| Trikala Περιφερειακή ενότητα Τρικάλων |
|
|---|---|
| — regional unit — | |
| Municipalities of Trikala | |
| Trikala within Greece | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Greece |
| Region | Thessaly |
| Capital | Trikala |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3,384 km2 (1,306.6 sq mi) |
| Population (2005) | |
| • Total | 137,723 |
| • Density | 40.7/km2 (105.4/sq mi) |
| Postal codes | 42x xx |
| Area codes | 243x0 |
| ISO 3166 code | GR-44 |
| Car plates | ΤΚ |
| Website | www.trikala.gr |
Trikala (Greek: Περιφερειακή ενότητα Τρικάλων) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Thessaly. Its capital is the town of Trikala. The regional unit includes the town of Kalampaka and the Meteora monastery complex.
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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 name means 'Three good', good water, good weather and good earth.
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.
The regional unit Trikala is subdivided into 4 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):[1]
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.[1]
| New municipality | Old municipalities | Seat |
|---|---|---|
| Farkadona | Farkadona | Farkadona |
| Oichalia | ||
| Pelinnaioi | ||
| Kalampaka | Kalampaka | Kalampaka |
| Aspropotamos | ||
| Vasiliki | ||
| Kastania | ||
| Kleinos | ||
| Malakasi | ||
| Tymfaia | ||
| Chasia | ||
| Pyli | Pyli | Pyli |
| Aithikes | ||
| Gomfoi | ||
| Myrofyllo | ||
| Neraida | ||
| Pialeia | ||
| Pynda | ||
| Trikala | Trikala | Trikala |
| Estiaiotida | ||
| Kallidendro | ||
| Koziakas | ||
| Megala Kalyvia | ||
| Paliokastro | ||
| Paralithaioi | ||
| Faloreia |
Trikala prefecture had two provinces, named Trikala and Kalampaka, after the two largest towns.
Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status in Greece.
The area around the modern Trikala Prefecture was first with Thessaly, later moving to Macedonian rule, and subsequently run by the Romans, the Byzantines, the Slavs, the Vlachs and lastly the Ottomans. Trikala was known as "Tırhala" for Turks and a sanjak center in Ioannina eyalet. During their rule, the area was affected by the Greek War of Independence of 1821, lost an earlier struggle, and continued its Turkish rule until the liberation of Thessaly of 1881. Several villages were relocated to remain hidden from the Turks, and the area was finally incorporated into Greece after the liberation. The prefecture was occupied by Ottomans during Greco-Turkish War (1897). It was created and included Karditsa until 1947 ; its economy and agriculture boomed but its standard of living was somewhat lower than that of Athens.
Electricity and radio arrived in the city in the 1930s. After World War II and the Greek Civil War, a number of structures were rebuilt ; the prefecture saw a small growth in the 1950s and the 1960s, but growth slowed due to emigration. The villages saw their roads paved, their homes furnished with electricity, and improved motor transport and communication added. Television arrived in the 1970s, and as late as the 1980s for the rural portion.
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.
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.
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