Prefecture of Larissa, Greece:
Mythology and History,
Mountain and Sea,
City of Larissa.
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Prefecture of Larissa: the myths…live here
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Location
Thessaloniki
Larissa
Athens
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Weather Conditions:
From -535 (winter  summer) Celsius degrees
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Mythology…
 The presence of mount
Olympus (the mount of
12 ancient Gods) in the
northern section of the
prefecture of Larissa
has ensured that a
mythological
atmosphere has
pervaded the area since
ancient times.
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…Mythology
 According to the myth,
Larissa was built by Lariso,
son of Pelasgos and was
named such by the daughter
of Pelasgos, Larissa (about
4,000 years ago),
 Besides Larissa, several
other cities, as mentioned by
Homer in the catalogue of
ships, sent many men and
ships to the Trojan War
(Achilles was the most
famous of them).
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History: Prehistoric period (…11 B.C.)
 More than 50 Paleolithic
sites, mainly along river
Pineios.
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History: Historic period (11 B.C.4 A.D.)
 From the late 7th B.C.
Larissa became the
most important
Thessalian city.
 The Thessalians took
part at the Trojian War,
Persians Wars, and
they were on the side of
the Spartans against
the Athenians in the
Peloponnesian Wars
(360 B.C.)
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History: Roman period (354 B.C.4th c. A.D.)
 Larissa saw
its final
period of
prosperity
under the
Romans
when it
became the
seat of the
new
Common of
Thessaly.
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History: Christian period (4th c.14th c.)
 Long period of
barbarian invasions.
 Many churches and
monasteries were
established.
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History: Turkish Domination (15th c.19th c.)
 Large Turkish
population
established
themselves in
Thessaly and
initially in Larissa,
 Several uprisings
took place – the
most important the
revolution in
Olympus mountain
(1850).
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History: New Greek State
 Larissa is the capital of the
region of Thessaly -central
Greece- and also the capital
of the Prefecture of Larissa,
 Agricultural city but the
majority of the farmers were
tenant farmers for the few
landlords. The 20th century
began with the revolution of
the farmers, and the land
was partially redistributed.
 Second World War was a
very bad period for Larissa
since the city was heavily
bombed.
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Prefecture of Larissa: Mountain & Sea…
Mountain OLYMPUS
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Mountain Olympus…
The Twelve Gods of
ancient Greek
mythology lived on the
peaks from which they
governed the fates of
humans.
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…Mountain Olympus
 Highest Peaks:
 Mytikas 2918m (7962
feet),
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Skolio 2911m,
Stefani 2907m,
Skala 2866m,
Agios Antonios 2816m,
Prophet Ilias 2803m,
Toumpa 2802m…
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Prefecture of Larissa: Mountain & Sea…
 The Aegean Sea has
carved a rich lacework
of large sandy beaches
and jagged coastline
dotted with small bays
suitable for bathing and
pebbled beaches in this
region.
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…Prefecture of Larissa: Mountain & Sea
 Interesting Places:
 Agiokampos,
 Velika,
 Stomio,
 Messagala,…
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City of Larissa…
 The population of the
greater area is around
250,000 (takes in some
small suburban
communities),
 City of Larissa: about
220,000 habitants,
 Capital of region of
Thessaly and also
capital of Prefecture of
Larissa,
 Built in the same location
since ancient times.
The Cathedral (from Pineios river)
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…City of Larissa…
The ancient theatre
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…City of Larissa…
Art Gallery
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…City of Larissa
Wild horse: The city’s symbol
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How to get to Larissa
 By air:
 From most of European cities to Athens or
Thessaloniki,
 From Athens or Thessaloniki to Larissa:


by train (www.ose.gr),
by bus (www.ktel.org.en/timetable.asp) or car.
Estimated time
Athens-Larissa
(350km)
ThessalonikiLarissa (150km)
train
3.154.10 hours 1.15 hours
bus
4.15 hours
1.45 hours
car
3.30 hours
1.30 hours
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