View source for Karditsa

{{Distinguish|Karditsa B.C.|Karditsa (constituency)|Karditsa (regional unit)|Karditsa Thinker}}{{Hatnote|''Karditsa'' is also the old name of [[Akraifnio]] in Boeotia.}}
{{Infobox Greek Dimos
 |name = Karditsa
 |name_local = {{lang|el|Καρδίτσα}}
|type = municipality
|image_map = 2011 Dimos Karditsas.png
 |periph = [[Thessaly]]
|periphunit         =  [[Karditsa (regional unit)|Karditsa]]
|pop_municipality   = 55979
|area_municipality  = 647.4
|pop_municunit   = 44700
|area_municunit   = 110.1
|pop_community   = 40272
 |population_as_of = 2021
 |elevation = 108
 |coordinates        = {{coord|39|22|N|21|55|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
 |postal_code = 431 00
 |area_code = 24410
 |licence = ΚΑ
 |website = [https://dimoskarditsas.gov.gr/ dimoskarditsas.gov.gr]
 |image_skyline      = Karditsa City Montage.jpg
 |imagesize          = 270
 |caption_skyline    =
 |city_flag          = 
 |city_seal          = 
 |districts          = 
 |mayor = Vasileios Tsiakos<ref name=mayor>[https://ekloges.ypes.gr/current/d/home/en/municipalities/9092/ Municipality of Karditsa, Municipal elections – October 2023], Ministry of Interior</ref>
 |party              = 
 |since              = 2019
}}

'''Karditsa''' ({{langx|el|Καρδίτσα|Kardítsa}} {{IPA|el|karˈðitsa|}}) is a city in western [[Thessaly]] in mainland [[Greece]]. The city of Karditsa is the capital of [[Karditsa (regional unit)|Karditsa regional unit]] of the region of Thessaly.

==Climate==

Karditsa has a hot-summer [[Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Csa''). Karditsa experiences hot, dry summers and cool winters with substantial precipitation.

{{Weather box
|location=Karditsa
|metric first=yes
|single line=yes
|Jan high C=10.25

|Feb high C=13.54
|Mar high C=11.76
|Apr high C=20.28
|May high C=25.29
|Jun high C=30.73
|Jul high C=32.31
|Aug high C=31.39
|Sep high C=27.78
|Oct high C=21.85
|Nov high C=15.33
|Dec high C=10.36
|year high C=
|Jan mean C=5.36
|Feb mean C=6.83
|Mar mean C=10.49
|Apr mean C=14.86
|May mean C=19.85
|Jun mean C=25.59
|Jul mean C=26.68
|Aug mean C=25.38
|Sep mean C=21.73
|Oct mean C=15.95
|Nov mean C=10.38
|Dec mean C=6.47
|year mean C=
|Jan low C=1.94
|Feb low C=2.81
|Mar low C=5.28
|Apr low C=8.65
|May low C=13.08
|Jun low C=16.28
|Jul low C=17.75
|Aug low C=17.29
|Sep low C=13.91
|Oct low C=10.50
|Nov low C=5.49
|Dec low C=2.46
|year low C=
|Jan precipitation mm=82.64
|Feb precipitation mm=77.22
|Mar precipitation mm=59.32
|Apr precipitation mm=62.20
|May precipitation mm=45.88
|Jun precipitation mm=19.50
|Jul precipitation mm=14.01
|Aug precipitation mm=16.78
|Sep precipitation mm=26.91
|Oct precipitation mm=91.44
|Nov precipitation mm=90.18
|Dec precipitation mm=91.01
|year precipitation mm=
|Jan sun=113.51
|Feb sun=122.05
|Mar sun=165.50
|Apr sun=206.01
|May sun=267.05
|Jun sun=330.90
|Jul sun=333.92
|Aug sun=310.91
|Sep sun=237.76
|Oct sun=170.41
|Nov sun=121.35
|Dec sun=102.84
|year sun=
|source 1 = Hellenic National Meteorological Service<ref>{{cite web
  | url=http://climatlas.hnms.gr/sdi/
  | title=Karditsa Climatic Data
  | publisher=Hellenic National Meteorological Service
  | access-date=16 March 2021
  }}</ref>
  | date=March 2021
}}

==History==
[[File:Karditsa.jpg|thumb|190px|View of the cathedral church of Saints Constantine and Helena.]]

