Greece to Catalonia and Poland

Thessaly possess the central part of Greece, and Karditsa more concretely her western sector. The Greek nature gave generously in the prefecture the privilege to combine mountain and plain. A union of mountainous arm of “Pindos” with the wider Thessalian plain. A picture that really is magic. Historically, from the 2nd millenium A.C ,in the region, “Pelasgoi” lived. They descended from the ancientest races of Indoeuropean sector. Little later, “Aioleis” went down from northern, installed in the region, and in fusion with “Pelasgoi” created an alloy of population of Thessaly from which today we have the honour to consider ourselves as descendants.
Today, in the plain of prefecture Karditsa, the heart of local economy of region strikes. A region with clearly rural character but also with small industries for the manufacture of rural products. Karditsa and the neighbouring prefecture of Larissa, are considered the backbone of rural growth for the country. Karditsa has immense extents, and is offered for exploitation of dynamic cultures, as cotton, maize, industrial tomata, cane, wheat etc. Thessalian ground give in cultivators rich harvest and in combination with the local factories of rural goods that undertake the trade and export, the rythm of growth of region develops rapidly and standard of living of residents goes up continuously.
The region of flat department of Karditsa is scattered with small and big villages, with bigger municipalities and generally it leads to the city of Karditsa, for which we will report with details. It deserves to remain in the description of region of prefecture making report in his more beautiful piece, the mountainous. The mountain range of “Pindos” is extension of “Deinarikes Alpeis, which in the Greek space begins from Hellenic-Albanian borders and leads to the northern Corinthian gulf.
This gives in the region his more beautiful department. Mountain tops accessible and hospitable. They generously open their embraces in the visitor of mountain, sunk in their vegetation, so much diverse from his rich flora. They are the famous mountains of “Agrafa” (means unwritten). They have a deep green colour in the Spring and summertime. In automnal months colour is changing. The mountains become gold-yellow and brown and they make the landscape resemble as magic paint. In winter they completely change character from the snow and they become shining white. They have nothing to envy from Alpes. These mountains were in past (2 civil war) a place for resistance and shelters of Greek fighters against conquerors of country. For this the name “Agrafa” , because no conqueror could have a full control of mountain residents. So there was not demography on mountains.
These mountains have inhabitants from prehistoric years. Today there are only persons that deal with the livestock-farming and tourism. Persons with love for their place, activated themselves there, in the frames of agri-tourism, a program promoted and economically strengthened from E. U. The result is that visitor there finds all essential in order to pass pleasantly his mountainous vacations.
There are hotels, restaurants, taverns, coffee-shop. The visitor will know the warmth and the hospitality of residents of region. Also there is and a very beautiful place. Lake Megdova or Lake Plastira. An artificial lake in 700 metres altitude where green of mountain is linked with splendid light blue the Greek Sky. A real ornament, creation of vision of local patriot and politician “Nikolaos Plastiras”, for this is said also differently Lake Plastira. Also the one that will choose “Agrafa” for vacations can taste the traditional foods of place, foods that he does not even find in the better restaurants of some cities Also for nature-lovers, the mountain offers places where they can make their walk and cycling. Everywhere the guest can feel peacefulness and calm
The only negative point is that is somehow difficult to drive car here, because the road network is narrow . Finally however there are overwhelmed efforts from local authorities to solve this problem creating new roads. It is also in development, a ambitious plan to build a ski centre in the region “Karava” after some years.
Now we go down from the mountain and go at straight line to the city of Karditsa. It is the soul of prefecture and his capital. A city of 50.000 residents with clearly rural and commercial character. She is built in that point that the Ajoleis established in 1200 A.C a city, “Arni, as “Homer says , capital of their kingdom. It is found in western Thessaly only few kilometres from the fringes of “Agrafa”.
Making a historical retrospection in the past of city we can report concisely that the season of Troian war it covered period of prosperity. With other near to this cities, “Ithomi” , Titanic, Arni, ancient Karditsa took part in the expedition against Troy , participating with big numbers of boats and soldiers. In the period of Persian wars in the 5th century, the city avoided to involve in the conflict with “Perses”, as it avoided also to take part in the big civilian, war “Peloponnisiako”. Abstention from these wars contributed to progress of civilization of city.
One century later, when Great Alexander linked all the Greek cities- states, ancient citizens of Karditsa took part in his big expedition to the distant East, with many soldiers and particularly with their appreciable and well-trained cavalry. It is well-known, that the region of Thessaly had the better martial horses. Later, when in the Hellenistic Kingdoms of Empire of Alexandros befell the decline, the city followed the fate of other Greek cities, with result her conquest by Romen. It was released as other regions of Greece on 3rd century with the foundation of Byzantine empire. The city restarts the period of acne without however to avoid raids and pillages by various North populations as “Gotthoi”, “Vandal, Fragoi, etc. This acne bore up to 1400.Afterwards the city was conquered by Turk.
