Katerini
Κατερίνη | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 40°16′N 22°30′E / 40.267°N 22.500°E | |
Country | Greece |
Administrative region | Central Macedonia |
Regional unit | Pieria |
Municipality | Katerini |
Municipal unit | Katerini |
Government | |
• Mayor | Ioannis Doumos ( New Democracy) |
Area | |
• Municipality | 681.863 km2 (263.269 sq mi) |
• Municipal unit | 93.659 km2 (36.162 sq mi) |
• Community | 63.196 km2 (24.400 sq mi) |
Elevation | 30 m (100 ft) |
Population (2021)
[1] | |
• Municipality | 82,892 |
• Density | 120/km2 (310/sq mi) |
• Municipal unit | 62,742 |
• Municipal unit density | 670/km2 (1,700/sq mi) |
• Community | 59,189 |
• Community density | 940/km2 (2,400/sq mi) |
Demonym | Kateriniotis ( Greek: Κατερινιώτης) |
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 |
katerini |
Katerini ( Greek: Κατερίνη, Kateríni, pronounced [ka̠te̞ˈɾini]) is a city and municipality in northern Greece, the capital city of Pieria regional unit in Central Macedonia, Greece. It lies on the Pierian plain, between Mount Olympus and the Thermaikos Gulf, at an altitude of 14 m. The municipality of Katerini has a population of 82,892 (according to the 2021 census) [1] and it is the second most populous urban area in 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.
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), ancient Pydna (16 km away) and the Castle of Platamon. The beaches of Kallithea, Korinos, Olympiaki Akti (or Katerinoskala), Paralia where is located the 3rd Port Authority Department of Skala Katerini, [2] Peristasi are visited by both Greek and foreign tourists during the summer season. [3] [4] [5] The base of Mount Olympus and the town of Litochoro, are at a distance of around 20 km from the center of Katerini, [6] [7] [8] [9] whereas there is the ski center of Elatochori in Mount Pieria at a distance of 33.4 km from the city's center. [10] [11] [12]
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". [13] [14] According to another theory, the city derives its name from the small chapel dedicated to Saint Catherine (Greek: Αγία Αικατερίνη, Agia Aikaterini) 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" (Greek: Αικατερίνη) or "Agia Aikaterini" (Greek: Αγία Αικατερίνη) until the early 20th century, when the vernacular name Katerini (Greek: Κατερίνη) prevailed. [13]
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 Orthodox Christians and 600 Muslims. [13]
The city was captured by the Greek 7th Infantry Division on 16 October 1912 liberated it from Ottoman rule, during the First Balkan War, and has been part of Greece since then. [13] [15] [16] Greek refugees from the Greek genocide (1916–1923) and Pontic Greek genocide (1914–1923) settled in Katerini. [17] 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 (Anatolia), took their place, almost doubling the city's population from 5,540 in 1920 to 10,138 in 1928. [13]
The Municipality of Katerini was formed in 2011 with the Kallikratis Programme administrative reform [18] [19] [20] by the merger of the following 6 former municipalities, that became municipal units of the newly formed Municipality of Katerini. [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27]
The municipality Katerini is subdivided into 6 municipal units, each of which is divided into municipal communities.
Municipality of Katerini | ||
---|---|---|
Municipal Units | ||
M.U. Elafina | M.U. Katerini | M.U. Korinos |
Municipal Communities | Municipal Communities | Municipal Communities |
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||
M.U. Paralia | M.U. Petra | M.U. Pierioi |
Municipal Communities | Municipal Communities | Municipal Communities |
The municipal community of Katerini is subdivided into five settements:
Municipal Community of Katerini | |
---|---|
Settlements | Population (2021) [1] |
|
|
Settlement of Katerini | |
---|---|
Major Districts | |
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Katerini has a humid subtropical climate that is characterised by warm to hot, dry summers and cool and more humid winters ( Köppen climate classification: Cfa).
