A university town, Larissa is the capital of Thessaly in Greece and has a history that spans over 8,000 years. This fun-loving town is the best place to visit for anyone with a love of history. You will find layers of ancient Ottoman and Byzantine remains and there are plenty of historical sites to check out when you are traveling to Larissa. Some of the best things you can do here are:
Diachronic Museum
The material history of Larissa was moved to a brand new museum in 2015, which is located on the Mezourlo Hill and surrounded by pine trees. It took many years for the museum to be completed and it covers the history of Larissa from the Paleolithic period to 1881 when the town was liberated from Ottoman rule. You will see building fragments, such as capitals and columns, sumptuous vases, mosaics, Byzantine icons, jewelry, coins, jugs, steles, funerary art and reliefs.
Ancient Theatre ‘A’
The top monument to check out in Larissa is a theatre, which had been established in 3rd century BC under the Kingdom of Macedonia. Musical and theatrical performances were conducted here and it was also used for political and religious meetings. The architecture hails from the Roman period when it was converted into a theatre that can house 12,000 people. There are 25 rows of marble seats, eleven tiers and ten stairways.
Monument of Hippocrates
In the mid of the 4th century, the father of medicine spent the last decade of his life in Larissa and his tomb was rediscovered in 1826 after a flood. A modern monument to Hippocrates has been built on the northern outskirts of Larissa and a small museum has also been established.
Alcazar Park
For more than a century, people have been coming to the Alcazar Park, which is on the bank of the Pineios River, for the purpose of relaxing. The cooling effect of the river is the biggest draw, especially in the summer season. The urban park boasts lawns, tree-lined paths, a pond, outdoor theatre, a café, a mini-golf course and a children’s playground.
Pappas Mill
In 1893, this former industrial flourmill was established in Larissa, but it was burnt down in 1920. The four-story façade opened a year later and has become a cultural center with a dance school, theatre, art studio and also a puppet theatre.
If you want to explore more in Larissa, you can take a look at VACATIONING EUROPE to learn what else the charming town has to offer.