Katerini

Katerini (Greek: Κατερίνη, Kateríni, pronounced [ka̠te̞ˈɾiɲi]) is a city and municipality in northern Greece, the capital city of province of Pieria (regional unit) in Central Macedonia, Greece. It lies on the Pierian plain, between Mt. Olympus and the Thermaikos Gulf, at an altitude of 14 m. The municipal unit of Katerini has a population of 85,851 (according to the 2014 census) and it is the second most populous urban area at the Region of Macedonia after Thessaloniki. The close distance between two cities (68 km), has been beneficial for Katerini's development over recent years. Katerini is accessible from the main Thessaloniki–Athens highway GR-1/E75 (with the Katerini's South, East and North interchanges) and the Egnatia Odos to the north. It is served by Intercity, Proastiakos (Suburban Railway) and local trains on the main railway line from Athens to Thessaloniki and there is a comprehensive regional and national bus service with its hub in the city.

Katerini Κατερίνη
Katerini's town hall
Katerini Location within the region
Coordinates: 40°16′N 22°30′E
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Central Macedonia
Regional unit	Pieria
Municipality	Katerini
Municipal unit	Katerini
Government
• Mayor	Konstantinos Koukodimos (New Democracy)
Area
• Municipality	681.863 km^2 (263.269 sq mi)
• Municipal unit	93.659 km^2 (36.162 sq mi)
Elevation	14 m (46 ft)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Municipality	85,851
• Municipality density	130/km^2 (330/sq mi)
• Municipal unit	62,205
• Municipal unit density	660/km^2 (1,700/sq mi)
Community [1]
• Population	58,309 (2011)
• Area (km^2)	63.196
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	60100, 60131, 60132, 60133, 60134
Area code(s)	23510
Vehicle registration	KN
Website	www.katerini.gr

A popular tourist destination in northern Greece, Katerini is close to the sea (7 km) and to several archaeological sites of great interest such as the ancient city of Dion (5th century BC, 17 km away), the ancient Leivithra (27 km away) and the Castle of Platamon. The beaches of Korinos, Paralia and Olympiaki Akti (or Katerinoskala) are visited by both Greek and foreign tourists during the Summer. The base of Mount Olympus and the town of Litochoro, are at a distance of around 20 km from the centre of Katerini, whereas there is the Ski center of Elatochori in Mount Pieria at a distance of 33.4 km from the city's centre.

Name and history

The origin of the name is obscure. Since the 13th century, travellers as well as maps record the existence of a settlement called Hatera (Ἅτηρα), which may have been the origin of the modern name. Thus Felix Beaujour recorded its name as "Katheri", while François Pouqueville gives the name of the settlement as "Kateri Hatera".[2] According to another theory, the city derives its name from the small chapel dedicated to Saint Catherine (Aikaterini in Greek) to the east of the city, dating to at least the early 19th century. The latter hypothesis influenced official usage in Greek, where the city is found as "Aikaterini" or "Agia Aikaterini" until the early 20th century, when the vernacular name Katerini prevailed.[2]

According to the reports of travellers, at the turn of the 19th century, the city had four to five thousand inhabitants, mostly Greeks. In 1806, William Martin Leake recorded 100 hearths, while four years later Daniel recorded 140. For the remainder of the 19th century, the number of homes remained steady at about 300, with a population in 1900 of 2,070 Greek Orthodox mostly Vlach, and 600 Muslims, most of them of Albanian origin.[2]

The city was captured by the Greek 7th Infantry Division on 16 October 1912, during the First Balkan War, and has been part of Greece since then.[2] With the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in 1923, the city's Muslims left, and Greek refugees, particularly from Eastern Thrace and Greek Evangelicals from Asia Minor, took their place, almost doubling the city's population from 5,540 in 1920 to 10,138 in 1928.[2]

Geography

Administrative division

The municipality of Katerini was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 6 former municipalities, that became municipal units of the newly formed Katerini municipality.[3][1]