Climate data for Katerini | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °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) |
Mean daily minimum °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 [28] |
Katerini is located near several villages which are renowned for their high quality products, specifically kiwis, [29] [30] wines, [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] cherries, are one of the more important productions in the region, [38] [39] [40] [41] as well as strawberries, apples, olives, olive oil, truffle oil, truffles, [42] mushrooms, grapes, mineral water, [43] [44] herbs with the most well-known the sideritis scardica locally known as "Tea of Olympus", honey and honey products ( propolis, royal jelly, beeswax ointment, bee pollen), [45] [46] dairy products ( milk, butter, kefir, yogurt), cheese ( feta, kasseri, manouri, anthotyros, kefalotyri, mizithra), chickens (meat, eggs), black pigs (meat, cured meat, sausages). [47] [48] Katerini Steppe Cattle originates from Katerini, [49] [50] [51] which is Greek steppe breed belonging to the Podolian cattle at high risk of extinction, well known for its meat and milk, found now in the region of Thessaly. The cuisine of Katerini is the Greece's Macedonian cuisine, as well as seafood comes mainly from the seaport of Paralia.
Katerini is the administrative and economic center of Pieria. In 2022 it joined the EU Smart Tourism Destinations Project [52] [53] for smart tourism aims to promote sustainable development practices and access to tourism and hospitality through Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) [54] [55] [56] with the collaboration of other EU selected destinations. [57] [58] [59] [60] Katerini has received a gold award of Circular Economy and a silver award of Environmental Excellence to Local Authorities at the Environmental Awards 2022 at Hellenic Foundation for Culture on 28 September 2022. [61] [62] It is the first one municipality in Greece in which the pilot implementation of the Platform SMARTREC [63] [64] [65] [66] for the recycling of cooking oil taking place in collaboration with the International Hellenic University, as well as participates in the European program "LIFE-IP AdaptInGR – Boosting the implementation of adaptation policy across Greece" (2019–2026) [67] [68] [69] for the adaptation to the effects of climate change, led by the Ministry of Environment and Energy.
In Katerini, there are based the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Pieria, [70] Dimitra Agricultural-Livestock-farming Association of Katerini, [71] Sheep-Goat Farmers of Pieria Agricultural Cooperative of Prefecture of Pieria, [71] Agios Modestos Sheep-Goat Farmers Association of Pieria, [71] Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Pieria, [72] Consortium of Agricultural Tobacco Cooperatives of Pieria, [73] Pieria Hoteliers Association, [74] [75] Federation of Letting Rooms and Accommodations of Pieria, Imathia, Pella (OEDDPIP), [76] [77] Travel Agents Association of Pieria. [78] Every year it operates the Trade-Craft Exhibition Activity of Pieria & Central Makedonia (EBEP-KM) taking place at the exhibition area of the Municipality of Katerini in the Andromachi settlement. [79]
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. [80] There is cultivation of tobacco in the region and lot of people spend considerable resources for its development and for exports of the product. The Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Pieria has 9,000 members, of which 2,000 grow tobacco. [81] Katerini - and Pieria - the area in Greece where kiwi fruit products were cultivated in 1973 [81] [82]at the initiative of Tasos Michos [83] [84] who was application agronomist at Pieria Directorate of Agriculture. Aktinidio Pierias (Kiwi of Pieria) cultivates in Pieria and is the specific type of kiwi (part of Hayward variety) registered as a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) product with the awarding of certification on 22 November 2002. [85] [29] [86] [30] [87]
Katerini is a popular tourist destination, that attracts visitors from Greece and abroad. [88] [89] Within the boundaries of the municipality, there are seasonal and all year round over 230 hotels, [74] [90] [70] [76] [91] [92] [93] [94] that can accommodate more than 8,600 people, [95] [96] [97] short-term rental accommodatios, [98] and tourist accommodations. [99] [100] The vast majority of the tourist infrastructure lie in Paralia and Olympiaki Akti, at where linking between them with road, sidewalk and bicycle lane, including tens of tavernas, and cafes. [101] [102] [27] Winter tourism has started developing in the area with the Elatochori ski resort. [103] [104] Katerini is surrounded by ancient archaeological sites as Dion, Leivithra, Pydna, Louloudies and Platamon Castle. The Mount Olympus is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designated in 1981 [105] [106] where there is the Olympus National Woodland Park one of the National parks of Greece for visits and sports activities. [107] [108] [109]
