Trikala

Trikala, Satellite image Trikala, Google Earth

Trikala (Greek: ) is a city and a prefecture in northwestern Thessaly, Greece. It is the capital of the Trikala (Trikkaia) prefecture. It contains Kalambaka, and Meteora with monasteries above the rocky ledges. It is located NW of Athens, NW of Karditsa, E of Ioannina and Metsovo, S of Grevena, SW of Thessaloniki and W of Larissa.

Located in the fertile plain of Thessaly in central Greece, modern Trikala is the Homeric Trica (Trikki), one of the places touted as the birthplace of Aesculapius (Asklepios). who is more often said to have been born at Epidaurus, where his main temple was situated in antiquity. Ruins of an old sanctuary to the physician-god, an Askepieion, or healing place, are located between the central square and the church of Saint Nicholas (Agios Nicolaos) in Trikala. It is the oldest Aesculapium of Greece. This was a kind of medical center, from which the worship of Aesculapius gradually spread.

There are other late Hellenistic and Roman period remains, mosaic floors, a stoa and a baths. Dominated by its Byzantine fortress on Hellenistic foundations occupying the ancient Acropolis, the picturesque city is divided into two by an old aqueduct. The churches of Agios Demetrios and Agii Anargyri lend more Byzantine character to the modern town.

Throughout the centuries Trikala has also been known as the watermelon (karpouzi) capital of Greece. One of its most famous citizens is Vasillis Tsitsanis, the greatest musician of modern Greece.

Trikala has two provinces.

Trikala is bounded by Karditsa to the south, Arta to the southwest, Ioannina to the west, Grevena to the north and Larissa to the east.

Trikala also has a hospital.

Sites of interests

The Asklepeion at Trikala, Website

Transportation

Greece Interstate 6, NW, N, Cen., SE
Greece Interstate 15, NW
Greece Interstate 30, SW, S

Places

Kalampaka
Trikala
Zarkos

Trikala, Trikala,

Aspropotamos plane (Acheloos River), Milia village, right the snow covered Mountain Kakarditsa (2429 m), Photo: Thodoris Kliafas.

Municipalities

Communities

City twinnings

Amberg, Germany

Persons

• Georgios Kondylis (August 14, 1879 - January 31, 1936 in Athens), a Greek politician
  
• Vassilis Tsitsanis (January 18, 1915 - January 18, 1984), a Greek singer and a songwriter
  
• Apostolos Kaldaras (Απόστολος Καλδάρας) (7.4.1922 Trikala - 8.4.1990 Athens) Greek songwriter
  
• Sotirios Kyrgiakos, a Greek football (soccer) player
  
• Vasileios Tsiartas (b. November 12, 1972 in Palaiochori Trikala)