Greece > Trikala

Trikala

The etymology of the name has been attributed to the phrase "thrice good" (tris kalos) whose shorter form was Trikki that later on became Trikala. The name Trikki is used in all ecclesiastical texts and resources (see, Bishopric of Trikki and Stagoi) up today and the city has been a bishopric since the 4th century, loustinianos restored the walls of the city, which proves that a citadel already existed, perhaps at the same place as the Byzantine Fortress, at the end of Hasia mountain range.

Due to its strategic position, it became the target of many invaders, such as the Goths, the Slavs and also the Bulgarians, while in 1082 B.C. the city was occupied by the Normans and then became the headquarters of the Serbs in the 14th B.C.

Finally, in 1395, the Turks who already prevailed in the surrounding region occupied Trikala and stayed there up to 1881, when the region regained its freedom. Despite the Turkish occu-pation, the city does not fall short in education and knowledge so during the period of Ottoman domination a lot of faculties are in operation and a great number of eminent men stand out, such as the known bishop of Trikki, Dionysios the Philosopher. But in the fights against the Germans and Italians (1941-1943) the role of Trikala was also significant. The visitor to the city of Trikala can admire amny things, the first being its fabulous river Litheos, which in mythology is said to have been the son of Oblivion and on whose banks Asklipios was born.

Due to its position but also its architecture, Gkika bridge, or Achilios bridge, built in 1886 by French engineers, dominates the area and is nowadays used as a bridge only for pedestrians. The city is embellished by a great number of squares that serve as resting places and meeting points for the residents, like Riga Fereou square, Kitrilaki square and many others. The god Asklipios is one of the latest figures in the Greek mythology. As far as his birth and origin are concerned, a lot of variants exist. The symbol of Asklipios is the snake.

I n classic but also in the following years many Asklipia were created, where the God was worshipped, and the Asklipio of Trikki is one of them.One can see his statue in the central square of Trikala. The excavations at the Asklipio of ancient Trikki, that began in 1958 and have continued with interruptions up until recently, brought to light important archaeological findings'.

It should also be reported that in the archaeological site of Asklipio ruins of an old Byzantine temple are preserved, that most probably date back to the 10th or 11th century.

The Fortress

On the way up to the NE side of the city, visitors come across the Fortress which is known to the inhabitants as the Castle. The old Fortress, which has suffered significant damages, was restored in the 6th A.D. century, in the years of Emperor loustinianos' ruling. It was last repaired by the Turks after the revolutions in Thessaly in 1854 and 1878. It is divided into three cornices. The first one is a square one with a cafe-bar, the second and largest one has recently been landscaped into a grass-park with the city clock-tower (built in 1936) overlooking the city at the east side, salient from every single corner of the city. The third cornice hosts a small theatre in the conge at its NW side, where remarkable performances take place in summer. The naturally formed stairway that led to the path around the Fortress is located in the NE corner of the latter cornice.

Koursoum Mosque or Osman Sach's Mosque

Osman Sach's Mosque, widely known as Koursoum Mosque (from the word "Kursum" meaning "made of lead"), was built by the great architect Sinan Pasas, of Greek origin, one of the most famous architects of the Ottoman empire in the 16th century. The Mosque was sponsored by Osman Sach, a Turkish prince who reached Trikala ill and on the run. The inhabitants took care of him with affection and warmth and he had this Mosque built as a repay to them, a unique monument in the Mediterranean area which stands out in the SE entrance to the city with its majestic, lead- made dome. "Tourbies", a mausoleum which is also domed and lead-coverted, is preserved in the courtyard, at the south of the Mosque.

Varousi

What however has been identified with the city of Trikala is Varousi, the traditional dis-trict that extends along the eastern walls of the Fortress and which was considered to be the neighbourhood of the noblemen of the city. It stands out for its narrow cobbled streets, the two-storey houses with coloured walls and the small chapels like those of St John the Forerunner (1674), St. Anargyroi (1575), St. loannis the Merciful and Panteleimona and St. Dimitrios (end of 16th - beginning of 17th cen-tury), when the city was still under the Turkish occupation. However, there are also grand churches, like those of St. Episkepsi (1863- 1877), Virgin Mary Revealed (1849-1853) and the St. Paraskevi (1843).