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The Town of Larissa

The town of Larissa is situated in the center of the Thessalian plain and has been the capital of Thessaly throughout its long history, from ancient Pelasguiotida to this day.It constitutes the economic, administrative and scientific centre of Thessaly.

Larissa has important sights and monuments. It has strong business potentialities, too. The vast pedestrianized precinct of Larissa makes the town a pleasant place to take a walk in especially in the business centre.

The advantageous geographical position of the town has greatly contributed to its tourist development which is also connected with a number of professional activities.

It is also worth mentioning the cultural infrastructures of the town; there are two ancient theatres, a Municipal Gallery, a Municipal Regional Theater, a Center of Modern Plastic Arts, cinemas, a Folklore Historical Museum, 'G.I.Katsigrasʼ Museum etc.

Doubtless, the transport infrastructures of the Prefecture of Larissa, its railway network and the national road make the town easy of access and constitute major advantages, too. Likewise, the town economy contributes to the development of its business and congress tourism

Sea Tourism

The sea tourism of  Larissa is significant and has very good infrastructures (harbors,schools of sea sports) as well as a large number of sea sports for years now.
Camps and sailing courses, canoë and water ski courses are also available for eleven to sixteen-year-old youths. It is also worth mentioning that a number of important sports events are held in Larissa such as the Championship of Central Greece, the Optimist and Laser Sailing races on the Spitaki Beach and the Pan-Hellenic Games of underwater fishing.

Winter Tourism - Ski

Mount Olympus is not a tourist attraction only for nature-worshippers and climbers. Every year a lot of skiers enjoy the enchantment of nature and the services offered by the modern ski resort on the spot of Vrissopoules. 

According to the Greek mythology the twelve gods that decided upon the Ancient Greeksʼ fate lived on the peaks of mount Olympus. As mount Olympus rises up on the borderline between Thessaly and Macedonia and in the middle of the mainland of Greece, it is accessible from the national road, the railway network and the provincial roads. It is also visible from the peaks of most Greek mountains.

A part of the mountain was qualified as a National Park in 1938 while Unesco proclaimed mount Olympus “Sediment of Biosphere”. The Nature Conservancy status quo that this National Park is subject to contributes not only to the protection of the flora and fauna but also to its systematic recording. Climbers can find accommodation and food in its five mountain refuges. 

Picturesque villages are perched on the wooded slopes of the mountain and constitute tourist attractions of the region as the passage of time hasnʼt taken away their authenticity. Tourists can visit several traditional buildings, fountains, houses, significant monuments (the monastery of Campana, the Virgin Mother of Polidendri) and watermills.Their thick forests extend as far as the Aegean coastline.

Archaelogical Monuments

The fact that the mountain region of the Prefecture of Larissa was first inhabited about 100,000 years ago accounts for the wealth of its history.

Dolihi, Azoros, Dodoni, Kifos, Iloni, Olosson, Hiretie, Gouni, Mallia were some of the prosperous towns founded in the region.
The Perevians were the first inhabitants of the region. They dominated over the region and assumed the political administration of Larissa. A large number of archaeological finds reveal the rich cultural heritage of the region.

The Acropolis

The Acropolis of the town of Larissa is situated on Saint Achillesʼ hill. According to the archaeological finds the area has been inhabited since the Neolithic Age(6,000 B.C).
The inscriptions excavated witness to the fact that in the Classic era the Acropolis of Larissa was located on the same spot. In the early years of the East Roman Empire the Byzantines chose the same spot to have the Acropolis built.

Hippocrates Monument

Hippocratesʼ tomb came to light after an overflow of Pinios river in 1826.

First Ancient Theater

The big ancient theater of a seating capability of 10,000 persons is situated on the south side of the Acropolis hill. It was constructed in the reign of Philip V,King of Macedonia, towards the close of the 3rd century B.C. and was founded beyond the ancient city centre beneath the fortified Acropolis facing the ancient market.

Second Ancient Theater

The second ancient theatre is situated a short distance from the big ancient theatre at the crossroads of Ergatiki Protomagia and Tagmatarhou Velissariou street. There have been preserved thirteen tiers of two rows of seats each and fourteen scales. Excavations have brought to light an uninscribed stele dedicated to godess Demeter and her daughter which reveals that their temple was probably located on that spot.

A 19th century mosque temporarily houses the Archaeological Museum in 31 Avgoustou street. It contains important Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Archaic, Classical and Byzantine finds. In the future, a modern building which will be constructed at Mezourlo will house laboratories, spacious repositories and the two offices of the Antiquities of Larissa (Prehistoric-Classical and Byzantine).

In the town of Larissa the cultural events are integral part of its inhabitantsʼ lives. Throughout the year a large number of activities take place in its towns and villages. A new modern building houses the Municipal Art Gallery in the quarter of Neapoli. 

A lot of exhibitions are organized on the ground floor of the Municipal Art Gallery. The Folklore-Historical museum that was inaugurated in 1983 aspires to exhibit various aspects of the material and intellectual life of the people who lived in the area and town of Larissa in the pre-industrial era.

Fun here we come!

Nightlife!

Being the center of Thessaly, Larissa matches each and every taste.

Every single time of the day cafés and snack bars are busy but in the evening town’s rythmes get wild. Tahidromiou Square is always full of life, Acropolis is a delicious oasis with it’s restaurants and traditional taverns but when clock strikes twelve it transforms into youth’s paradise full of bars and clubs until dawn. One more attraction for Larissa’s people is a category of places with live music where everyone dances and has fun until early morning.

Contact us @:

larisa@helmsic.gr

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