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The first ancient theatre of Larissa
The first ancient theatre of Larissa
Seal of Larissa
Larissa is located in Greece
Country: Greece
Administrative region: Thessaly
Regional unit: Larissa
Districts: 4+1
Mayor: Konstantinos Tzanakoulis  (ND)
(since: 1998)
Population statistics (as of 2011)[1]
 - Population: 162,591
 - Area: 335.1 km2 (129 sq mi)
 - Density: 485 /km2 (1,257 /sq mi)
Municipal unit
 - Population: 146,926
 - Area: 122.6 km2 (47 sq mi)
 - Density: 1,198 /km2 (3,104 /sq mi)
Elevation (center): 67 m (220 ft)
Postal code: 41x xx
Telephone: 241
Auto: ΡΙ,ΡΡ

Larissa (Greek: Λάρισα, [ˈlarisa]) is the capital and biggest city of the Thessaly region of Greece and capital of the Larissa regional unit. It is a principal agricultural centre and a national transportation hub, linked by road and rail with the port of Volos, the city of Thessaloniki and Athens. Larissa, within its municipality, has 162,591 inhabitants, while the regional unit of Larissa reached a population of 284,325 (in 2011).[1] The urban area of the city, although mostly contained within the Larissa municipality, also includes the communities of Giannouli, Platykampos, Nikaia, Terpsithea and several other suburban settlements, bringing the wider urban area population of the city to about 220,000 inhabitants. Today, Larissa is a major commercial and industrial centre in Greece. Legend has it that Achilles was born here, and that Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, died here.


Mount Ossa viewed from Pineios river in Larissa.




The climate of Larissa is transitional. The winter is very cold and wet, and some snowstorms may occur. The summer is warm, and temperatures of 40 °C (104 °F) may occur. Thunderstorms or heavy rain may cause agricultural damage. Larissa receives 450 mm (18 in) of rain per year.

Climate data for Larisa
Record high °C (°F) 21.8
Average high °C (°F) 9.6
Daily mean °C (°F) 5.1
Average low °C (°F) 0.5
Record low °C (°F) −21.6
Precipitation mm (inches) 29.7
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.0 5.3 3.5 2.0 1.7 2.8 5.5 6.5 6.9 56.6
 % humidity 79.5 75.9 74.1 68.7 61.7 49.9 46.4 50.0 58.6 69.9 78.9 82.5 66.3
Mean monthly sunshine hours 104.7 117.8 157.5 213.8 266.3 307.2 337.1 320.1 247.6 171.8 126.0 101.0 2,470.9
Source: NOAA[2]


According to Greek mythology it is said that the city was founded by Acrisius, who was killed accidentally by his grandson, Perseus.[3] There lived Peleus, the hero beloved by the gods, and his son Achilles.




In this paragraph, Homer shows that the Pelasgians, Trojan allies, used to live in the city of Larissa. It is contradictory because Larissa was also the birthplace of Achilles, the sworn enemy of Trojans.



Didrachme of Thessalie.

Traces of Paleolithic human settlement have been recovered from the area, but it was peripheral to areas of advanced culture.[6] The area around Larissa was extremely fruitful; it was agriculturally important and in antiquity was known for its horses.

The name Larissa (Λάρισα Lárīsa) is in origin a Pelasgian (pre-Greek) word for "fortress". There were many ancient Greek cities with this name.[7] The name of Thessalian Larissa is first recorded in connection with the aristocratic Aleuadai family.[8]



The first ancient theatre of the city.






Middle Ages and Ottoman period[edit]

Gravure of Larissa c.1820
Inside the medieval fortres.
A street inside the fortress


In the 8th century, the city became the metropolis of the theme of Hellas.[10] The city was captured in 986 by Tsar Samuel of Bulgaria, who carried off the relics of its patron saint, Saint Achilleios, to Prespa.[10] It was again unsuccessfully besieged by the Normans under Bohemond I in 1082/3.[10]

After the Fourth Crusade, the King of Thessalonica, Boniface of Montferrat, gave the city to Lombard barons, but they launched a rebellion in 1209 that had to be subdued by the Latin Emperor Henry of Flanders himself.[10] The city was recovered by Epirus soon after.[10]

It was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1386/87 and again in the 1390s, but only came under permanent Ottoman control in 1423, by Turahan Bey.[11] Under Ottoman rule, the city was known as Yeni-şehir i-Fenari, "new citadel". As the chief town and military base of Ottoman Thessaly, Larissa was a predominantly Muslim city.[11] The town was noted for its trade fair in the 17th and 18th centuries, while the seat of the pasha of Thessaly was also transferred there in 1770.[11] The city remained in Ottoman hands until Thessaly became part of the independent Greek kingdom in 1881, except for a period where Ottoman forces re-occupied it during the Greco-Turkish War of 1897.[11]



Modern Greek era[edit]

The Thessalian theatre.
Alcazar park.


