Culture of Larisa. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

The city of Larissa is one of the oldest in the world, it was founded over 4,000 years ago. Today, many unique ancient attractions can be found in the city and its immediate vicinity. The ruins of an ancient theater, which was officially recognized as one of the oldest in Greece, are preserved within the city. The ancient ruins lie on the top of Frourio Hill that is presently located in the heart of the city.

Over decades of research, archaeologists have managed to partially restore the old structure. Many years ago, the amphitheater could accommodate up to 10,000 spectators at a time. The ancient theater was built in the 3rd century BC by order of Philip V of Macedon. It was used for holding theatrical performances for the royal family, as well as for organizing mass meetings. The amphitheater was in active operation until the 6th century AD, and then it gradually fell into decay and collapsed.

One of the main cultural centers of Larissa is the Archaeological Museum. It has gathered the most valuable exhibits discovered by researchers in the region. The opening of the museum took place in 1924, initially it occupied the old monastery building. The museum was non-public for the first 30 years of its existence, only researchers and scientists could visit it. The museum became available to the public in 1957, its collection has expanded hundreds of times over the years. It is continuously replenished with new exhibits found in the region even today. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

A very beautiful old mansion houses the Folklore History Museum whose collection is also striking with its diversity. This museum is one of the largest of its kind in Greece, housing a unique collection of folklore exhibits that was established in 1974. Rich collections of national costumes of various periods, traditional musical instruments and craft attributes are kept within its walls today. The museum's collection currently consists of about 20,000 exhibits, and it is simply impossible to see them all within one tour. The museum holds many thematic programs, among which there are special ones for children. It also serves as a permanent venue for interesting workshops on traditional crafts.

The city has many unique religious attractions, including the ancient Temple of Saint Achilles. It was built 300 years after the death of Achilles, near the tomb of the patron saint. The ancient temple almost entirely lies in ruins on the top of a hill. Local residents are still considering these places as sacred, associating many amazing legends and stories with them. On religious holidays, many pilgrims always come to worship the ruins of the temple.

The main religious center of the city is the modern temple Ieros Naos Agiou Achilliou. The very first church was built on its site at the beginning of the 18th century. A few years after the consecration, it was destroyed by the Turkish conquerors, however, the townspeople have managed to restore it quickly. Later, the shrine was seriously affected by an earthquake that happened in the region in 1794. After the disaster, the temple and many other urban structures lay in ruins and there were no funds to restore them. The old church's reconstruction began only in the 20th century and was fully completed in 1941.

Now the temple is striking in its grandeur, it was built in compliance with the beautiful traditions of past centuries. Its exterior is adorned with unique elements of the decoration in the Byzantine style. Only authentic antiques were used for designing the interiors. In the evenings, the temple is artistically illuminated, so many come to admire the view after sunset. Every year on May 15, residents of Larissa celebrate a holiday in honor of their patron saint. On this day, they always hold solemn ceremonies in the temple.

Not far from the main city temple is an interesting Ottoman monument - the old covered market. The 15th-century historic building somehow managed to avoid destruction during major wars and numerous earthquakes. The market is still active, many tourists visit it just to admire its beautiful old design. It's hardly possible to leave the main city market that is striking with an abundance of goods without making a purchase. Here they present the best regional products, as well as popular souvenirs and all kinds of handicrafts.