The National Health System (ESY) in Katerini has the:
The Municipal Social Care Center of Katerini [116] [117] of the Municipality of Katerini is housed in the premises of the former General Hospital of Katerini and provides primary health care services to the vulnerable social groups that has been equipped and funding from a Migrant and Refugee Fund (MRF) grant received through the Council of Europe Development Bank. The social welfare program "Help at Home" operates by Municipality of Katerini supports vulnerable, elderly and people with disabilities who are unable to support themselves and are in need of help at home. [118] In 2020, Municipality of Katerini acquired a mobile (vehicle mounted frequency selective) measurement station that monitor the electromagnetic field levels from antenna stations in the frequency range 100KHz–7 GHz, which is operated and controlled by the Greek Atomic Energy Commission (EEAE), [119] [120] with the aim of public information about high-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) levels. The results are presented through an interactive web portal [121] and mobile application. [122]
The national bus lines service is provided by the KTEL Pieria [123] [124] station for intercity buses ( coach) located in Katerini. The local bus lines between Katerini and its nearby settlements are served by the urban buses of the KTEL Katerini, [125] which has lines towards Ano Agios Ioannis, Aronas, Dion, Moschochori, Olympiaki Akti, Paralia, Palaio Keramidi, Neo Nosokomeio (New General Hospital of Katerini), Nea Trapezounta, Vrontou. These routes serve all the settlements that lie between Katerini and the aforementioned final destinations. [125]
Katerini is served by A1 and National Road 1 that run north-south from Evzonoi to Athens. [126] [127] [128] The connection between Katerini and Elassona is served by National Road 13. Single carriageways run from Katerini to every settlement of the Pieria. Intercity bus routes delivered by the KTEL Pieria, [123] connect Katerini directly with Athens, Thessaloniki, Elassona, Alexandreia and all the settlements of Pieria that are not served by the urban buses of KTEL Katerini. [125] There are also privately held international bus routes that connect Katerini with several cities in Albania and Bulgaria.
Katerini Railway Station is located just outside the city center. 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 Larissa and Thessaloniki via the Thessaloniki Suburban Railway (Proastiakos) suburban electric train. [129] [130] It is also connected with Athens and all the intermediate stations by Intercity train routes.
Year | Community population | Municipal unit population | Municipality population |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | 53,418 | 57,098 | 83,387 |
2011 | 58,309 | 62,205 | 85,851 |
2021 | 59,189 | 62,742 | 80,700 |
2031 | - | - | - |
2041 | - | - | - |
Year | Community population |
---|---|
1961 | 28,046 |
1971 | 29,046 |
1981 | 38,404 |
1991 | 42,381 |
- | - |
Katerini is home to a significant Aromanian population that exceeds 3,000 people. [132] Aromanians of Katerini mainly descend from nearby Aromanian settlements of Livadi and Kokkinopilos, and in lesser numbers from Samarina, Moscopole, Avdella, Perivoli and Smixi. [132] According to some sources the Aromanians formed a majority amongst the city's Christian population in the beginning of the 20th century. [132] At the beginning of Giorgakis Olympios pedestrian street in the central Katerini district is located the bust statue of Giorgakis Olympios (1772–1821) who was an armatole and military commander during the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire.
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). Among them the most populous ethnic group was Albanians (2.5%) followed by Georgians (0.5%), Russians (0.4%) and Bulgarians (0.3%). [133]
The Metropolis of Kitros, Katerini and Platamon, a part of the Church of Greece which is a part of the wider Greek Orthodox Church, has 16 congregations within the city of Katerini. There is also an Old Calendarist church in the city. [134] Katerini has a relatively numerous Protestant community, as a result of the organised settlement of Evangelical Greek refugees from Asia Minor and Pontus (region). [135] Today the Greek Evangelical Church of Katerini has almost 1,100 followers, [135] [136] many of them are concentrated in the Evaggelika district of the city of Katerini. 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. [137] [138] 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. [135]
From 2006 to 2016 was operating the Second Chance Seminary School of Katerini [168] of the Ministry of Education, that was suspended its operation since the academic year 2016–2017, [169] which was a two years public ecclesiastical lifelong learning education boarding school housed in the Ecclesiastical Guesthouse [170] of the Metropolis of Kitros, Katerini and Platamon in the Prosilio settlement.
