Karditsa

Karditsa is also the old name of Akraifnio in Boeotia.
Karditsa
Καρδίτσα

Street in Karditsa
Karditsa

Coordinates: 39°22′N 21°55′E / 39.367°N 21.917°E / 39.367; 21.917Coordinates: 39°22′N 21°55′E / 39.367°N 21.917°E / 39.367; 21.917
Country Greece
Administrative region Thessaly
Regional unit Karditsa
Government
 • Mayor Fotis Alexakos
Area
 • Municipality 647.4 km2 (250.0 sq mi)
 • Municipal unit 110.1 km2 (42.5 sq mi)
Elevation 108 m (354 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Municipality 56,747
 • Municipality density 88/km2 (230/sq mi)
 • Municipal unit 44,002
 • Municipal unit density 400/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Community[1]
 • Population 39,119 (2011)
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code 431 00
Area code(s) 24410
Vehicle registration ΚΑ
Website www.karditsa-city.gr

Karditsa (Greek: Καρδίτσα, Greek pronunciation: [karˈðit͡sa]) is a city in western Thessaly in mainland Greece. The city of Karditsa is the capital of Karditsa regional unit.

Inhabitation is attested from 9000 BC. Karditsa ls linked with GR-30, the road to Karpenisi, and the road to Palamas and Larissa. Karditsa is south-west of Palamas and Larissa, west of Farsala and the Volos area, north-west of Athens, Lamia, Domokos and Sofades, north of Karpenisi, north-east of Arta, and east-south-east of Trikala, Grevena, Ioannina, and Kalampaka.

Karditsa has schools, lyceums, gymnasium, the Veterinary Medicine Department of the University of Thessaly, three technical education departments, church, banks, a post office, a railway station on the Trikala - Karditsa - Domokos line, a sports ground, a water tower, and squares. Karditsa is one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in Greece with an extensive network of bicycle paths. Approximately 30% of all the city transportation, according to the National Technical University of Athens, is done by bicycles.

History

View of the cathedral church of Saints Constantine and Helena.
Plastiras' Lake, near the city.

During the period of Ottoman rule in Thessaly, the main settlement in the location of modern Karditsa was called Sotira,.[2] 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.[3]

Karditsa was incorporated as a new city in 1882, the year after its liberation from the Ottoman Empire.

During World War II, the resistance in Thessaly was fought primarily by the ELAS. In March 12, 1943 Karditsa was the first city in Europe to be liberated from Nazi occupation in the campaign fought by the ELAS.

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:[4]

The municipality has an area of 647.3878 km2, the municipal unit 110.086 km2.[5]

Subdivisions

The municipal unit of Karditsa is divided into six parts (communities):

Historical population

Statue of Nikolaos Plastiras (1883-1953) in Karditsa.
Year Municipal unit Municipality
1991 32,884 55,702
2001 35,750 57,089
2011 38,554 56,747

Culture

Sports

Karditsa has many clubs in various sport. The most of them are active in football such as Anagennisi Karditsa, AO Karditsa, Asteras Karditsa and Elpides Karditsas. The club SPA Karditsa is active in volleyball.

Sport clubs based in Karditsa
Club Founded Sports Achievements
Anagennisi Karditsas1904 Football Earlier presence in Beta Ethniki
AO Karditsa1966Football Earlier presence in Beta Ethniki
SPA Karditsa1987VolleyballPresence in A2 Ethniki volleyball
Elpides Karditsas1994FootballPresence in A Ethniki women

References

  1. 1 2 "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
  2. ↑ Arrowsmith, John. Turkey in Europe. 1832.
  3. ↑ Leake, William Martin. Travels in Northern Greece. (1835).
  4. ↑ Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (Greek)
  5. ↑ "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
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