That kept 400 years. In the period of Ottoman domination it took also her current name as Karditsa. When in 1880 it was released after bloody fights in remainder Greece, it began to find her rythm and to be developed in order to lead to current situation.
It deserves to mark, that Karditsa possesses the following positive point. It is the first city of Europe that was released by ‘nazistiki' possession in 1949, thanks to armed fight that made against German conqueror by the local fighters partisans, while still entire Europe was under “Hitler”.
Current population is Greeks, descendants of “Aioleis” and has the name”Karagounides”. The residents of Karditsa are been famous in the Greek nation for their hospitality, cordiality and warmth of their soul. Because of this, several economic immigrants of other countries live and work in the city. Kardjtsjotes accepted them as their family, as well as and anyone foreigner visitor. In her picture as city, Karditsa, joins two elements. Urban and rural. The first with multi-floor buildings, public services, organisms of common profit, big squares, commercial centres, the second with the detached houses in outer regions and cultivable extents around the city.
The road network in and outside from Karditsa are excellent shaped. Because of his geographically place -it is found precisely in the centre of country- the roads offer in the residents comfortable and fast access in the around neighbouring cities Larissa, Trikala and Volos. In Karditsa a lot of bicycles circulate and for this reason local authorities manufactured in the city special bicycle-roads for their comfortable passage. Because of the big number of bicycles the residents of city named it “Pekino” of Greece.
There are three big hotels Kierion, “Arni and Astro that have the possibility to provide in the visitors pleasant and comfortable stay with services. There are also smaller enterprises of rented rooms.
Friends of the reading can find in the municipal library any book they like. In the effort to upgrade the culture of city, was founded municipal kinimatotheatre and art gallery. In specific, big and known actors of Athens and Thessalonica, honour with their presence, the theatre of city, presenting appreciable work. There are also Archaeological and Folklore museum, where the visitors can admire the archaeological discoveries of region remnants of distant past and the traditionally popular work of art. For the education of young persons, there are many municipal schools and kindergartens, several high schools and lykea, a lot of technical faculties, technical institutes, and a night lyceum, from where I write these words. There are also faculties of superior education, for students of academic study as polytechnic colleges and Veterinary Faculty.
In the centre of city you can find “Paysilypo”, a park of unvaluable natural beauty, one pleasant music of nature, in the concrete character of city. There, one can pass certain hours of quietness and insouciance under thick shadow of the trees, enjoying simultaneously his coffee in the adjacent refreshment stand. For this was given in the park the name “Paysilypo” that means pause of sorrow. Coming out from the Paysilypo you find yourself precisely above in the bigger square of city, plaza Plastira. It was thus named from the local hero of 1st World War and the war of Minor Asia “Nikolaos Plastiras”, later Prime Minister of Country. Plaza gives in small and big moments of game and walk.
The city possesses many commercial shops for the cover of citizens’ needs in the recovery of material goods. There are also enough cafeterias in the pedestrian zones and in the squares to offer moments of relaxation. For the devoted in nightlife, the city abounds in night clubs and in centres with live popular music.
The gastronomic needs of citizens and visitors are fulfilled by the many restaurants with local and European cookery, taverns and numerous fast food stores.
For those who want to escape from the city, the near mountains of Agrafa offer generously their allurements. In addition to those, some of the near settlements allocate various archaeological discoveries to demonstrate to visitors. Such as the near community of Metropolis with the ruins of the temple of Aphrodite, the settlement of “Ethomis” Tower with the walls of the palace of the ancient queen “Ethomi”, the Byzantine castle of the village “Fanari”, a lot of medieval and Byzantine season monasteries and much more archaeological sights. For more information, anyone can be supplied with instructive tourist leaflets from the kiosks of the city or the tourist offices.
The city possesses the advantage of being found in a very small distance from the beaches of Aegean Sea and Pagasitikos gulf. If someone desires a taste of summer, he can take a dip into the sea which can be easily reached by car or by bus into a length of time less than an hour. All of this thanks to the most excellent and brand-new road network.
Finally for the transfers, in the city are disposed many buses of urban transport, enough taxis, as well as certain enterprises of rented cars.
This it is Karditsa, a city alive and cheerful. It deserves at least one visit. During this visit people will meet hospitable simply good-hearted individuals, with cheerful faces.
Anyone who leaves from the city will keep the best recollections and the expectation of return.