About Larissa

Larissa, the capital of Thessaly, is one of the largest cities in Greece. Located in the center of Greece, in the middle of the largest plain of the country, under the shadow of Mount Olympus and near the Tempi Valley. It is a contemporary and modern city, with large squares, beautiful parks, historical and archaeological sites and cultural centers.  Larissa is also an administrational, commercial, industrial, military and transportation center. 

The heart of Larissa beats at its center with a wide net of pedestrian zones and squares, and also its impressive market. The two large squares of Larissa, Central Square and Tachydromiou square, are spots for fun and relaxation and one can enjoy the Larissian hospitality and the city’s day and night lively spirit. The river Pinios runs through the north part of the city and is a meeting point for people who enjoy nature, walking, hiking and biking.

With a history of 8.000 years by the riverbanks of Pinios river, Larissa is (according to many historians) one of the oldest cities in Europe.  Almost all the city of Larissa was designated as an archaeological monument in 2003, since the modern city is practically built on top of the ruins and monuments of the ancient city.

Larissa is a very youthful and live city, with many cafés, restaurants and taverns, situated by the most part in the pedestrian center, along with a very active commercial area and in walking distance from many of the city’s historic monuments. In the pedestrianized center, in Frourio Hill and the surrounding area, you can see the 1st and 2nd Ancient Theaters, the St. Achilleus Basilica, the Bezesteni and the Mill of Pappas. From the First Ancient Theatre of Larissa, being the most emblematic, to the Byzantine era, the Ottoman occupation and an industrial heritage monument, you can walk through 2.500 years of city history.

The city also has an important current cultural history and infrastructure – the first regional Municipality Theatre in Greece, the Municipal Art Gallery of Larissa – G.I. Katsigras Museum, with a significant art collection (second largest public collection in Greece) and art workshops for children, the Ethnographical Historical Museum of Larissa (second largest in Greece) and the Diachronic Museum of Larissa, the Municipal Conservatory, with many choirs, the symphonic orchestra and the philharmonic, the only Municipal Puppet Troupe and Puppet Doll Museum in the country, the Municipal School of Ballet that has showcased prominent dancers. The cultural calendar is full of activities, events and festivals, such as the International Film Festival of Larissa / Artfools every spring, the Puppetry Festival in May, the Cultural Festival of Pinios in June, the Mylos Performing Arts Festival in October, the Christmas Theme Park of Wishes, to name a few. 

Around Larissa

The city is in close proximity of many interesting destinations in the region (Mount Olympus, mount Kissavos, Meteora, Lake Plastira, mountain Pilio, Larissa coastline, etc) suitable for daily trips. Larissa is an ideal starting point for excursions to nearby places with great historical, cultural and environmental interest offering the visitor several options of activities, sightseeing, hiking or enjoying the coastline, to name a few.

Information on the web pages

http://www.larissa-dimos.gr/en/the-city

http://www.larissa-culturestories.gr/en/

Venue held at the Municipal Art Gallery of Larissa – G.I. Katsigra Museum