Katerini

Katerini is a city and a municipality in northern Greece. It is the capital of the Pieria regional unit in Central Macedonia. The city sits on the Pierian plain between Mount Olympus and the Thermaikos Gulf, at an altitude of 14 meters. According to the 2021 census, the municipality of Katerini has a population of 82,892 people, making it the second largest urban area in the region of Macedonia after Thessaloniki.

Katerini is a popular tourist destination. It is close to the sea, only 7 kilometers away, and near many important ancient sites such as the city of Dion, Leivithra, Pydna, and the Castle of Platamon. Beautiful beaches like Kallithea, Korinos, Olympiaki Akti, Paralia, and Peristasi attract visitors during the summer. The base of Mount Olympus and the town of Litochoro are also nearby, along with the ski center of Elatochori.

The city is well-connected by roads and trains. It can be reached from the A1/E75 Athens–Thessaloniki motorway and the A2 motorway. Trains, including suburban Proastiakos services, run along the main Athens-Thessaloniki railway line, and there are many bus services that start from the city center.

Name and history

The name of Katerini is not fully known. Since the 1300s, travelers and maps have mentioned a place called Hatera, which might be where the city's name comes from. Some believe the city is named after a small chapel dedicated to Saint Catherine that was built east of the city a long time ago.

In the early 1800s, Katerini had only a few thousand people, most of whom were Greek. By 1900, the city had about 2,000 Greek Christians and 600 Muslims. In 1912, during a war called the First Balkan War, Greek soldiers took control of Katerini, and it became part of Greece. Later, people who had to leave their homes in other places moved to Katerini, and the city's population grew. During World War II, the city was occupied by Nazi German forces until it was freed in 1944.

Geography

The city of Katerini is part of Greece and was formed in 2011 through a special administrative change. It is made up of six smaller areas that now work together as one big municipality.

Katerini has warm, dry summers and cool, wetter winters, which is typical of a humid subtropical climate.

Local food

Katerini is close to villages famous for their tasty foods, like kiwis, wines, cherries, and strawberries. You can also find olives, olive oil, truffles, mushrooms, grapes, and special herbs such as Greek mountain tea, called "Tea of Olympus." There is also honey, milk, butter, yogurt, and many kinds of cheese. The area is known for its chickens and black pigs, which give great meat and sausages. The local cattle from Katerini are special and known for their meat and milk, though there are fewer of them now.

Seafood comes from the nearby seaport of Paralia.

Economy

Katerini is an important city for both government and business in Pieria. In 2022, it joined a special EU project focused on smart tourism. This project helps make travel better and more friendly to nature using new technology.

Katerini has won awards for being good for the environment and recycling. It is also the first place in Greece to test a new way to recycle cooking oil, working with a university. The city takes part in programs to help protect the environment from climate change.

Agriculture

Katerini is in a fertile area where many people work in farming. Many farms grow tobacco, which is sold and used in products. The city is also famous for growing kiwis, which started there in 1973. These kiwis have a special label that says they are from this area.

Tourism

Katerini is a favorite place for tourists from Greece and other countries. There are many hotels, restaurants, and cafes, especially in the areas of Paralia and Olympiaki Akti. People can also enjoy winter sports at the Elatochori ski resort. The city is close to ancient ruins and the beautiful Mount Olympus, which is a special nature area good for hiking.

Public health

Katerini has many health services to help people stay well. There is a General Hospital, a Health Center, and several Local Health Groups. During the summer, there is also a Regional Care Center in Paralia to help visitors.

The city also has a Social Care Center that helps vulnerable groups, including elderly people and those with disabilities. There is a program called "Help at Home" that supports people who need assistance staying safe and comfortable in their homes. Katerini also monitors electromagnetic fields from antenna stations to keep the public informed about safety levels. The city also has an office to care for local stray animals.

Transport

Katerini has many ways to get around. Local buses run between Katerini and nearby places such as Ano Agios Ioannis, Aronas, Dion, and Nea Trapezounta. These buses help people travel to different areas around the city.

The city is also connected by big roads like the A1 motorway and National Road 1, which go from north to south. There are roads to places like Elassona and Alexandreia, plus buses that go to cities such as Athens and Thessaloniki. You can even take buses to cities in nearby countries like Albania and Bulgaria.

Katerini has a train station just outside the center. Trains go from here to Athens, Larissa, and Thessaloniki, making it easy to travel across Greece.

Demographics

Katerini has a special group of people called the Aromanians, with more than 3,000 living there. They come from nearby places like Livadi and Kokkinopilos. In the early 1900s, Aromanians were most of the Christian people in the city. There is also a statue of Giorgakis Olympios, a brave leader from the time Greece fought for its freedom.

In 2001, about 4.9% of Katerini's people were from other countries. The largest group came from Albania, with smaller numbers from Georgia, Russia, and Bulgaria. There is also a big group of Greeks who moved away from Katerini and now live in Boston, Massachusetts.

Katerini has many different religious groups. Most people follow the Greek Orthodox Church, but there are also Protestant groups, including the Greek Evangelical Church, which has almost 1,100 members. These groups all live together in the city.

Education

Katerini has many schools that are part of the public education system. These include preschools, primary schools, middle schools, high schools, and special schools for different kinds of learning. There are also music schools and training programs for people who work in tourism.

In addition to public schools, there are private schools and music education centers. There are also special training courses for rescue workers and volunteers.

Sports

Katerini has many places where people can play sports, including big stadiums and smaller courts. There are two main football teams in Katerini: Pierikos and Pierides Muses.

The city also has many other sports clubs. These include groups for chess, cycling, weightlifting, volleyball, wrestling, and even air sports. There are also clubs for swimming, diving, and skiing, making Katerini a great place for athletes of all ages.

Notable people

Katerini has been home to many talented people who have achieved great things in sports, music, and other fields. Some well-known individuals include Basil Athanasiadis, a musician and composer, and Eleni Chatziliadou, a karate world champion in 2018. The city has also produced excellent athletes like Georgios Diamantidis, a long-distance swimmer, and Dimitris Giannoulis, a footballer. Other notable figures include painter Apostolos Kilessopoulos and physicist Yannis K. Semertzidis.

International relations

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

Katerini has friendly partnerships with several cities around the world. These include:

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