Public Education ‒ Katerini City | Lower Secondary Education | ||
Data as at January 2021 [143] [140] | 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 round brackets. Students who successfully complete the lyceum are awarded the Apolytirio Lyceum (school leaving certificate, that is upper secondary leaving certificate, also known as High School Diploma).
|
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 | |||
Laboratory of Special Vocational Education (EEEEK) | Neo Keramidi (Area), 601 50 | ||
Second Chance Adult School (SDE) | |||
Second Chance Adult School (SDE) of Katerini | 2 Mitropoleos str, 601 31 | ||
Primary Education | Laboratory Center (EK) | ||
Katerini City Primary School | Laboratory Center (EK) of Katerini | 150 Terzopoulou str, 601 32 | |
1st | 3 Ippokratous str, 601 32 | Vocational School (EPAS) | |
2nd | 10 Kioutaxias str, 601 33 | EPAS of Public Employment Service (DYPA) | End Terzopoulou str, 601 32 |
3rd | 13 Marathonos str, 601 32 | Upper Secondary Education | |
4th | 2 Aristotelous str, 601 32 | Katerini City High School | |
5th, (21st PS) | 30 Filippou str, 601 33 | 1st | 48 Klisouras str, 601 32 |
6th, (16th PS) | 15, 28 October str, 601 34 | 2nd | 10 Ipirou str, 601 32 |
7th, (20th PS) | 8 Mitropolitou Kirillou str, 601 31 | 3rd | 1 Militou str, 601 33 |
8th | 13 Stratigou Roka str, 601 34 | 4th | 2 Mitropoleos str, 601 31 |
8th KG, (24th PS) | A' Parodos Priamou, 601 34 | 5th | 10 Ipirou str, 601 32 |
9th | 2 Loukianou str, 601 32 | Music | 1 Stadiou str, 601 32 |
10th | 16 Tenedou str, 601 33 | Evening | 34 Eirinis str, 601 34 |
11th, (23rd PS) | 1 Fleming str, 601 34 | Vocational (I) | 150 Terzopoulou str, 601 32 |
12th | 14 Romanou str, 601 31 | Model Vocational | 150 Terzopoulou str, 601 32 |
13th | 39 Platonos str, 601 33 | Vocational (II) | Neo Keramidi (Area), 601 50 |
14th | 6 Kilkis str, 601 34 | Evening Vocational | 150 Terzopoulou str, 601 32 |
15th | 14 Svoronou str, 601 33 | Unified Special Vocational Gymnasium-Lyceum | 150 Terzopoulou str, 601 32 |
16th, (25th PS) | 1 Agios Christoforos str, 601 33 | Post Upper Secondary Education (non-tertiary education) | |
17th | 17 Odyssea Elyti str, 601 33 | Public School of Advanced Vocational Training of the General Hospital of Katerini | 1 Old Hospital str, 601 31 |
18th | 1 Antisthenous str, 601 31 | Public School of Advanced Vocational Training of Katerini | 10 Ipirou str, 601 32 |
19th | 2 Tyrtaiou str, 601 32 | Higher Education (tertiary education) | |
Special Primary | Ganochora (Area), 601 50 | International Hellenic University, Department of Logistics | 2 Kanellopoulou str, 601 32 |
Katerini is represented by two football teams in the national leagues; Pierikos, has its home stadium named 1st Municipal Athletic Center of Katerini, a club currently playing in the Gamma Ethniki (Third National) category, and the women's football club of Pierides Muses, playing in the Women's Gamma Ethniki category.
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 Katerinis | 1956 | Handball, Track and Field and other sports | Panhellenic titles in Greek Handball |
Ethnikos Katerini F.C. | 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 |
Katerini is twinned with:
Number of persons employed in the total of holdings by category and number of working days of seasonal workers and by Region and Department. Results of Agricultural-Livestock Census 1999/2000
The Municipal Odeion of Katerini has the School of Instrumental Music, School of Monody-Melodramatic, and School of Advanced Music Theory. It includes the divisions of Philharmonic Orchestra, Music Pre-education for Pre-school-age Students, Children's Choir, Youth Choir, Chamber Music Ensembles.
