Trikala (regional unit)

Trikala

Περιφερειακή ενότητα
Τρικάλων
Trikala Περιφερειακή ενότητα; Τρικάλων
Regional unit
	Municipalities of Trikala
	Trikala Trikala within Greece
	Coordinates: 39°40′N 21°40′E / 39.667°N 21.667°E
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Thessaly
Seat	Trikala
Area
• Total	3,383.48 km2 (1,306.37 sq mi)
Population (2021)
• Total	122,081
• Density	36/km2 (93/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	42x xx
Area code(s)	243x0
Vehicle registration	ΤΚ
Website	www.trikala.gr

Trikala (Greek: Περιφερειακή ενότητα Τρικάλων) is one of the regional units of Greece, forming the northwestern part of the region of Thessaly. Its capital is the city of Trikala. The regional unit includes the town of Kalampaka and the Meteora monastery complex and the mountain range of south Pindus with its destinations (i.e. Pyli's stone bridge, Elati, Pertouli, Palaiokarya's stone bridge and waterfall, Pertouli Ski Center etc.)

Geography

Trikala borders the regional units of Karditsa to the south, Arta to the southwest, Ioannina to the west, Grevena to the north and Larissa to the east.

The southeastern part belongs to the Thessalian Plain. The forested Pindus mountain range dominates the western part. The northern part of Trikala is also mountainous and made up of forests and barren lands, the ranges here are Chasia and Antichasia. Its major river is the Pineios, flowing to the south and east.

Its climate is mainly of Mediterranean character, with hot summers and cold winters, along with temperate climate conditions by the mountains.

Administration

The regional unit Trikala is subdivided into 4 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):^[2]

Farkadona (4)
Meteora (2)
Pyli (3)
Trikala (1)

Prefecture

Trikala was created as a prefecture (Greek: Νομός Τρικάλων) in 1882. As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Trikala was created out of the former prefecture Trikala. The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.^[2]

New municipality	Old municipalities	Seat
Farkadona	Farkadona	Farkadona
	Oichalia
	Pelinnaioi
Meteora	Kalampaka	Kalampaka
	Aspropotamos
	Vasiliki
	Kastania
	Kleino
	Malakasi
	Tymfaia
	Chasia
Pyli	Pyli	Pyli
	Aithikes
	Gomfoi
	Myrofyllo
	Neraida
	Pialeia
	Pindos
Trikala	Trikala	Trikala
	Estiaiotida
	Kallidendro
	Koziakas
	Megala Kalyvia
	Paliokastro
	Paralithaioi
	Faloreia

Provinces

Trikala prefecture had two provinces, named Trikala and Kalampaka, after the two largest towns.

Province of Trikala
Province of Kalampaka

Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status in Greece.

History

The area of Trikala was relatively obscure in ancient Thessaly, as well as during the periods of Macedonian, Romans, and Byzantine rule. Under the Ottomans, Trikala was known as "Tırhala" and became the seat of the Sanjak of Tirhala, encompassing most of Thessaly, until the late 18th century. Despite a number of rebellions against Ottoman rule, the area remained under Ottoman control until joined with the independent Kingdom of Greece in 1881.

Upon annexation by Greece, Trikala became the seat of one of the two prefectures in which Thessaly was divided (the other being Larissa Prefecture). The area was briefly occupied by the Ottomans again during the Greco-Turkish War of 1897, and by the Italians and Germans during the Axis occupation of Greece in World War II. In 1947, the southern part was split off as Karditsa Prefecture.

Economy

Agriculture

The agriculture of the area is famous, and produces a part of the country's production also in export. Its well-known production includes fruit and vegetables, cotton, olives, cattle and other foodstuffs.

Communications

Newspapers

I Enimerosi
I Erevna
dialogos-weekly newspaper of Trikala "t.24310-33263,fax.2431-500059" www.issuu.com/dialogosnews

Transport

There are a number of highways and the main railway from Volos to Meteora crosses Thessaly. The region is directly linked to the rest of Europe through International Airport of Central Greece located in Nea Anchialos in a small distance from Trikala. In the 1980s, the Trikala Bypass was opened and between 1998 and 2006, the Via Egnatia was under construction with tunnels and bridges ; the first section was opened in 2002, and the final section in 2006.