Thessaly

Thessaly is a region of Greece located in the central part of the country. As a periphery, it consists of four regional units: Karditsa, Larissa, Magnesia, and Trikala, with Larissa serving as the regional capital. The region covers the Thessalian Plain, one of Greece’s largest agricultural basins, and is bounded by the Pindus mountains to the west and by the mountains of Olympus and Ossa to the north and east. The eastern coast touches the Aegean Sea, including the Magnesia coast and the Sporades islands off the coast of Magnesia.

Geography and environment: The Pineios and Peneus rivers flow through Thessaly. The Vale of Tempe, a narrow gorge, historically links Thessaly with Central Greece and has long been a major corridor for movement between the regions. The area includes a mix of lowland plains and mountain massifs, with agriculture supported by varied climates.

History: In antiquity, Thessaly was inhabited by the Thessalians, whose political organization—the Thessalian League—united several cities and played a significant role in Classical Greece. The region was renowned for horse breeding and cavalry. After centuries under Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman rule, Thessaly joined the modern Greek state in 1881. The 2011 Kallikratis reform reorganized local government into the four regional units under the Thessaly periphery.

Sites and economy: Meteora, a UNESCO World Heritage site, lies in the Trikala regional unit. Volos, in Magnesia, is a major port. Pelion and the Sporades islands are popular tourist destinations. The Thessalian plain supports cereal crops, tobacco, and dairy farming, contributing to a diversified economy that includes manufacturing and shipping.

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