The region of Trikala has been populated since the prehistoric years and the first evidence of life in the cavern of Theopetra dates since 49.000 B.C. Also, Neolithic settlements have been discovered since 6.000 B.C in Megalo Kefalovryso and other localitities.

The city of Trikala is built on the ancient city Trikka or Trikki, which was founded around the 3rd Millennium B.C. and was named by the nymph Trikki, daughter of Penaeus or by the Asopos River.

The city was an important centre of antiquity, since Asklipios lived here and acted, who today constitutes the emblem of the municipality of Trikala and was also the king of the city.

Built in the Thessalian plain, the city of Trikala is a unique destination for those who want to enjoy an unusual natural beauty. Asklipios, the eminent doctor of antiquity, was born here and practiced medicine.

The picturesque river Lithaios that is also tributary of Penaeus, according to the mythology was the son of Oblivion. It flows through Trikala, giving an enchanting atmospere. The bridges that link the two banks of the river are many, but the most beautiful is the central bridge, that was manufactured in 1886 in France.

 Worth seeing:

The fortress

The imposing fortress dominates the north of the city of Trikala with the tower and the clock and it dates back to the classic and Hellenistic years.

It was reconstructed from the emperor of Byzantium Ioustinianos in the 6th century A.D. and it is reported in the golden sealed (1336) of Andronicus III Palaiologos. With a triple immurement, it possesses the place of the ancient akropolis, was surrounded by a wall of the classic era. The medieval fortress suffered a lot of transformations during the Ottoman domination after the Thessalian revolutions of 1854 and 1878.

The fortress includes the outdoor theatre where every summer the visitors can enjoy various theatrical performances. They can also visit the Tower of the Clock and admire from high the entire city and a big part of the Thessalian plain.

The most enchanting moment is the hour of the sunset. The visitor, seated on the steps of the Fortress, feels ecstatic from the spectacular view.

Lithaios River 

Trikala, due to the picturesque river Lithaios, that crosses the city diagonally from the north to the west, is remarkably beautiful. Its two banks are connected with a lot of bridges, with most important the Central one. The last one was manufactured in 1886 in France from French engineers and is metallic. The banks of Lithaios have been shaped and embellished with very tall planes, wild chestnuts etc., and in combination with the trees of the around squares, they create a unique “green” environment in the centre of the city. The Lithaios, according to mythology, is the river of oblivion.

Central bridge 

The visitor can stand for a while on the central bridge and feel that he is standing in the center of the deck of a boat that is travelling along the Lithaios River. He can also sit on the benches and admire through the transparent windows of glass the flow of the waters of Lithaios.

If visitors turn their look towards the northern side, they will see on the opposite bridge, the statue of Asklipios - which is the work of the sculptor Theodoros Basilopoylos.

The waterfall on the base of the statue creates an unprecedented spectacle, specifically in the evening when the banks of Lithaios are lit up. The central bridge for pedestrians was manufactured in 1886 from French engineers and is metallic. Up to 1996 it functioned also as a bridge for vehicles. It links the most commercial street of Trikala, the road of Asklipios with the square of the Heroes of the Technical University.

Osman Shah Mosque( Koursoum tzami)

A rare monument as the Osman Shah Mosque wakes up memories of another historical era and it brings to the mind of the visitor pictures from the Eastern culture. It is found southern of the city after the entry from the side of Karditsa. The tradition says, that Prince Osman Sach, son of Sultan Suleiman (1520-1556) came to Trikala sick. Since he was cured in Trikala, he built this mosque.

It was built in the middle of the 16th century from the famous architect Sinan Pasha (1490-1588), who had Greek origin. The Koursoum is a characteristic monument of the Eastern architecture and it distinguishes for the splendid dome which is hemispheric and pencil covered –explaining its name, (koursoum=pencil).

The visitor feels awe because of its dimensions. Its diameter is 18m. and the top abstains from the ground roughly 22m. It is built from hewer stones and layers of red bricks. It is manufactured in a way that it has perfect acoustics. In the South of the Mosque the Toyrmpes (mausoleum) of Osman Sach is saved, that is an octagonal building with dome.

Its dimensions are 21,32X21, 38m., while the top of dome abstains from the ground 18m and is pencil covered (Koursoun Kaplamtis, in Turkish, from which its name emanated from). Ebligia Tselempi writes that “a similar one does not exist in any country…It’s a building full of light, elegant, rich, brilliant, a pleasant mosque, cute, exemplary”. It was built in the 16th century. Southern of the mosque is the elegant Tourmpes (=mausoleum) of Osman Sach (+1567-8.

In 1993 the Mosque was reconstructed and it’s a protected monument from UNESCO. Today events of a soft character are carried out, such as displays of art and speeches. The beautiful spectacle is completed by the fountain that someone finds in the entry and the abundance of greenery in the surrounding area.

The Mill of Matsopoulos

In the north-west of the city, on the way of Trikala-Arta, after the railway line, the park of the Mill Matsopoylos is found. It was manufactured in 1884 and in 1977 it was bequeathed to the Municipality of Trikala. In 1984 its operation stopped.

The complex of the Mill today constitutes a historical-industrial monument, is found in a greenery space. Aesthetically it draws the visitor’s attention not only by its large height but also by its exterior investment by stone and its internal installations that are wooden. 

The Mill today, which has been maintained, functions as cultural centre. The Municipal Cinema (summery-wintry), the Municipal Theatre and the Cafeteria function on a permanent base. A congress room also functions and a hall for cultural events.

Information: Matsopoulos Park, phone number.:(+30) 24310 20000

PROPHET ILIAS-ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN

In the northern district of the city, the pine covered hill of Prophet Ilias is located, with the cruciform chapel of the Prophet Ilias since 1896. 

Behind the chapel, at the location Ntapia, Neolithic monochrome shells were discovered. Under the hill precisely during the 1950’s a department of an early Christian royal (of the second half of 5th century) was excavated by from A. Orlando. 

An unforgettable experience for the visitor will remain a walk on the hill of Prophet Ilias, after the Fortress, where the Zoological Garden of the city is situated. The Zoological Garden expands throughout the whole natural green landscape.

It accommodates several species of animals and attracts people of all ages all year round. After the walk the visitor can rest at the Tourist Kiosk of Prophet Ilias.

The Zoological Garden functions daily from 11.00 a.m. until 7.00 p.m.

Information-Phone number: (+30) 24310 76617