Larissa is the capital and largest city of the Thessaly region in Greece. It is the fifth-most populous city in Greece with a population of 144,651 according to the 2011 censu. It is also capital of the Larissa regional unit. It is a principal agricultural centre and a national transport hub, linked by road and rail with the port of Volos, the cities of Thessaloniki and Athens. The municipality of Larissa has 162,591 inhabitants, while the regional unit of Larissa reached a population of 284,325.

Economy

Larissa is a major agricultural center of Greece, due to the plain of Thessaly.

In manufacturing sector, Larissa is among others home to Biokarpet carpet company (whose owners were also major shareholders of AEL FC in the past) and Orient Bikes.

It comes also in first place with the highest percentage of bars-taverns-restaurants per capita in Greece. Mikel Coffee Company and Bruno Coffee Stores chains started and have also their base in the city.

Culture

Theatres and Odeons

• Municipal Conservatory of Larissa
• Pappas’s Mile Theatre
• Municipal Theatre OUHL of Larissa (Thessalian Theatre)
• Hatzigianeio Cultural Centre
• Tiritomba Shadows Theatre

Landmarks

• Second Ancient Theatre
• Cenotaph monument of Hippocrates
• Frourio Hill
  • First Ancient Theatre
  • Basilica of St. Achillios
  • Bezesten of Larissa
• Yeni Mosque (a rare example of mosque built in neoclassical style)
• Alkazar Park

Some historical buildings that have been listed as architecturally preserved, include the Cine Palace (architect Colonello), the Charokopos tower (arch. Anastasios Metaxas, endangered to collapse as 2019), the old Mills of Pappas, such as the complex of the Averofeios Agricultural School.

Cuisine

Local specialities:

• Batzina (Μπατζίνα) pie baked in the oven
• Kelaidi (Κελαηδί)
• Pita (Πίτα, traditional pies with pasta phyllo, baked in the oven) like Kreatopita, Loukanikopita, Melintzanopita, Tyropita, Spanakopita
• Plastós (Πλαστός) pie
• Lahanópsomo (Λαχανόψωμο) cabbage bread
• Halvas (Χαλβάς) sweet

Museums

• Diachronic Museum of Larissa / Archaeological and Byzantine Myseum of Larissa
• Municipal Gallery of Larissa – G.I. Katsigras Museum
• Folklore and Historical Museum of Larissa
• Military Veterinary Museum of Larissa
• Museum of the Folklore Society of Larissa
• Museum of Grain and Flours

Media

• TV: Thessalian Radio Television (TRT), Astra TV
• Press: Eleftheria (newspaper)

Festivals

Among the notable festivals that the city hosts, is the “Pineiou Festival” (music) and “AgroThessaly”, a major agricultural fair.

Organizations

• Panhellenic Federation of Cultural Associations of Vlachs

In popular culture

• A notable film of the Greek cinema partially shot in the area of Larissa and referred to the history of the region is Blood on the Land (1966) by Vasilis Georgiadis.

Transport

Larissa sits in the middle of the plain of Thessaly, with connections to Motorway A1 and national roads EO3 and EO6.

• Larissa’s Urban Bus System
• Larissa’s Interurban System (Ktel Larissas)
• Larissa Central Railway Station Station at 39°37′46″N 22°25′22.2″E
• Mezourlo Freight Railway station at 39°37′08″N 22°24′30″E
• Larissa National Airport (military)