Trikala

The Lithaios runs right through Trikala, dividing the city into the old quarter by the castle hill and the modern lower town. Several bridges cross it within a short distance; the most famous is the pedestrian bridge in the center with its cast-iron railing.Both banks are developed as promenades and planted with plane trees. Here, most of the city's cafés and Tsipouradika are located, and this is where Trikala meets for a stroll in the late afternoon.The river carries varying amounts of water depending on the season; in mid-summer, it can shrink to a trickle. The riverside paths are the most practical starting point for a tour, as the Castle, Varousi, and Mosque can each be reached in ten to fifteen minutes.

The mosaic in the centre commemorates Vassilis Tsitsanis, born in Trikala in 1915 and one of Rebetiko's most important composers. He composed several hundred songs, including “Synnefiasmeni Kyriaki,” created during the occupation period and still part of the standard repertoire today.Tsitsanis brought Rebetiko from the port taverns to a broad audience, shaping Greek popular music in the post-war decades. In his birthplace, his name adorns streets, squares, and establishments.Also worth visiting is the Tsitsanis Museum, housed in the former 1895 prison building, a few minutes' walk away in the city centre.

The Castle of Trikala stands on the hill above the city, where the Acropolis of Trikki was located in antiquity. According to Procopius, the first construction dates back to Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, but its current form was largely acquired during the Palaiologan period in the 14th century, with later expansions by the Ottomans.On the east side stands the Clock Tower, which the Ottomans erected in the mid-17th century. It was destroyed in World War II and rebuilt after the war. Today, the castle grounds are laid out as a park, with paths under old trees and views across the plain to the Pindos mountains.The ascent from the river takes about fifteen minutes on foot and leads through the Varousi quarter.

Varousi is the old quarter on the slope between the castle and the river, where the Christian population of Trikala lived until the end of Ottoman rule. Well-preserved houses from the 18th and 19th centuries feature wooden bay windows, courtyards, and high walls facing the street.The architectural style follows the same logic as in other cities in the region: closed to the outside, open to the inside. Some of the houses are restored, while others stand empty, lending the district an authentic character.Nestled among the alleyways are several small churches, including Agios Stefanos and Agia Episkepsi. A forty-minute tour is sufficient, and it can be combined with the ascent to the castle.

The Koursoum Mosque, also known as the Osman Shah Mosque, was built in the second half of the 16th century and is attributed to the workshop of the Ottoman court architect Mimar Sinan. Its founder was Osman Shah, a relative of Sultan Süleyman, whose tomb stands next to the mosque.The building is a single-chambered domed structure of unusual diameter, supported by a transition zone of squinches. The epithet Koursoum, meaning lead, refers to the lead plates that covered the dome.After decades of decay, the mosque was restored and now serves as an event venue. It is located southwest of the city center and is reachable on foot from the river promenade in a good ten minutes.

The Matsopoulos Mill was built in 1884 and is considered the first industrial grain mill in Greece. It operated until the mid-20th century. The brick complex is located near the city center and is one of the few preserved industrial monuments in the region.The city has transformed the site into Matsopoulos Park. In the mill building, an industrial museum shows the old production lines, plus spaces for culture and events, and a café.The site is primarily known for the Mill of the Elves, a large Christmas park which only opens during Advent and the Christmas season. During this period, access roads are heavily congested on weekends.