Katerini
Κατερίνη | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 40°16′N 22°30′E / 40.267°N 22.500°E | |
Country | Greece |
Administrative region | Central Macedonia |
Regional unit | Pieria |
Municipality | Katerini |
Municipal unit | Katerini |
Government | |
• Mayor | Ioannis Doumos ( New Democracy) |
Area | |
• Municipality | 681.863 km2 (263.269 sq mi) |
• Municipal unit | 93.659 km2 (36.162 sq mi) |
• Community | 63.196 km2 (24.400 sq mi) |
Elevation | 30 m (100 ft) |
Population (2021)
[1] | |
• Municipality | 82,892 |
• Density | 120/km2 (310/sq mi) |
• Municipal unit | 62,742 |
• Municipal unit density | 670/km2 (1,700/sq mi) |
• Community | 59,189 |
• Community density | 940/km2 (2,400/sq mi) |
Demonym | Kateriniotis ( Greek: Κατερινιώτης) |
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 |
katerini |
Katerini ( Greek: Κατερίνη, Kateríni, pronounced [ka̠te̞ˈɾini]) is a city and municipality in northern Greece, the capital city of Pieria regional unit in Central Macedonia, Greece. It lies on the Pierian plain, between Mount Olympus and the Thermaikos Gulf, at an altitude of 14 m. The municipality of Katerini has a population of 82,892 (according to the 2021 census) [1] and it is the second most populous urban area in 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.
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), ancient Pydna (16 km away) and the Castle of Platamon. The beaches of Kallithea, Korinos, Olympiaki Akti (or Katerinoskala), Paralia where is located the 3rd Port Authority Department of Skala Katerini, [2] Peristasi are visited by both Greek and foreign tourists during the summer season. [3] [4] [5] The base of Mount Olympus and the town of Litochoro, are at a distance of around 20 km from the center of Katerini, [6] [7] [8] [9] whereas there is the ski center of Elatochori in Mount Pieria at a distance of 33.4 km from the city's center. [10] [11] [12]
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". [13] [14] According to another theory, the city derives its name from the small chapel dedicated to Saint Catherine (Greek: Αγία Αικατερίνη, Agia Aikaterini) 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" (Greek: Αικατερίνη) or "Agia Aikaterini" (Greek: Αγία Αικατερίνη) until the early 20th century, when the vernacular name Katerini (Greek: Κατερίνη) prevailed. [13]
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 Orthodox Christians and 600 Muslims. [13]
The city was captured by the Greek 7th Infantry Division on 16 October 1912 liberated it from Ottoman rule, during the First Balkan War, and has been part of Greece since then. [13] [15] [16] Greek refugees from the Greek genocide (1916–1923) and Pontic Greek genocide (1914–1923) settled in Katerini. [17] 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 (Anatolia), took their place, almost doubling the city's population from 5,540 in 1920 to 10,138 in 1928. [13]
The Municipality of Katerini was formed in 2011 with the Kallikratis Programme administrative reform [18] [19] [20] by the merger of the following 6 former municipalities, that became municipal units of the newly formed Municipality of Katerini. [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27]
The municipality Katerini is subdivided into 6 municipal units, each of which is divided into municipal communities.
Municipality of Katerini | ||
---|---|---|
Municipal Units | ||
M.U. Elafina | M.U. Katerini | M.U. Korinos |
Municipal Communities | Municipal Communities | Municipal Communities |
|
||
M.U. Paralia | M.U. Petra | M.U. Pierioi |
Municipal Communities | Municipal Communities | Municipal Communities |
The municipal community of Katerini is subdivided into five settements:
Municipal Community of Katerini | |
---|---|
Settlements | Population (2021) [1] |
|
|
Settlement of Katerini | |
---|---|
Major Districts | |
|
|
Katerini has a humid subtropical climate that is characterised by warm to hot, dry summers and cool and more humid winters ( Köppen climate classification: Cfa).
