Elassona
Encyclopedia
Elassona is a town and a municipality in the Larissa peripheral unit in Greece
. During antiquity Elassona was called Oloosson - Ὀλοοσσών and was a town of the ancient "Perrhaebi
", known today as Thessaly. It is situated at the foot of Mount Olympus
. Elassona is bypassed by the GR-3
(Larissa
- Kozani
- Florina
).
in 1881 as its battle for Greek annexation was unvictorious, only in the Balkan Wars
saw the area liberated from the Ottoman
Turks
on October 6, 1912 by the Greeks and finally annexed the municipality and the region as well as the northern part of the prefecture to Greece.
was part of the municipality (now municipal unit) of Elassonas and functioned as a municipal district. Under the law 3448/15-3-2006, Tsaritsani got separated from the municipality and declared a commune. The loss of its population and land leaves the remaining municipality with an adjusted 2001 census population of 12,056 and a land area of 291.097 km².
The river Elassonitis (or Elassonitikos) and the Titarisio flow through Elassona and they both pour into the Pineios River
, Thessaly's longest river. The river divides the town into two parts, the older city which is built on the Olympiotissa hill and is also Varosi or Varossi (Βαρόσι), and into the new sity which is in the right side of the bank of the river. These two parts of the city are connected by four bridges. The other part is near the Kefalovrysi Lake.
, 38 km NNW of Larissa
(old: about 50 km), 22 km NW of Tyrnavos
(old: 30 km), east of Deskati
and Grevena
and 78 km ESE of Kozani
.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. During antiquity Elassona was called Oloosson - Ὀλοοσσών and was a town of the ancient "Perrhaebi
Perrhaebi
The Perrhaebi were an ancient Greek people who lived in northern Thessaly. They took part in the Trojan War under Guneus and also fought in the Battle of Thermopylae. Their capital was Phalanna, and their most significant town, or polis, was Oloosson...
", known today as Thessaly. It is situated at the foot of Mount Olympus
Mount Olympus
Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, located on the border between Thessaly and Macedonia, about 100 kilometres away from Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. Mount Olympus has 52 peaks. The highest peak Mytikas, meaning "nose", rises to 2,917 metres...
. Elassona is bypassed by the GR-3
Greek National Road 3
Greek National Road 3 begins from Eleusis and heads north, passing Larissa, Florina and terminates at the border with the Republic of Macedonia in Niki, which from there links with the M3. The road is part of the E65. In the late 1980s, motorway bypasses have been constructed for the towns...
(Larissa
Larissa
Larissa is the capital and biggest 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...
- Kozani
Kozani
Kozani is a city in northern Greece, capital of Kozani regional unit and of West Macedonia region. It is located in the western part of Macedonia, in the northern part of the Aliakmonas river valley...
- Florina
Florina
Florina is a town and municipality in mountainous northwestern Macedonia, Greece. Its motto is, 'Where Greece begins'. It is also the Metropolitan seat for the region. It lies in the central part of Florina peripheral unit, of which it is the capital. Florina belongs to the periphery of West...
).
History
Unlike the rest of Thessaly, Elassona and the northern half of Thessaly did not join GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in 1881 as its battle for Greek annexation was unvictorious, only in the Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
saw the area liberated from the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
Turks
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
on October 6, 1912 by the Greeks and finally annexed the municipality and the region as well as the northern part of the prefecture to Greece.
Municipality
The municipality Elassona was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 9 former municipalities, that became municipal units:- Antichasia
- Elassona
- KaryaKarya, LarissaKarya is a village and a former community in the Larissa regional unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Elassona, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 1,086 . It is close to Mount Olympus, encouraging tourists' visits. The area has...
- LivadiLivadiLivadi is a town and a former municipality in the Larissa regional unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Elassona, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 3,187 . It borders the Pieria regional unit to the northeast, and the Kozani...
- OlymposOlympos, LarissaOlympos is a former municipality in the Larissa regional unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Elassona, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 3,588 . The seat of the municipality was in Kallithea. The municipality was named after the...
- Potamia
- SarantaporoSarantaporoSarantaporo is a village and a former municipality in the Larissa regional unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Elassona, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 3,588 . The town is near the mountain ranges of Kamvounio to the northwest...
