EVENTS

The Municipality of Agia is located in the prefecture of Larissa in the region of Thessaly, with its seat in the town of Agia. It stretches from the foothills of Mount Ossa in the east to the Aegean Sea in the west, covering an area of 668.26 square kilometers. The municipality has a population of more than 14,000, who live in the four municipal units of Agia, Evrymenes, Lakeria, and Melivia.

The municipality has all the elements that can make Agia a place of residence for digital nomads. Almost all services are available, there is an extensive market as well as several dining and leisure areas.

The municipality itself meets all the necessary requirements, combining them with a beautiful natural landscape. In addition, its proximity to the city of Larissa (36 km) ensures easy and quick access to the necessary infrastructure.

The General Hospital of Larissa, which has 10 clinics in the Pathology Department and 8 in the Surgery Department.

The University of Thessaly with 9 modern departments.

The Larissa Railway Station

The other major cities of Thessaly are about an hour away from Agia, while Thessaloniki is only two hours away by car.

Agricultural products

Due to the fertile lowland soil, the region's economy has traditionally been focused on the primary sector. In Agia, the cultivation of apples, chestnuts, and cherries is widespread, and these fruits are known for their taste and quality.

Local agricultural products are celebrated in festivals organized in the villages of the municipality, highlighting the rich production of the region while at the same time attracting visitors to the villages. With music, refreshments, dance events, and theater, farmers and residents express their joy for the harvest.

Corn and Kiwi Festival in the village of Omolios (3rd Saturday of August).

Cherry Festival in Metaxochori (mid-June)

Apple Festival in Agia (early September)

Chestnut Festival in Karitsa (third week of October)

Τοurism

However, its proximity to the sea and urban centres of Thessaly, its natural landscape and privileged location have made the municipality a tourist destination. This is true both during the summer months, when visitors from Greece and abroad prefer the coastal areas of Agiokampos, Stomio, and Karitsa, and during the winter season, when the main destination is the nature of Kissavos.

The multitude of monasteries and Byzantine monuments within easy reach make Agia an ideal destination for religious tourism . The Mountain of the Cells stands out, as the area became known in Byzantine times, when a group of monasteries and hermitages developed, with a large number of monks and an administration similar to that of Mount Athos.

However, throughout the municipality there are Byzantine and post-Byzantine churches as well as functioning monasteries.

Museums

The area has several museums related to its rich history: Cultural Center: Agion Antonion, which houses a priceless collection of post-Byzantine icons. Ecclesiastical Museum in the village of Anatoli, Omolio Agricultural Exhibition "Marinos Antypas" with a rich folklore collection, Melivia Archaeological Collection, which houses Byzantine sculptures, ceramics, frescoes, and coins from recent excavations in the Kissavos area, etc.

Thermal Springs

A small stone basin from the oldest settlements in the area, but also one of the first bathing destinations in Greece in the early 1900s. The settlement took its name from the nearby spring, with its pools of cold thermal water. with healing properties for all uses. The water is considered invigorating, rich in minerals, and therapeutic for anemia, nervous disorders, lethargy, and indigestion.

The municipality and the region are also methodically moving forward with the exploitation of the thermal water from the Kokkino Nero spring by investing in its bottling.

Culture

The architectural landscape of the municipality of Agias is dominated by mansions located both in the town and in Mataxochori. Built in the early 20th century, they bear witness to the economic development of the region, which was based on sericulture. Among them, the mansion of the Alexouli family stands out. It was built in the 18th century and is one of the largest buildings in Thessaly in terms of area and volume.

Old Girls' School. Cultural Center, Metaxochori

Built in the mid-19th century, the two-story stone building on the edge of Metaxochori operated as a girls' school called "Parthenagogio" from 1880. Over the years, it has been used for many purposes but was also abandoned until its restoration and utilization by the Metaxochori Cultural Association, which brought it back to life.

The building now houses the Association's cultural activities, annual events, exhibitions, lectures, etc., while on the first floor there is a folklore collection that highlights the recent past and economy of the area through photographs, costumes, everyday objects, and tools.

Sports

The modern, renovated Agia Indoor Gymnasium is located in the town of Agia. The gymnasium hosts the region's sports clubs and championships, while also remaining available to residents. The Gymnasium is another part of Thessaly's sporting tradition.

Perhaps the most popular sporting event in the region is the Kissavos Marathon Race, which takes place every April and attracts hundreds of participants.

Γιάννης Λουκας, Ιστορικός – Δημοσιογράφος