Climate data for Katerini | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °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) |
Mean daily minimum °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 [28] |
Katerini is located near several villages which are renowned for their high quality products, specifically kiwis, [29] [30] wines, [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] cherries, are one of the more important productions in the region, [38] [39] [40] [41] as well as strawberries, apples, olives, olive oil, truffle oil, truffles, [42] mushrooms, grapes, mineral water, [43] [44] herbs with the most well-known the sideritis scardica locally known as "Tea of Olympus", honey and honey products ( propolis, royal jelly, beeswax ointment, bee pollen), [45] [46] dairy products ( milk, butter, kefir, yogurt), cheese ( feta, kasseri, manouri, anthotyros, kefalotyri, mizithra), chickens (meat, eggs), black pigs (meat, cured meat, sausages). [47] [48] Katerini Steppe Cattle originates from Katerini, [49] [50] [51] which is Greek steppe breed belonging to the Podolian cattle at high risk of extinction, well known for its meat and milk, found now in the region of Thessaly. The cuisine of Katerini is the Greece's Macedonian cuisine, as well as seafood comes mainly from the seaport of Paralia.
Katerini is the administrative and economic center of Pieria. In 2022 it joined the EU Smart Tourism Destinations Project [52] [53] for smart tourism aims to promote sustainable development practices and access to tourism and hospitality through Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) [54] [55] [56] with the collaboration of other EU selected destinations. [57] [58] [59] [60] Katerini has received a gold award of Circular Economy and a silver award of Environmental Excellence to Local Authorities at the Environmental Awards 2022 at Hellenic Foundation for Culture on 28 September 2022. [61] [62] It is the first one municipality in Greece in which the pilot implementation of the Platform SMARTREC [63] [64] [65] [66] for the recycling of cooking oil taking place in collaboration with the International Hellenic University, as well as participates in the European program "LIFE-IP AdaptInGR – Boosting the implementation of adaptation policy across Greece" (2019–2026) [67] [68] [69] for the adaptation to the effects of climate change, led by the Ministry of Environment and Energy.
In Katerini, there are based the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Pieria, [70] Dimitra Agricultural-Livestock-farming Association of Katerini, [71] Sheep-Goat Farmers of Pieria Agricultural Cooperative of Prefecture of Pieria, [71] Agios Modestos Sheep-Goat Farmers Association of Pieria, [71] Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Pieria, [72] Consortium of Agricultural Tobacco Cooperatives of Pieria, [73] Pieria Hoteliers Association, [74] [75] Federation of Letting Rooms and Accommodations of Pieria, Imathia, Pella (OEDDPIP), [76] [77] Travel Agents Association of Pieria. [78] Every year it operates the Trade-Craft Exhibition Activity of Pieria & Central Makedonia (EBEP-KM) taking place at the exhibition area of the Municipality of Katerini in the Andromachi settlement. [79]
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. [80] There is cultivation of tobacco in the region and lot of people spend considerable resources for its development and for exports of the product. The Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Pieria has 9,000 members, of which 2,000 grow tobacco. [81] Katerini - and Pieria - the area in Greece where kiwi fruit products were cultivated in 1973 [81] [82]at the initiative of Tasos Michos [83] [84] who was application agronomist at Pieria Directorate of Agriculture. Aktinidio Pierias (Kiwi of Pieria) cultivates in Pieria and is the specific type of kiwi (part of Hayward variety) registered as a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) product with the awarding of certification on 22 November 2002. [85] [29] [86] [30] [87]
Katerini is a popular tourist destination, that attracts visitors from Greece and abroad. [88] [89] Within the boundaries of the municipality, there are seasonal and all year round over 230 hotels, [74] [90] [70] [76] [91] [92] [93] [94] that can accommodate more than 8,600 people, [95] [96] [97] short-term rental accommodatios, [98] and tourist accommodations. [99] [100] The vast majority of the tourist infrastructure lie in Paralia and Olympiaki Akti, at where linking between them with road, sidewalk and bicycle lane, including tens of tavernas, and cafes. [101] [102] [27] Winter tourism has started developing in the area with the Elatochori ski resort. [103] [104] Katerini is surrounded by ancient archaeological sites as Dion, Leivithra, Pydna, Louloudies and Platamon Castle. The Mount Olympus is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designated in 1981 [105] [106] where there is the Olympus National Woodland Park one of the National parks of Greece for visits and sports activities. [107] [108] [109]