Municipality of Katerini[3][1][4]		Municipal Unit of Katerini[3][1]		Municipal Community of Katerini[3][1][5]
Municipal Units	Population	Municipal Communities	Population	Settlements	Population
Elafina Katerini City Korinos Paralia Petra Pierioi	4,313 62,205 5,557 6,803 4,888 2,085	Katerini City Ano Agios Ioannis Svoronos Ganochora Neokaisareia	58,309 477 2,175 799 445	Andromachi Katerini City Nea Chrani Neo Keramidi Olympiaki Akti	1,061 55,997 467 464 320
Total Area	Total Population	Total Area	Total Population	Total Area	Total Population
681.863 km^2	85,851	93.659 km^2	62,205	63.196 km^2	58,309

Climate

Katerini has a Mediterranean climate that is characterised by warm to hot, dry summers and cool and more humid winters (Köppen climate classification: Csa).

Climate data for Katerini
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	9.0 (48.2)	11.9 (53.4)	15.0 (59.0)	20.0 (68.0)	25.1 (77.2)	30.3 (86.5)	33.3 (91.9)	32.9 (91.2)	28.5 (83.3)	22.4 (72.3)	15.7 (60.3)	10.9 (51.6)	21.3 (70.2)
Daily mean °C (°F)	4.9 (40.8)	6.8 (44.2)	9.8 (49.6)	14.2 (57.6)	18.9 (66.0)	23.6 (74.5)	26.3 (79.3)	25.9 (78.6)	22.1 (71.8)	17 (63)	11.5 (52.7)	7 (45)	15.7 (60.3)
Average low °C (°F)	0.8 (33.4)	1.8 (35.2)	4.6 (40.3)	8.5 (47.3)	12.8 (55.0)	16.9 (62.4)	19.4 (66.9)	19.0 (66.2)	15.7 (60.3)	11.6 (52.9)	7.4 (45.3)	3.2 (37.8)	10.1 (50.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	38 (1.5)	36 (1.4)	43 (1.7)	33 (1.3)	46 (1.8)	31 (1.2)	24 (0.9)	18 (0.7)	28 (1.1)	45 (1.8)	53 (2.1)	53 (2.1)	448 (17.6)
Source: Climate-data.org [6]

Local delicacies

Katerini is located near several villages which are renowned for their high quality products. In particular kiwis and cherries are one of the more important productions in the region, as well as strawberries. There is also cultivation of tobacco in the region and lot of people spend considerable resources for its development and for exports of the product.

Politics

Local Government

The mayor of Katerini is Konstantinos Koukodimos, a member of the Political Committee of New Democracy, who was elected in the 2019 local elections.

Results of the May 26, 2019 local elections in the Municipality of Katerini
Candidate	Supporting Parties	Votes	%
Konstantinos Koukodimos	New Democracy, Nea Dimokratia	20.908	54.44%

Economy

Tsalopoulos mansion

Katerini beach

A park in Katerini.

Katerini is the administrative and economic centre of Pieria. The Chamber of commerce and industry of Pieria is based in Katerini.[7] The same applies for the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Pieria and the Union of hotel owners of Pieria.[8][9]

Agriculture

Katerini lies in the middle of a plain and thus, it is greatly an agricultural city. As of 2000 26,775 people were occupied in agriculture, in Pieria.[10] The Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Pieria has 9,000 members, of which 2,000 grow tobacco.[11] Kiwifruit is also produced in Katerini.[11]

Tourism

Katerini is a popular tourist destination, that attracts tourist both from Greece and abroad. Within the boundaries of the municipality, there are over 230 hotels that can accommodate more that 8,600 people.[12] The vast majority of the tourist infrastructure lie in Paralia and Olympiaki Akti and it also includes tens of tavernas and cafes.[13] Winter tourism has started developing in the area, since the construction of the Elatochori ski resort.[14] Katerini is surrounded by ancient archaeological sites as Dion, Leivithra, Pydna, Louloudies and Platamon Castle which are worth a visit.

Places of interest

The city municipal park of «Chromata» (Greek: Χρώματα), known in Greek colloquially as «Πλατεία Χρωμάτων» (Chromata Square), located on the city center area, is classified as urban amusement public park. It is popular for walking, jogging, wedding and baptism photography spot. It contains landscape gardens, water fountains with two bridges, trees covering the parkland, ornamental rock hill, artificial ponds (lakes), pedestrian walkway, a small zoo of deer, ducks, peacocks, and a variety of birds, the Municipal Park Theatre that is an outdoor amphitheatre, and the Municipal Culture Centre (former name "Εκάβη") building for public and individual conference, meetings, events, having an event hall auditorium with stage and also F&B catering service.