During the period of [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] rule in [[Thessaly]], the main settlement in the location of modern Karditsa was called Sotira.<ref>{{cite web|author=Arrowsmith, John|url=http://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~33867~1170019:Turkey-in-Europe,-by-J--Arrowsmith|title= Turkey in Europe, 1832}}</ref> In 1810, the English traveler [[William Martin Leake]] mentioned a sprawling village named Kardhítza, consisting of between 500-600 houses, of which the majority of the inhabitants were Turkish.<ref>Leake, William Martin. ''Travels in Northern Greece''. (1835).</ref>

Karditsa was incorporated as a new city in 1882, the year after its liberation from the [[Ottoman Empire]] (1881).

During [[World War II]], the resistance in Thessaly was fought primarily by the [[Greek People's Liberation Army|ELAS]]. On March 12, 1943 Karditsa was liberated temporarily by ELAS after the Italian capitulation.

In September 2020, the city was badly hit from catastrophic floods that resulted in 4 deaths.

==Municipality==
The municipality Karditsa was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 5 former municipalities, that became municipal units:<ref name=Kallikratis>{{Cite web|url=http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wGYK2xFpSwMnXdtvSoClrL81-32jgAMSfbnMRVjyfnPUeJInJ48_97uHrMts-zFzeyCiBSQOpYnT00MHhcXFRTsb2fGphpq4MKX2ZkaHobySNnvZCNHXvYVvlf80XevW0Q.|title=ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities|language=el|publisher=[[Government Gazette (Greece)|Government Gazette]]}}</ref>
*[[Itamos]]
*[[Kallifoni]]
*[[Kampos, Karditsa|Kampos]]
*Karditsa
*[[Mitropoli]]

The municipality has an area of 647.3878&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, the municipal unit 110.086&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=stat01>{{cite web|url=http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf |publisher=National Statistical Service of Greece |title=Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation) |language=el |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921212047/http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf |archivedate=2015-09-21 }}</ref> Formerly, Karditsa had a neighbourhood known as Vlachomachalas, which was populated by Vlachs ([[Aromanians]]).<ref name=":0">Rousiakis, Sotirios (2021). [https://www.db-thueringen.de/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/dbt_derivate_00053474/Rousiakis_Greek_Karagouns.pdf THE MODERN GREEK DIALECT OF THE KARAGOUNS IN WEST THESSALY]. p. 19.</ref>

===Subdivisions===
The municipal unit of Karditsa is divided into six parts (communities):<ref name=Kallikratis/>
*[[Agiopigi]]
*[[Artesiano]]
*Karditsa
*[[Karditsomagoula]]
*[[Palioklissi]]
*Rousso

==Historical population==
[[File:Николаос Пластирас, памятник в городе Кардица.jpg|thumb|180px|Statue of [[Nikolaos Plastiras]] (1883-1953) in Karditsa.]]

{| class=wikitable
! Year !! Community !! Municipal unit !! Municipality
|-
| 2001 || 35,971 || 41,411 || -
|-
| 2011 || 39,119 || 44,002 || 56,747 
|-
| 2021 || 40,272 || 44,700 || 55,979
|}

==Education==
Veterinary Medicine Department of the [[University of Thessaly]] which is one of only two Veterinary departments in Greece and three other university departments of the [[University of Thessaly]] based in the city.