The National Health System (ESY) in Katerini has the:
The Municipal Social Care Center of Katerini [116] [117] of the Municipality of Katerini is housed in the premises of the former General Hospital of Katerini and provides primary health care services to the vulnerable social groups that has been equipped and funding from a Migrant and Refugee Fund (MRF) grant received through the Council of Europe Development Bank. The social welfare program "Help at Home" operates by Municipality of Katerini supports vulnerable, elderly and people with disabilities who are unable to support themselves and are in need of help at home. [118] In 2020, Municipality of Katerini acquired a mobile (vehicle mounted frequency selective) measurement station that monitor the electromagnetic field levels from antenna stations in the frequency range 100KHz–7 GHz, which is operated and controlled by the Greek Atomic Energy Commission (EEAE), [119] [120] with the aim of public information about high-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) levels. The results are presented through an interactive web portal [121] and mobile application. [122]
The national bus lines service is provided by the KTEL Pieria [123] [124] station for intercity buses ( coach) located in Katerini. The local bus lines between Katerini and its nearby settlements are served by the urban buses of the KTEL Katerini, [125] which has lines towards Ano Agios Ioannis, Aronas, Dion, Moschochori, Olympiaki Akti, Paralia, Palaio Keramidi, Neo Nosokomeio (New General Hospital of Katerini), Nea Trapezounta, Vrontou. These routes serve all the settlements that lie between Katerini and the aforementioned final destinations. [125]
Katerini is served by A1 and National Road 1 that run north-south from Evzonoi to Athens. [126] [127] [128] The connection between Katerini and Elassona is served by National Road 13. Single carriageways run from Katerini to every settlement of the Pieria. Intercity bus routes delivered by the KTEL Pieria, [123] connect Katerini directly with Athens, Thessaloniki, Elassona, Alexandreia and all the settlements of Pieria that are not served by the urban buses of KTEL Katerini. [125] There are also privately held international bus routes that connect Katerini with several cities in Albania and Bulgaria.
Katerini Railway Station is located just outside the city center. 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 Larissa and Thessaloniki via the Thessaloniki Suburban Railway (Proastiakos) suburban electric train. [129] [130] It is also connected with Athens and all the intermediate stations by Intercity train routes.
Year | Community population | Municipal unit population | Municipality population |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | 53,418 | 57,098 | 83,387 |
2011 | 58,309 | 62,205 | 85,851 |
2021 | 59,189 | 62,742 | 80,700 |
2031 | - | - | - |
2041 | - | - | - |
Year | Community population |
---|---|
1961 | 28,046 |
1971 | 29,046 |
1981 | 38,404 |
1991 | 42,381 |
- | - |
Katerini is home to a significant Aromanian population that exceeds 3,000 people. [132] Aromanians of Katerini mainly descend from nearby Aromanian settlements of Livadi and Kokkinopilos, and in lesser numbers from Samarina, Moscopole, Avdella, Perivoli and Smixi. [132] According to some sources the Aromanians formed a majority amongst the city's Christian population in the beginning of the 20th century. [132] At the beginning of Giorgakis Olympios pedestrian street in the central Katerini district is located the bust statue of Giorgakis Olympios (1772–1821) who was an armatole and military commander during the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire.
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). Among them the most populous ethnic group was Albanians (2.5%) followed by Georgians (0.5%), Russians (0.4%) and Bulgarians (0.3%). [133]
The Metropolis of Kitros, Katerini and Platamon, a part of the Church of Greece which is a part of the wider Greek Orthodox Church, has 16 congregations within the city of Katerini. There is also an Old Calendarist church in the city. [134] Katerini has a relatively numerous Protestant community, as a result of the organised settlement of Evangelical Greek refugees from Asia Minor and Pontus (region). [135] Today the Greek Evangelical Church of Katerini has almost 1,100 followers, [135] [136] many of them are concentrated in the Evaggelika district of the city of Katerini. 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. [137] [138] 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. [135]
From 2006 to 2016 was operating the Second Chance Seminary School of Katerini [168] of the Ministry of Education, that was suspended its operation since the academic year 2016–2017, [169] which was a two years public ecclesiastical lifelong learning education boarding school housed in the Ecclesiastical Guesthouse [170] of the Metropolis of Kitros, Katerini and Platamon in the Prosilio settlement.
