Karditsa
City in Thessaly, Greece
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Karditsa (Greek: Καρδίτσα, romanized: Kardítsa [karˈðitsa]) is a city in western Thessaly in mainland Greece. It is the largest city and the capital of the Karditsa regional unit. According to the 2021 census, the municipality of Karditsa has a population of 55,979, of whom 40,272 live within the city limits of Karditsa.
Karditsa
Καρδίτσα | |
|---|---|
| |
 | |
  Karditsa | |
| Coordinates: 39°22′N 21°55′E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Thessaly |
| Regional unit | Karditsa |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Vasileios Tsiakos[1] (since 2019) |
| Area | |
• Municipality | 647.4 km2 (250.0 sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 110.1 km2 (42.5 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 108 m (354 ft) |
| Population (2021)[2] | |
• Municipality | 55,979 |
| • Density | 86.47/km2 (223.9/sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 44,700 |
| • Municipal unit density | 406/km2 (1,050/sq mi) |
| • Community | 40,272 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 431 00 |
| Area code | 24410 |
| Vehicle registration | ΚΑ |
| Website | dimoskarditsas.gov.gr |
Climate
Karditsa has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification: Csa). Karditsa experiences hot, dry summers and cool winters with substantial precipitation.
| Climate data for Karditsa | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 10.25 (50.45) |
13.54 (56.37) |
11.76 (53.17) |
20.28 (68.50) |
25.29 (77.52) |
30.73 (87.31) |
32.31 (90.16) |
31.39 (88.50) |
27.78 (82.00) |
21.85 (71.33) |
15.33 (59.59) |
10.36 (50.65) |
20.91 (69.63) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.36 (41.65) |
6.83 (44.29) |
10.49 (50.88) |
14.86 (58.75) |
19.85 (67.73) |
25.59 (78.06) |
26.68 (80.02) |
25.38 (77.68) |
21.73 (71.11) |
15.95 (60.71) |
10.38 (50.68) |
6.47 (43.65) |
15.80 (60.43) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 1.94 (35.49) |
2.81 (37.06) |
5.28 (41.50) |
8.65 (47.57) |
13.08 (55.54) |
16.28 (61.30) |
17.75 (63.95) |
17.29 (63.12) |
13.91 (57.04) |
10.50 (50.90) |
5.49 (41.88) |
2.46 (36.43) |
9.62 (49.32) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 82.64 (3.25) |
77.22 (3.04) |
59.32 (2.34) |
62.20 (2.45) |
45.88 (1.81) |
19.50 (0.77) |
14.01 (0.55) |
16.78 (0.66) |
26.91 (1.06) |
91.44 (3.60) |
90.18 (3.55) |
91.01 (3.58) |
677.09 (26.66) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 113.51 | 122.05 | 165.50 | 206.01 | 267.05 | 330.90 | 333.92 | 310.91 | 237.76 | 170.41 | 121.35 | 102.84 | 2,482.21 |
| Source: Hellenic National Meteorological Service[3] | |||||||||||||
History
During the period of Ottoman rule in Thessaly, the main settlement in the location of modern Karditsa was called Sotira.[4] In 1810, the English traveler William Martin Leake mentioned a sprawling village named Kardhítza, consisting of between 500-600 houses, of which the majority of the inhabitants were Turkish.[5]
Karditsa was incorporated as a new city in 1882, the year after its liberation from the Ottoman Empire (1881).
During World War II, the resistance in Thessaly was fought primarily by the ELAS. On March 12, 1943 Karditsa was liberated temporarily by ELAS after the Italian capitulation.
In September 2020, the city was badly hit from catastrophic floods that resulted in 4 deaths.
Municipality
The municipality Karditsa was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 5 former municipalities, that became municipal units:[6]
The municipality has an area of 647.3878 km2, the municipal unit 110.086 km2.[7] Formerly, Karditsa had a neighbourhood known as Vlachomachalas, which was populated by Vlachs (Aromanians).[8]
Subdivisions
The municipal unit of Karditsa is divided into six parts (communities):[6]
- Agiopigi
- Artesiano
- Karditsa
- Karditsomagoula
- Palioklissi
- Rousso
Historical population
| Year | Community | Municipal unit | Municipality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 35,971 | 41,411 | - |
| 2011 | 39,119 | 44,002 | 56,747 |
| 2021 | 40,272 | 44,700 | 55,979 |
Education
Veterinary Medicine Department of the University of Thessaly which is one of only two Veterinary departments in Greece and three other university departments of the University of Thessaly based in the city.