- TsaritsaniTsaritsaniTsaritsani is a village and a shortlived community in the Larissa regional unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Elassona, of which it is a municipal unit. It was created as a community in 2006, when it was separated from the municipality of...
- VerdikousaVerdikousaVerdikousa is a village and a former community in the Larissa regional unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Elassona, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 2,236 ....
Subdivisions
The municipal unit of Elassona is divided into the following communities:- Elassona (Elassona, Agioneri, Aetorrachi, Mikro Eleftherochori)
- Drymos
- EvangelismosEvangelismos, LarissaEvangelismos is a settlement of the former municipal unit of Makrychori, which is belongs to the municipality of Tempi in the Larissa peripheral unit, Thessaly, Greece.Evangelismos has around 1000 inhabitants.-Reference:*-External links:*...
- Galanovrysi
- Kefalovryso
- Palaiokastro
- Stefanovouno (Stefanovouno, Lefki)
- Valanida (Valanida, Kleisoura)
Municipal changes
Until March 15, 2006, TsaritsaniTsaritsani
Tsaritsani is a village and a shortlived community in the Larissa regional unit, Thessaly, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Elassona, of which it is a municipal unit. It was created as a community in 2006, when it was separated from the municipality of...
was part of the municipality (now municipal unit) of Elassonas and functioned as a municipal district. Under the law 3448/15-3-2006, Tsaritsani got separated from the municipality and declared a commune. The loss of its population and land leaves the remaining municipality with an adjusted 2001 census population of 12,056 and a land area of 291.097 km².
Population
(Statistics, 1981-2001)| Year | Town population | Municipal district population | Municipality population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 7,146 | - | - |
| 1991 | 7,225 | - | 15,637 |
| 2001 | 7,233 | 7,762 | 14,563 |
Geography
Its geography includes farmlands in the valley areas, the mountains to the west and east and forests in the west and east as well as grasslands, ledges are to be founded in some areas and barren area in the higher elevations.The river Elassonitis (or Elassonitikos) and the Titarisio flow through Elassona and they both pour into the Pineios River
Pineios River (Thessaly)
The Pineiós is a river in Thessaly, Greece.The river is named after the god Peneus and was known for most of the 11th century as the Salambria. It flows from the Pindus mountains and empties into the Aegean Sea, northeast of Vale of Tempe, near Stomio. It creates a large delta, well-known for its...
, Thessaly's longest river. The river divides the town into two parts, the older city which is built on the Olympiotissa hill and is also Varosi or Varossi (Βαρόσι), and into the new sity which is in the right side of the bank of the river. These two parts of the city are connected by four bridges. The other part is near the Kefalovrysi Lake.
Transportation
Elassona is linked with the old GR-3 and is bypassed to the east. Elassona is located 70 km southwest of KateriniKaterini
Katerini is a town in Central Macedonia, Greece, the capital of Pieria regional unit. It lies on the Pierian plain, between Mt. Olympus and the Thermaikos Gulf, at an altitude of 14 m. The town, which is one of the newest in Greece, has a population of 83,764...
, 38 km NNW of Larissa
Larissa
Larissa is the capital and biggest 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...
(old: about 50 km), 22 km NW of Tyrnavos
Tyrnavos
Tyrnavos is a municipality in the Larissa regional unit, of the Thessaly region of Greece. Tyrnavos is the prefecture's third largest community within the Larissa prefecture. The town is near the mountains and the Thessalian Plain. The river Titarisios, a tributary of the Pineios, flows through...
(old: 30 km), east of Deskati
Deskati
Deskati is a municipality in the Grevena peripheral unit, Greece.Deskati is famous for its Andromana, an event that happens at the end of spring, where men stand on each other's shoulders to create a large structure with their bodies...
and Grevena
Grevena
Grevena is a town and municipality in Greece, capital of the Grevena peripheral unit. The town's current population is 10,447 citizens; it lies about 400 km from Athens and about 180 km from Thessaloniki. The municipality's population is 30,564...
and 78 km ESE of Kozani
Kozani
Kozani is a city in northern Greece, capital of Kozani regional unit and of West Macedonia region. It is located in the western part of Macedonia, in the northern part of the Aliakmonas river valley...
.