Public Education ‒ Katerini City | Lower Secondary Education | ||
Data as at January 2021 [143] [140] | 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 round brackets. Students who successfully complete the lyceum are awarded the Apolytirio Lyceum (school leaving certificate, that is upper secondary leaving certificate, also known as High School Diploma).
|
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 | |||
Laboratory of Special Vocational Education (EEEEK) | Neo Keramidi (Area), 601 50 | ||
Second Chance Adult School (SDE) | |||
Second Chance Adult School (SDE) of Katerini | 2 Mitropoleos str, 601 31 | ||
Primary Education | Laboratory Center (EK) | ||
Katerini City Primary School | Laboratory Center (EK) of Katerini | 150 Terzopoulou str, 601 32 | |
1st | 3 Ippokratous str, 601 32 | Vocational School (EPAS) | |
2nd | 10 Kioutaxias str, 601 33 | EPAS of Public Employment Service (DYPA) | End Terzopoulou str, 601 32 |
3rd | 13 Marathonos str, 601 32 | Upper Secondary Education | |
4th | 2 Aristotelous str, 601 32 | Katerini City High School | |
5th, (21st PS) | 30 Filippou str, 601 33 | 1st | 48 Klisouras str, 601 32 |
6th, (16th PS) | 15, 28 October str, 601 34 | 2nd | 10 Ipirou str, 601 32 |
7th, (20th PS) | 8 Mitropolitou Kirillou str, 601 31 | 3rd | 1 Militou str, 601 33 |
8th | 13 Stratigou Roka str, 601 34 | 4th | 2 Mitropoleos str, 601 31 |
8th KG, (24th PS) | A' Parodos Priamou, 601 34 | 5th | 10 Ipirou str, 601 32 |
9th | 2 Loukianou str, 601 32 | Music | 1 Stadiou str, 601 32 |
10th | 16 Tenedou str, 601 33 | Evening | 34 Eirinis str, 601 34 |
11th, (23rd PS) | 1 Fleming str, 601 34 | Vocational (I) | 150 Terzopoulou str, 601 32 |
12th | 14 Romanou str, 601 31 | Model Vocational | 150 Terzopoulou str, 601 32 |
13th | 39 Platonos str, 601 33 | Vocational (II) | Neo Keramidi (Area), 601 50 |
14th | 6 Kilkis str, 601 34 | Evening Vocational | 150 Terzopoulou str, 601 32 |
15th | 14 Svoronou str, 601 33 | Unified Special Vocational Gymnasium-Lyceum | 150 Terzopoulou str, 601 32 |
16th, (25th PS) | 1 Agios Christoforos str, 601 33 | Post Upper Secondary Education (non-tertiary education) | |
17th | 17 Odyssea Elyti str, 601 33 | Public School of Advanced Vocational Training of the General Hospital of Katerini | 1 Old Hospital str, 601 31 |
18th | 1 Antisthenous str, 601 31 | Public School of Advanced Vocational Training of Katerini | 10 Ipirou str, 601 32 |
19th | 2 Tyrtaiou str, 601 32 | Higher Education (tertiary education) | |
Special Primary | Ganochora (Area), 601 50 | International Hellenic University, Department of Logistics | 2 Kanellopoulou str, 601 32 |
Katerini is represented by two football teams in the national leagues; Pierikos, has its home stadium named 1st Municipal Athletic Center of Katerini, a club currently playing in the Gamma Ethniki (Third National) category, and the women's football club of Pierides Muses, playing in the Women's Gamma Ethniki category.
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 Katerinis | 1956 | Handball, Track and Field and other sports | Panhellenic titles in Greek Handball |
Ethnikos Katerini F.C. | 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 |
Katerini is twinned with:
Number of persons employed in the total of holdings by category and number of working days of seasonal workers and by Region and Department. Results of Agricultural-Livestock Census 1999/2000
The Municipal Odeion of Katerini has the School of Instrumental Music, School of Monody-Melodramatic, and School of Advanced Music Theory. It includes the divisions of Philharmonic Orchestra, Music Pre-education for Pre-school-age Students, Children's Choir, Youth Choir, Chamber Music Ensembles.