Ecclesiastical history[edit]

Christianity penetrated early to Larissa, though its first bishop is recorded only in 325 at the Council of Nicaea. St. Achillius of the 4th century, is celebrated for his miracles. Lequien[12] cites twenty-nine bishops from the fourth to the 18th centuries; the most famous is Jeremias II, who occupied the see until 733, when the Emperor Leo III the Isaurian transferred it from the jurisdiction of the Pope of Rome to the Patriarchate of Constantinople. In the first years of the 10th century it had ten suffragan sees;[13] subsequently the number increased and about the year 1175 under the Emperor Manuel I Comnenus, it reached twenty-eight.[14] At the close of the 15th century, under the Turkish domination, there were only ten suffragan sees,[15] which gradually grew less and finally disappeared.

Larissa is an Orthodox Metropolis of the Church of Greece and remains a titular see of the Roman Catholic Church.

Pineios river with the church of St. Achillios, patron saint of the city, in the background.
Inside the Jewish synagogue of Larissa.





1st Mucicipal District (pop. 26,035)

  1. Papastàvrou
  2. Saint Athanàsios
  3. Alkazàr
  4. Hippocrates-Pèra
  5. Potamòpolis
  6. Philippòpolis
  7. Livadàki
  8. Saint Thomas
  9. Saint Paraskevi-Mezourlo
  10. Neàpolis

2nd Municipal District (pop. 41,816)

  1. Saint Achellios
  2. Saint Nikòlaos
  3. Ambelòkipoi
  4. Saints Sarànta
  5. Saint Konstantinos
  6. Stathmòs

3rd Municipal District (pop. 30,121)

  1. Lachanòkipoi
  2. Nèa Smyrne-Kamynia
  3. Kalyvia-Saint Marina
  4. Saint Geòrgios
  5. Anatoli
  6. Koulouri
  7. Amphithèa

4rh Municipal District (pop. 26,814)

  1. Charavgi-Toumba-OKE
  2. Pyrovolikà-Pharos
  3. Avèrof-Sèkfo
  4. Nèa Politia
  5. Epiròtika
  6. Anthoupolis
  7. Neràida
  8. Kàmpos

Community of Terpsithèa (pop. 1,290)

  1. Terpsithèa
  2. Argyssa




Historical population[edit]

Central square.
Sidewalk near Pineios river.
  • 1889: 13,610 (city)
  • 1907: 18,001 (city)
  • 1907: 95,066 (prefecture)
  • 1991: 113,781 (city)
  • 1991: 277,973 (prefecture)
  • 2001: 126,076 (city)
  • 2001: 279,305 (prefecture)
  • 2011: 162,591 (new municipality)
  • 2011: 284,325 (regional unit)


Archaeological sites[edit]


Local specialities:

  • Batzina
  • Kelaidi (Κελαηδί)
  • Kreatopita
  • Loukanikopita
  • Melintzanopita
  • Tyropita





The local football club AEL 1964 FC currently participates in Football League Greece. The team became Greek Champion in 1988 and won the Greek Cup in 1985 & 2007. These titles place AEL among the 5 most important football clubs in Greece. AEL hosts its home games in the newbuild AEL FC Arena since November 2010, an UEFA-3 star rated football ground. Other important sport venues are the National Sport Center of Larissa (EAK Larissas), which includes the Alcazar Stadium and the Neapoli Indoor Hall.

Notable people[edit]

An engraving of Hippocrates.



International relations[edit]

Twin towns — Sister cities[edit]

Larissa is twinned with:

See also[edit]


  1. ^ a b Detailed census results 2011 (Greek)
  2. ^ "Larissa Climate Normals 1961-1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 22, 2013. 
  3. ^ Stephanus Byzantius, s.v.
  4. ^ Pausanias, 2.24.1
  9. ^ Cities and Locations of Ancient Greece. Larissa
  10. ^ a b c d e f Kazhdan, Alexander (1991). "Larissa". In Kazhdan, Alexander. The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. p. 1180. ISBN 978-0-19-504652-6. 
  11. ^ a b c d Savvides, A. (2002). "Yeni Shehr". The Encyclopedia of Islam, New Edition, Volume XI: W–Z. Leiden and New York: BRILL. p. 333. ISBN 90-04-12756-9. 
  12. ^ Oriens Christianus II, 103–112.
  14. ^ Parthey, Hieroclis Synecdemus, Berlin, 1866, 120.
  15. ^ Gelzer, op. cit., 635.
  16. ^ Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (Greek)
  18. ^ a b c d "Twinnings". Central Union of Municipalities & Communities of Greece. Retrieved 2013-08-25. 
  19. ^ "Rybnik Official Website — Twin Towns". City of Rybnik. Urząd Miasta Rybnika, ul. Bolesława Chrobrego 2, 44–200 Rybnik. Retrieved 2008-11-01. 

External links[edit]