Karditsa (, ) is one of the
regional units of Greece. It is part of the
region
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as areas, zones, lands or territories, are portions of the Earth's surface that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and ...
of
Thessaly. Its name is derived from its capital
Karditsa, a town of approximately 56,000 people.
Administration
The regional unit Karditsa is subdivided into 6 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):
*
Argithea (2)
*
Karditsa (1)
*
Lake Plastiras (''Limni Plastiras'', 3)
*
Mouzaki (4)
*
Palamas (5)
*
Sofades (6)
Prefecture
Karditsa was created as a
prefecture () in 1899, and again in 1947. As a part of the
2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Karditsa was created out of the former prefecture Karditsa. The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.
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History
Encompassing the ancient geographical region of Thessaliotis, one of the four ancient districts of Thessaly, the present day Karditsa regional unit was in the Kingdom of Macedonia and later the Roman Empire
The Roman Empire ruled the Mediterranean and much of Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. The Roman people, Romans conquered most of this during the Roman Republic, Republic, and it was ruled by emperors following Octavian's assumption of ...
, the Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived History of the Roman Empire, the events that caused the ...
, the Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire (), also called the Turkish Empire, was an empire, imperial realm that controlled much of Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa from the 14th to early 20th centuries; it also controlled parts of southeastern Centr ...
from the 15th century until 1881 and finally Greece after the liberation of Thessaly. Its economy and agriculture boomed during that period; Karditsa was administered as the Trikala–Karditsa prefecture until 1947. It was affected by World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
and the Greek Civil War which saw many buildings destroyed and inhabitants left homeless and in hiding. The prefecture was later rebuilt and received electricity, appliances and motorised transport, while emigration also began in the 1950s, when construction of Lake Plastiras was added. Television arrived in the 1970s and the 1980s for its villages, and its economy later declined, seeing high unemployment in the prefecture.
Population
The population was 121,775 in 2001.
The plains of central and southern Karditsa are inhabited by the Karagounides (), while the Agrafa mountains in the west of the prefecture are dominated by a strong Sarakatsani () and Aromanian, or ''Vlach'' (), element.
Culture and education
The Public Market of Karditsa is one of UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO ) is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and International secur ...
's protected cultural monuments.
The city is also an important knowledge centre, supporting the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the Public and Community Health, Forestry and Wood Sciences, and Science of Foods and Nutrition, departments of the University of Thessaly. There is also a Police Academy.
Sporting teams
* Anagennisi Karditsa (''football'') - Karditsa (city) - second division
* A.O. Karditsa - Karditsa - local division
* Iraklis Sofades - Sofades
* Tavropos - Karditsa - fourth division
Notable residents
Archbishops:
* Damaskinos of Athens
* Seraphim of Athens Archbishop of Athens and all Greece
Athletes:
* Ioannis Bourousis
* Ekaterini Koffa
* Labros Papakostas
* Dimosthenis Tampakos
* Konstantinos Thanos
* Dimitrios Tsiamis
Military:
* Georgios Karaiskakis
Politicians:
* Charilaos Florakis
* Nikolaos Plastiras
* Dimitris Sioufas
* Spyros Taliadouros
Singers:
* Elena Paparizou
* Efi Thodi
Others:
* George Mitsikostas - Comedian
* Vassilis Papazachos - Seismologist
Famous Personalities from Karditsa
Antigoni Drisbioti, Helena Paparizou, Dimitris Mitropanos, Fotini Velesiotu, Dionisis Tsaknis, Kostas Kafasis, Konstantinos Thanos, Ioannis Bourousis
Nina Kaloutsa
Sakis Tsiolis, Vaios Karagiannis, Mimis Gkioulekas, Charilaos Florakis
G.Mpaltadoros
G.Siantos, N. Plastiras,
Transport
There are a number of highways E75 and the main railway from Volos to Meteora crosses Thessaly. The region is directly linked to the rest of Europe
Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
through International Airport of Central Greece located in Nea Anchialos in a small distance from Karditsa.
See also
* List of settlements in the Karditsa regional unit
References
External links
Municipality of Karditsa
*http://www.karditsa-net.gr/
Karditsa Wireless Metropolitan Network
Karditsas Wifi Community Network
*http://www.e-karditsa.gr/
{{Authority control
Prefectures of Greece
1899 establishments in Greece
Regional units of Thessaly