THE CITY OF LARISSA IN GREECE

Larissa is the capital city of the Thessaly periphery of Greece and the capital of the Larissa Prefecture . It is a principal agricultural centre and a national transportation hub, linked by rail with the port of Volos and with Thessaloniki and Athens. The population of the greater area is around 250,000 and it is the fourth largest city in Greece. A major commercial and industrial centre, Larissa sits in the middle of the plain of Thessaly, a few kilometers off the Athens-Thessaloniki National Road. According to archaeological evidence, the capital of Thessaly, Larissa, lies atop a site that has been inhabited since the tenth millennium before Christ.

Larissa is bordered by extremes; the North is dominated by the imposing presence of Mount Olympus, while to the South and Southwest lies the great plain of Thessaly, the largest in Greece, a gold-green image which gently fades into the deep blue expanse of the Aegean Sea. Legend has it that Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, died here. Larisa is a city that combines the remains and color of the long passed Turkish rule and the Ottoman culture, with the Hellenic cultural and architectural style of the beginnings of the 20th century.

A city that also combines the tranquillity and the relaxed rhythm of the lazy river of Pinios, the many storks that build their nests on the tallest buildings of the city and the sleepy movements of the river fishermen, along with the hubbub of a busy, bustling town. After many years of uncontrolled growing the city has managed, to restore a harmonic relationship with its river and the surrounding environment in general.

The site of the excavations of the ancient theater of the city, located at its very center, have caused a major transformation of the city, that brings it more close to its origins, bonds it tightly to the surrounding environment and restores its classic atmosphere. The ancient city of the theater had a capacity of 10000 spectators. At the outskirts of the nearby town of Achileion the ruins of the local castle have been excavated. The ruins are dated back to the 15th century but the original compound was erected sometime during the late Neolithic period.

The visit to the Folklore and Historic museum of the city may be proved to be most rewarding for the traveler. Also rewarding is a visit to the city's National Gallery with its fine collection of paintings, only second in significance after the National Gallery of Athens.

There is no form of entertainment that can be sought within the city of Larissa without meeting satisfaction. Cafes, bars, night clubs, bouzouki halls, elegant restaurants, traditional taverns, theatres, cinemas, and a large market, are all available. The sports opportunities are limitless, as organized beaches are less than two hours distant from the skiing resorts and base camps for those who wish to climb to the peaks of the Mt. Olympus, home of the Olympian Gods, or Mt. Ossa (Kissavos), the base of their defeated rivals in the war for cosmic dominance, the great Titans.

AEL is a Greek association football club based in the city of Larissa.
The team currently competes in the Super League Greece. AEL was 2007 Greek Cup winner. AEL currently plays at the Alkazar stadium, AEL's home since 1964. However plans have been approved to build a new ground on the same site. The new AEL Arena will increase the capacity for AEL fans from 13,108 spectators to 21,000 and it will probably be completed in early 2009.

THE ALHAMBRA. ONE OF THE WORLD´S WONDERS

The Alhambra was a palace, a citadel, a fortress and home of the Nasrid Sultans, high government officials, servants of the court and elite soldiers of the Nasrid Dynasty (1238-1492), the last Islamic sultanate in the lberian Peninsula. Together with the Mezquita (Great Mosque) of Cordoba, the Alhambra is one of the most widely known of all Islamic works of art. The Nasrid Sultans chose as the site for their court the Sabika hill, one of the foothills of Sierra Nevada on the plain of Granada, which constituted an excellent site from which to keep watch over the capital of their kingdom and the surrounding area. From the beginning of the XIII century, the small older buildings, mainly watchtowers, some of which dated back to before the XI century, gradually grew into a huge walled site which clearly intended to be both palace and court.
Within this gradual change, different stages of development, grandeur and decadence can clearly be seen through the various works of art and buildings erected over the years. The Alhambra was not a single static construction, built at a specific date, but rather the result of an evolution, successive reforms and extensions.
Today, four groups of buildings can be identified on the Alhambra Palace hill:
Alcazaba (Fortress)
This military fortress was built on the oldest site of the Alhambra and served a purely military purpose as it was situated on the highest part of the hill, watching over the surrounding area.
Palacios Nazaríes (Nasrid Palaces)
The highlight of your visit to the Alhambra Palace will be the time you spend in the these Royal Palaces which consist of a number of brilliantly designed and decorated function rooms and courtyards that were used by the Muslim rulers for different purposes.
Generalife Gardens
Literally this means the garden of the architect. The area consists of beautiful gardens, fountains and patios where the Moorish leaders had their summer palace built.

Medina (town)
The Medina was created to house craftsmen and serve the needs of the court. It occupies the largest part of the walled area within the upper Alhambra and still conserves the ruins of several houses, baths and small workshops on its typical alleys and squares.

THE CITY OF GRANADA

Granada lies in the foothills of Spain's Sierra Nevada mountains. Many visitors to Spain believe that if there is only one place to visit then it should be Granada.
The city has a population of 240,000 of which 80,000 are students so there is a vibrant atmosphere about the place.
Apart from the University there is only one other major employer, the Alhambra Palace, which attracts over two million annual visitors and is key to a thriving tourism industry.
The Alhambra has been described as 'the Jewel of Moorish Spain' and visitors will be overwhelmed by its beauty.
First time visitors to Granada are surprised (and delighted) to find that the tapas culture thrives in this city. Not only are they good, they're also free! Just order a drink and in most bars you'll be given a tapa with it. No wonder so many Spanish students choose to spend their formative years here!

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