choir Festival, feasts and meetings where the customs of the Karagounides and people of Argithea are revived, and the Mesenicola Wine Festival on 15 August.

Municipality of Karditsa.
Fortress of Fanari.

ΤRIKALA

The Prefecture of Trikala is the most mountainous in Thessaly with mountains on all three of its sides surrounding its plain. The Acheloos and Pinios rivers flow through the Prefecture. Litheos, a tributary of river Pinios, runs through the city of Trikala. The climate is continental, winters are cold and summers are warm. The economy of the Prefecture is based on agriculture and stock farming (which is carried out with modern methods), forestry and tourism. Small factory units also operate, mainly processing agricultural, stock farming and forestry products, whereas the industry is concentrated in the town of Trikala. Tourism constitutes a huge chapter in the development of the Prefecture. The mountain holiday resorts in Elati, Kastania and Pertouli, which has a ski resort, attract many tourists. Thousands of tourists from around the world visit Meteora each year, one of the  greatest monuments in the world, protected by UNESCO, and Greece’s second monastic centre after Mount Athos. Trikala has been inhabited since the Early Bronze Age. The ancient city, which was initially named Doris and later Trikke, took part in the Trojan War and was the capital of Hestiaeotis. It is believed that Asclepius was born in Trikala, from where his cult spread to the rest of Greece. His old sanctuary was also located there, the ruins of which still survive today. During historical times, the city was occupied by the Macedonians and later by the Romans. During the Byzantine period it was one of the most significant Thessalian cities. It suffered the invasion of the Goths, Slavs, Saracens, Bulgars and Vlachs. The city had a flourishing economy in the middle-Byzantine period and was named Trikala. It fell in the hands of the Crusaders and subsequently became the capital of the Serbian sovereigns. It was during those years that the Meteora monasteries were built. In 1423 Trikala surrendered to the Ottomans. During the Orlov Revolt (1770-1774) it was set afire by the Albanians. By the end of the 18th century the city had a population of 20.000 citizens and its small factory guilds developed remarkable commercial activities in the northern Balkans and Central Europe. During the 1821 Revolution, Trikala was the point where Ottoman troops gathered. The city was liberated from the Ottomans in 1881 following the Treaty of Berlin.

Τrikala Μeteora

Municipality of Trikala.
Meteora.