Transport

Local transport

The national bus service is from the Katerini long-distance bus station of coach KTEL. The local bus lines serve the connection between Katerini and its nearby settlements.[15] The bus hub is in Katerini and it has lines towards Moschochori, Paralia, Olympiaki Akti, Dion, Pieria, Aronas and Nea Trapezounta. These lines serve all the settlements that lie between Katerini and the aforementioned final destinations.[15]

Road transport

Katerini is served by A1 and National Road 1 that run north-south from Evzonoi to Athens. The connection between Katerini and Elassona is served by National Road 13. Single carriageways run from Katerini to every settlement of the Pieria. Bus lines, delivered by the Intercity KTEL of Pieria, connect Katerini directly with Athens, Thessaloniki, Elassona, Alexandreia and all the settlements of Pieria that are not served by the Urban KTEL of Katerini.[16] There are also privately held international bus lines that connect Katerini with several cities in Albania and Bulgaria.

Rail links

Katerini railway station is located just outside the city centre. The main line of the Greek railway system that connects Athens with Thessaloniki passes through Katerini. As a result, the city is connected directly with Larisa and Thessaloniki via the Proastiakos[17] It is also connected with Athens and all the intermediate stations by Intercity train lines.

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Community population	Municipal unit population	Municipality population
2001[2]	53,418	57,098	83,387
2011[2]	58,309	62,205	85,851
2021[2]	-	-	-
2031[2]	-	-	-
2041[2]	-	-	-

Year	Community population
1961[2]	28,046
1971[2]	29,046
1981[2]	38,404
1991[2]	42,381
-	-

Year	Community population
1913[18]	7,393
1920[2]	6,540
1928[2]	10,138
1940[2]	16,938
1951[2]	24,605

Local communities

St Fotini Church at the beach

Evangelical church

Street in village Paralia of Katerini

Katerini is home to a significant Aromanian population that exceeds 3,000 people.[19] Aromanians of Katerini mainly descend from nearby Aromanian settlements of Livadi and Kokkinopilos, and in lesser numbers from Samarina, Moscopole, Avdella, Perivoli and Smixi.[19] According to some sources the Aromanians formed a majority amongst the city's Christian population in the beginning of the 20th century.[19]

Immigrants

As of 2001, the Municipal unit of Katerini (then Municipality of Katerini) was home to 2,794 foreign nationals (4.9% of the total population). Amongst them the most populous ethnic group was Albanians (2.5%) followed by Georgians (0.5%), Russians (0.4%) and Bulgarians (0.3%).[20]

Religion

The Diocese of Metropolis of Kitros, Katerini and Platamonas has 16 congregations within the city of Katerini. There is also an Old Calendarist church in the city.[21] Katerini has a relatively numerous Protestant community, as a result of the organised settlement of Evangelical Greek refugees from Asia Minor and Pontus (region).[22] Today the Greek Evangelical Church of Katerini has almost 1,100 followers.[22] Other Protestant denominations, that have a church within the city, are the Free Apostolic Church of Pentecost, the Greek Apostolic Church of Pentecost and the Seventh-day Adventist Church.[23][24] The Protestant community is fully integrated in the life of the city, but in the past there were tensions between the Evangelical community and the Greek Orthodox majority. These tensions led to the arson of the Evangelical Church of Katerini from a Greek Orthodox mob in March 1930.[22]

Public education

Katerini city district public schools is a part of the public education system consisting of member schools which are the Preschool, Primary, Secondary (Katerini City Gymnasium, Katerini City High School, Vocational School, Special Vocational Education), Higher, Non-Formal.