==Transport==
Karditsa is served by trains on the [[Palaiofarsalos-Kalambaka railway|Palaiofarsalos-Kalambaka line]], with connections to both Athens and [[Thessaloniki railway station|Thessaloniki]].

==Sports==
Football clubs include [[Anagennisi Karditsa]], A.S.Karditsa ([[:el:Α.Σ._Καρδίτσας|el]]), [[AO Karditsa]], Asteras Karditsas ([[:el:Αστέρας_Καρδίτσας|el]]) and [[Elpides Karditsas]]. SPA Karditsa ([[:el:Σ.Π.Α._Καρδίτσας|el]]) is a volleyball club.
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!colspan="4"|Sport clubs based in Karditsa
|-
!width="150"|Club
!Founded
!Sports
!Achievements
|-
|[[Anagennisi Karditsas]]||1904 ||[[Association football|Football]] ||Presence in Beta Ethniki
|-
|[[AO Karditsa]]||1966||[[Association football|Football]] ||Earlier presence in Beta Ethniki
|-
|[[ASK Karditsas B.C.|ASK Karditsa]]||2006 || [[Basketball]] ||Presence in Alpha Ethniki
|-
|[[SPA Karditsa]]||1987||[[Volleyball]]||Presence in A2 Ethniki volleyball
|-
|[[Elpides Karditsas]]||1994||[[Association football|Football]]||Presence in A Ethniki women
|}

== Notable people ==
[[File:Seal of Bartholomew, Latin Bishop of Karditsa and Velestino (Schlumberger, 1897).jpg|thumb|Seal of Bartholomew, Latin Bishop of Karditsa and [[Velestino]] in the early 13th century]]
*[[Ioannis Bourousis]], basketball player
*[[Antigoni Drisbioti]], Olympian race walker
*[[Charilaos Florakis]], politician
*[[Georgios Karaiskakis]], hero of the [[Greek War of Independence]]
*[[Alexandros Papamichail]], Olympic race walker
*[[Helena Paparizou]], singer and winner of 2005 Eurovision Song Contest
*[[Nikolaos Plastiras]], army officer and Prime Minister
*[[Georgios Siantos]], politician, Greek Resistance figure
*[[Dimitris Sioufas]], politician
*[[Dimitrios Tsiamis]], jumper, bronze medalist at European Championships
*[[Panagiota Tsinopoulou]], Olympic race walker
*[[Seraphim of Athens]], archbishop
*[[Stefanos Tsitsipas]], tennis player
* [[Konstantinos Thanos]]
* [[Kostas Tsiaras]]
* [[Sakis Tsiolis]] 
* [[Vaios Karagiannis]]

==See also==
* [[Fanari, Karditsa]]

==Gallery==
{{Gallery
| title        = 
| align        =center
| footer       =
| style        =
| state        =
| height       =
| width        =
| captionstyle =
| mode         = nolines
| File:Λιμνη θεα απο Νεοχωρις προς Φραγμα.jpg
 | alt1=
 | [[Lake Plastiras]], near the city
| File:Памятник у Пластиры.jpg
 | alt2=
 | Monument to Greco-Russian friendship at Lake Plastira
| File:Φράγμα Συκιάς, διακρίνεται η σήραγγα εκτροπής και η εκσκαφή των πρανών για την κατασκευή του φράγματος - panoramio.jpg
 | alt3=
 | Dam of Sykia
| File:Argithea, Greece - panoramio.jpg
 | alt4=
 | View to [[Argithea]] 
| File:Λίμνη Στεφανιάδα - panoramio.jpg
 | alt5=
 | Stefaniada lake
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{commons-inline}}
*[http://www.kwmn.gr/ Karditsa Wireless Metropolitan Network], Karditsas Wifi Community Network (in Greek)

{{Kallikratis-Thessaly}}
{{Karditsa div}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Karditsa| ]]
[[Category:Greek prefectural capitals]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Thessaly]]
[[Category:Populated places in Karditsa (regional unit)]]