Transport
Karditsa is served by trains on the Palaiofarsalos-Kalambaka line, with connections to both Athens and Thessaloniki.
Sports
Football clubs include Anagennisi Karditsa, ASK Karditsa, AO Karditsa, Asteras Karditsas (el) and Elpides Karditsas. SPA Karditsa (el) is a volleyball club.
| Sport clubs based in Karditsa | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Founded | Sports | Achievements |
| Anagennisi Karditsas | 1904 | Football | Presence in Beta Ethniki |
| AO Karditsa | 1966 | Football | Earlier presence in Beta Ethniki |
| ASK Karditsa | 2006 | Basketball | Presence in Alpha Ethniki |
| SPA Karditsa | 1987 | Volleyball | Presence in A2 Ethniki volleyball |
| Elpides Karditsas | 1994 | Football | Presence in A Ethniki women |
Notable people
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The two most prominent personalities of Greek history, who came from Karditsa, were the marshals–fighters:
- Georgios Karaiskakis, military commander and a leader of the Greek War of Independence
- Nikolaos Plastiras, general, politician and prime minister of Greece
Τhe Greek archbishop, Seraphim of Athens was also born and raised in Karditsa.
Other notable people associated with Karditsa are the following ones:
Politics
- Georgios Siantos, politician and Greek Resistance figure
- Charilaos Florakis, politician and leader of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE)
- Theodoros Anagnostopoulos, politician and member of parliament
- Evripidis Kafantaris, politician and writer
- Dimitris Sioufas, politician and former minister
- Kostas Tsiaras, politician and former minister
- Spyros Taliadouros, politician and former deputy minister
- Spyridon Lappas, politician and member of parliament
Arts and music
- Dimitris Yioldasis, artist and painter
- Helena Paparizou, singer and winner of 2005 Eurovision Song Contest
- Giorgos Valtadoros, painter and short story writer
- Thomas Bakalakos, composer and mathematician
- Pantelis Sabaliotis, painter, sculptor, and curator
- Fotini Velesiotou, rebetiko singer
- Dionysis Tsaknis, composer, lyricist, and singer
- Mimis Gioulekas, rebetiko and folk singer
- Efi Thodi, traditional Greek and pop music singer
Sports
- Labros Papakostas, high jumper and medalist at the World Indoor Championships
- Stefanos Tsitsipas, professional tennis player
- Konstantinos Thanos, wrestler and Olympic medalist
- Ioannis Bourousis, basketball Greek national team player
- Sakis Tsiolis, footballer and football manager
- Vaios Karagiannis, footballer
- Antigoni Drisbioti, race walker and gold medalist at European Championships
- Dimitrios Tsiamis, triple jumper and bronze medalist at European Championships
- Alexandros Papamichail, Olympic race walker
- Dimosthenis Tampakos, gymnast and Olympic gold medalist
- Panagiota Tsinopoulou, Olympic race walker
Sciences
- Vassilis Papazachos, professor and seismologist
- Evanthia Galanis, professor of oncology and molecular medicine
- Vaios T. Karathanos, chemical engineer and professor at the Harokopio University
- Christos Pitsavos, cardiologist and emeritus professor at the University of Athens
- Georgios Mantanis, professor, wood scientist and fellow of the IAWS
- Polycarpos Falaras, physicist and distinguished researcher at Demokritos Research Centre
- Thanasis Jamurtas, senior researcher and professor at the University of Thessaly
- Thanos Karathanos, chemist, oenologist and viticulturist
See also
Gallery
Lake Plastiras, near the city
Monument to Greco-Russian friendship at Lake Plastira
Dam of Sykia
View to Argithea
Stefaniada lake
