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.