10 Reasons to Visit Larissa: Museums, Day Trips, Larissa, Greece

One of Greece’s most populous cities, Larissa is known for its notable history which spans for over 10,000 years. Nominated as the European Capital of Culture 2021, Larissa’s prime location has contributed to the city’s affluent past. Mentions of Larissa were recorded in Book II of Iliad by Homer and it is here that the Father of Medicine, Hippocrates left his last breath.

An Open City - a term used by the locals to describe Larissa, is in fact quite fitting as you traverse through a town with an impressive pedestrian infrastructure, and as you progress further into the centre, you are greeted by a monumental ancient theatre - which subtly highlights the importance of preserving history we’ve inherited from our ancestors. We are our history, and we must embrace it for the benefit of our future.

Since antiquity the area around Larissa held significant importance in agricultural activity, it was also known for its horses. Today, visitors to Larissa and the surrounding region can admire historic remains of an advanced civilization, traces of which date back to the Palaeolithic period.

During the Roman period, Larissa became an ally of Rome and it is here that the Thessalian League established its headquarters. Later came a period of instability under the Ostrogoths who destroyed the city during the late 5th century. It was then rebuilt by the Byzantine emperor Justinian. Then came the brief Bulgarian conquest and the Fourth Crusade, when the city was given to the Lombard barons. The Ottomans conquered Larissa, not once but twice and the city took the name Yeni-şehir i-Fenari meaning the “new citadel”. Larissa became a Muslim city and trade flourished during the 17th and 18th centuries. During the Greek War of Independence, Hursid Pasha established his headquarters in Larissa and the city remained under the Ottoman rule until 1881, when Thessaly became part of the Kingdom of Greece. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).