Public Education ‒ Katerini City		Lower Secondary Education
Data as at January 2020[25][26]		Katerini City Gymnasium School
The preschool (PS) is compulsory, comprises the 1-year pre-kindergarten and 1-year kindergarten, and has exactly name (number) with the primary school name where is attached. Preschools and primary schools share buildings. A second extra preschool attached in a primary school is to be shown as (PS) in brackets. Apolytirio Lyceum (i.e. lyceum certificate, upper secondary leaving certificate, high school diploma) awarded upon lyceum graduation, having three years of studies.		1st	48 Klisouras str, 601 32
		2nd	48 Klisouras str, 601 32
		3rd	1 Militou str, 601 33
		4th	2 Mitropoleos str, 601 31
		5th	34 Eirinis str, 601 34
		6th	104 Agiou Savva str, 601 33
		7th	1, 19th Maiou str, 601 34
		Music	1 Stadiou str, 601 32
		Evening	34 Eirinis str, 601 34
		Unified Special Vocational Gymnasium-Lyceum	150 Terzopoulou str, 601 32
		Special Vocational Education
		Special Vocational Education (ΕΕΕΕΚ) School	Neo Keramidi (Area), 601 50
Primary Education		Upper Secondary Education
Katerini City Primary School		Katerini City High School
1st	3 Ippokratous str, 601 32	1st	48 Klisouras str, 601 32
4th	2 Aristotelous str, 601 32	2nd	10 Ipirou str, 601 32
2nd	10 Kioutaxias str, 601 33	3rd	1 Militou str, 601 33
3rd	13 Marathonos str, 601 32	4th	2 Mitropoleos str, 601 31
5th, (21st PS)	30 Filippou str, 601 33	5th	10 Ipirou str, 601 32
6th, (16th PS)	15, 28 October str, 601 34	Music	1 Stadiou str, 601 32
7th, (20th PS)	8 Mitropolitou Kirillou str, 601 31	Evening	34 Eirinis str, 601 34
8th	13 Stratigou Roka str, 601 34	Vocational (I)	150 Terzopoulou str, 601 32
8th KG, (24th PS)	A’ Parodos Priamou, 601 34	Vocational (II)	Neo Keramidi (Area), 601 50
9th	2 Loukianou str, 601 32	Evening Vocational	150 Terzopoulou str, 601 32
10th	16 Tenedou str, 601 33	Unified Special Vocational Gymnasium-Lyceum	150 Terzopoulou str, 601 32
11th, (23th PS)	1 Fleming str, 601 34	Vocational School (EPAS)
12th	14 Romanou str, 601 31	EPAS OAED (Workforce Employment Organisation)	End Terzopoulou str, 601 32
13th	39 Platonos str, 601 33	Higher Education
14th	6 Kilkis str, 601 34	International Hellenic University, Department of Logistics	2 Kanellopoulou str, 601 32
15th	14 Svoronou str, 601 33	Non-Formal Education
16th, (25th PS)	1 Agios Christoforos str, 601 33	Laboratory Centre (EK)	150 Terzopoulou str, 601 32
17th	17 Odyssea Elyti str, 601 33	Post-lyceum Year Apprenticeship Class	150 Terzopoulou str, 601 32
18th	1 Antisthenous str, 601 31	Adult Non-Formal Education
19th	2 Tyrtaiou str, 601 32	General Hospital of Katerini Institute of Vocational Training	1 Old Hospital str, 601 31
Special Primary	Ganochora (Area), 601 50	Second Chance Adult Education School (Gymnasium level equivalent)	2 Mitropoleos str, 601 31

Sports

Football

Municipal stadium

Katerini is represented by two football teams in the national leagues; Pierikos, a club currently playing in the Football League 2. The women's football club of Pierides Muses plays in the Women's Second National Division.

Other Sports

Pierikos-Archelaos B.C. currently competes in the A2 League, the second tier of Greek basketball. GAS Archelaos plays in the A2 League the second tier of the Greek handball league system.

