1. Larissa City information
Larissa is the capital and largest 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).
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 174,012 inhabitants and extends over an area
of 572.3 km2. 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. As of early 2015, Larissa is a candidate city for the title of the
European Capital of Culture 2021
Climate
The climate of Larissa is transitional. The winter is cold and wet, and some snowstorms may occur.
The summer is hot, 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.
Mythology
According to Greek mythology it is said that the city was founded by Acrisius, who was killed
accidentally by his grandson, Perseus. There lived Peleus, the hero beloved by the gods, and his son
Achilles.
In mythology, the nymph Larissa was a daughter of the primordial man Pelasgus.The city of Larissa
is mentioned in Book II of Iliad by Homer:
Hippothous led the tribes of Pelasgian spearsmen, who dwelt in fertile Larissa- Hippothous,and
Pylaeus of the race of Mars, two sons of the Pelasgian Lethus, son of Teutamus.
In this paragraph, Homer shows that the Pelasgians, Trojan allies, used to live in the city of Larissa.
It is likely that this city of Larissa was different to the city that was the birthplace of Achilles. The
Larissa that features as a Trojan ally in the Iliad was likely to be located in the Troad, on the other
2. side of the Aegean Sea
Sports
AEL FC Arena
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.
Alcazar Stadium AEL FC Arena
The first ancient theatre of the city. Alcazar park. Pineios river with the church of
St.Achillios, patron saint of the city,
in the background. Achillios,
Gravure of Larissa c.1820
