Travel Secrets
Trikala: Magical, dreamy nights
Text: Giannis Mantas
Photos: Panagiotis Sarris
Trikala is a Greek city you don’t expect it to be so beautiful, so vivid. It is the city of life, activities, old and modern neighborhoods, music and technology. The center of the city is the lively Iroon Polytechniou square, where the coming and going is endless, as it is the starting point for everything.
From here, cross the famous French bridge, entirely constructed in France and transferred to Trikala on 1886, an ideal place to gaze the river. Here, you can also walk in Asklipiou street, the paved road which is full of cafeterias, shops and restaurants and leads you to Matsopoulos Mill.
The Mill is an impressive building, that operates as a museum for the most part of the year, while at Christmas time it turns into the Mill of the Elves, a dreamy fairyland of fun for young an older and the absolute winter destination in Trikala.
Returning to the bridge, you can enjoy a relaxing stroll by the river banks and then continue your walk to the other side of the square, towards the Old Town of Trikala.
Trikala is a human-friendly city. Locals love bikes, respect walkers and are exemplary in terms of their driving behavior. At Varousi, the old Christian neighborhood, located under the Castle’s shadow, you will discover the glorious past of Trikala city. There, you can admire the old mansions, while you can also see the Clock, the famous trademark of the city. The Clock is located inside the Byzantine Castle (free entrance) and was built in 1936.
Turn back to Varousi and from there to Manavika,
the old disreputable district but now has been converted into a culinary paradise, with lots of popular restaurants. At Manavika you can admire the huge mural, created in 2006 by French artists, representing a popular neighborhood, illustrating the legendary musicial Vasilis Tsitsanis, one of the greatest Greek musicians.
Also, when in Trikala, do not miss to visit the Koursoum Mosque, the largest and most elaborate mosque in Greece.
You are mistaken if you think Trikala city is all about past. Trikala invest in the future and cutting edge technology, as it is one of the 6 European cities participating in the program that suggests buses without a driver.