Sport clubs based in Katerini
Club	Founded	Sports	Achievements
Pierikos (Former:Megas Alexandros Katerini & Olympos Katerini)	1961 (1922) (1946)	Football , Volleyball	Earlier presence in A Ethniki football, finalist Greek cup
GAS Archelaos	1956	Handball, Track and Field and other sports	Panhellenic titles in Greek Handball
Ethnikos Katerini	1973	Football	Earlier presence in Gamma Ethniki
Vataniakos F.C.	1978	Football	Earlier presence in Beta Ethniki
Pierikos-Archelaos B.C.	2008	Basketball	Presence in A2 Ethniki

Notable people

• Katerina Nikolaidou (Greek: Κατερίνα Νικολαίδου, born 1992), rower athlete, 4th place 2016 Olympic Games, 2nd place in the lightweight single sculls at the 2013 World Rowing Championships
• Maria Tsionoglou (Greek: Μαρία Τσιόνογλου, born 1991), 10m air pistol athlete of the Archelaos Katerinis Sport Club, Member of National Shooting Team
• Kyriakos Papadopoulos (born 1992), Greek footballer
• Alexandros Tziolis, (born 1985), Greek footballer
• Konstantinos Papachronis (1977-2008), actor
• Stelios Malezas (born 1985), Greek footballer
• Yannis K. Semertzidis, physicist

International relations

Main article: List of twin towns and sister cities in Greece

Katerini is twinned with:

• Brăila, Romania
• Čačak, Serbia
• Maintal, Germany
• Moosburg, Austria
• Surgut, Russia

See also

• List of settlements in the Pieria regional unit
• Folklore Museum (Katerini)

References

1. "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
2. Η Ιστορία της Κατερίνης (in Greek). Municipality of Katerini. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
3. Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (in Greek)
4. "Population census 2011 of Greece". Hellenic Statistical Authority. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)(in Greek)
5. "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-21.
6. "Climate, Climate data for Katerini". Climate-data.org. 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
7. Επικοινωνία (in Greek). Επιμελητήριο Πιερίας. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
8. Στοιχεία Επικοινωνίας (in Greek). Ένωση Αγροτικών Συνεταιρισμών Πιερίας. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
9. Γνωρίστε μας (in Greek). Ένωση Ξενοδόχων Πιερίας. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
10. "Number of holdings,physical persons,owners and their household members" (PDF) (in Greek and English). Hellenic Statistical Authority). 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 November 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
11. Η Ένωση (in Greek). Ένωση Αγροτικών Συνεταιρισμών Πιερίας. Archived from the original on 26 June 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
12. "Accommodation". Pieria Tourism. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
13. "Restaurants & Taverns". Pieria Tourism. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
14. Σχετικά με το Ελατοχώρι (in Greek). web-greece.gr. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
15. "Urban Bus KTEL (Αστικό ΚΤΕΛ)". Αστικό ΚΤΕΛ Κατερίνης.(in Greek)
16. "Schedule". Υπεραστικό Κτελ Πιερίας. Retrieved 13 January 2013.
17. TrainOSE timetables, Table 7A-7B Archived 2012-05-11 at the Wayback Machine
18. Απαρίθμηση κατά οικισμό των κατοίκων του ελληνικού τμήματος της Μακεδονίας το έτος 1913 (in Greek). Η προσωπική Ιστοσελίδα του Δημήτρη Λιθοξόου. Retrieved 28 January 2012.
19. Οι Βλάχοι της Κατερίνης (in Greek). Βλάχοι.Net. 25 November 2006. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
20. Αλλοδαποί κατά υπηκοότητα, ομάδες ηλικιών και φύλο, Νομοί,Δήμοι / Κοινότητες (PDF) (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. pp. 166–168. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 November 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
21. Ιεροί Ναοί Εκκλησίας Γ.Ο.Χ. Ελλάδος (in Greek). Εκκλησία Γ.Ο.Χ. Ελλάδος. Archived from the original on 28 January 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
22. Η ιστορία μας (in Greek). Ελληνική Ευαγγελική Εκκλησία Κατερίνης. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
23. Διευθύνσεις Εκκλησιών και παραρτημάτων (in Greek). Ελευθέρα Αποστολική Εκκλησία Πεντηκοστής. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
24. Χριστιανικές Συναθροίσεις Επαρχίας (in Greek). Σύνοδος Αποστολικής Εκκλησίας Πεντηκοστής Ελλάδας. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
25. "Primary and Kindergarten Schools in Katerini". Pieria Regional Directorate of Primary and Kindergarten Education. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)(in Greek)
26. "Secondary Education Schools in Katerini". Pieria Regional Directorate of Secondary Education. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)(in Greek)

External links

Media related to Katerini at Wikimedia Commons

• Municipality of Katerini
• The English Times of Katerini