Katerini

Katerini (Κατερίνη, Kateríni, ) 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) and the city consisting 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, Peristasi are visited by both Greek and foreign tourists during the summer season. The base of Mount Olympus and the town of Litochoro, are at a distance of around 20 km from the center of Katerini,   whereas there is the ski center of Elatochori in Mount Pieria at a distance of 33.4 km from the city's center.

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". 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. 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.

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. Greek refugees from the Greek genocide (1916–1923) and Pontic Greek genocide (1914–1923) settled in Katerini. 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.

Administrative division
The Municipality of Katerini was formed in 2011 with the Kallikratis Programme administrative reform by the merger of the following 6 former municipalities, that became municipal units of the newly formed Municipality of Katerini.

The municipality Katerini is subdivided into 6 municipal units, each of which is divided into municipal communities.

Climate
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).

Local food
Katerini is located near several villages which are renowned for their high quality products, specifically kiwis, wines,      cherries, are one of the more important productions in the region,    as well as strawberries, apples, olives, olive oil, truffle oil, truffles, mushrooms, grapes, mineral water,  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), dairy products (milk, butter, kefir, yogurt), cheese (feta, kasseri, manouri, anthotyros, kefalotyri, mizithra), chickens (meat, eggs), black pigs (meat, cured meat, sausages). Katerini Steppe Cattle originates from Katerini,  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.

Economy
Katerini is the administrative and economic center of Pieria. In 2022 it joined the EU Smart Tourism Destinations Project for smart tourism aims to promote sustainable development practices and access to tourism and hospitality through Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)    with the collaboration of other EU selected destinations. 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. It is the first one municipality in Greece in which the pilot implementation of the Platform SMARTREC   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)   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, Dimitra Agricultural-Livestock-farming Association of Katerini, Sheep-Goat Farmers of Pieria Agricultural Cooperative of Prefecture of Pieria, Agios Modestos Sheep-Goat Farmers Association of Pieria, Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Pieria, Consortium of Agricultural Tobacco Cooperatives of Pieria, Pieria Hoteliers Association, Federation of Letting Rooms and Accommodations of Pieria, Imathia, Pella (OEDDPIP), Travel Agents Association of Pieria.

Every year it operates the Trade-Craft Exhibition Activity of Pieria & Central Makedonia (EBEP-KM), and the open-air market and traditional Greek festival Emporopanigyri known as Panigyri in August-September, taking place at the exhibition area of the Municipality of Katerini in the Andromachi settlement. The Park Festival is held at the Municipal Park of Katerini in April with street food and fun activities. In October, the Fest of Honey for honey and bee products is held at the Municipal Park of Katerini organized by the Agios Filaretos o Eleimon Bee⁠-⁠keeping Association of Pieria, under the auspices of the Municipality of Katerini.

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. 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. Katerini - and Pieria - the area in Greece where kiwi fruit products were cultivated in 1973 at the initiative of Tasos Michos 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.

Tourism
Katerini is a popular tourist destination, that attracts visitors from Greece and abroad. Within the boundaries of the municipality, there are seasonal and all year round over 230 hotels,   that can accommodate more than 8,600 people,   short-term rental accommodatios, and tourist accommodations. 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. Winter tourism has started developing in the area with the Elatochori ski resort. 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 where there is the Olympus National Woodland Park one of the National parks of Greece for visits and sports activities.

Public health
The National Health System (ESY) in Katerini has the:
 * General Hospital of Katerini, in the area of Neo Keramidi.
 * Health Center of Katerini.
 * 4th Local Health Group (T.OM.Y.) of Katerini housed in the premises of the Health Center of Katerini and National Organization for Health Care Services (EOPYY).
 * 12th Local Health Group (T.OM.Y.) of Katerini housed in the premises of the former General Hospital of Katerini.
 * Regional Care Center in Paralia operates each summer season.
 * Atraktos Center for the Prevention of Addictions and Promotion of Psychosocial Health of the Regional Unit of Pieria.

The Municipal Social Care Center of Katerini 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. 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), with the aim of public information about high-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) levels. The results are presented through an interactive web portal and mobile application.

Municipality of Katerini operates its office for local stray animals.

Local transport
The national bus lines service is provided by the KTEL Pieria 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, 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.

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. Intercity bus routes delivered by the KTEL Pieria, 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. There are also privately held international bus routes that connect Katerini with several cities in Albania and Bulgaria.

Rail links
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. It is also connected with Athens and all the intermediate stations by Intercity train routes.

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

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). Among them the most populous ethnic group was Albanians (2.5%) followed by Georgians (0.5%), Russians (0.4%) and Bulgarians (0.3%).

Religion
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. Katerini has a relatively numerous Protestant community, as a result of the organised settlement of Evangelical Greek refugees from Asia Minor and Pontus (region). Today the Greek Evangelical Church of Katerini has almost 1,100 followers, 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. 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.

Education

 * The Katerini City (Settlement of Katerini) public schools is a part of the public education system consisting of member schools include, Preschool, Primary, Secondary (Gymnasium, High School, and others),        Post Upper Secondary,   and Higher Education.
 * Center of Lifelong Learning (KDVM) of the Municipality of Katerini  in cooperation with the Ministry of Education.
 * Re-Training Programs of non-formal education with 380 hours each program  of the Ministry of Tourism supervised by the Makedonia School of Advanced Vocational Training (SAEK) of Tourism for employed and unemployed persons of tourism professions operate at times after an official public announcement.
 * School of Samaritans and Rescuers of the Volunteers Samaritans, Rescuers and Lifeguards Corp of the Hellenic Red Cross.
 * Municipal Odeion of Katerini that is a conservatoire of music education.
 * Educational programs of the Rescue Team of Pieria.

From 2006 to 2016 was operating the Second Chance Seminary School of Katerini of the Ministry of Education, that was suspended its operation since the academic year 2016–2017, which was a two years public ecclesiastical lifelong learning education boarding school housed in the Ecclesiastical Guesthouse of the Metropolis of Kitros, Katerini and Platamon in the Prosilio settlement.

Athletic centers

 * 1st Municipal Athletic Center of Katerini (A DAK) where is the 4,995-seat open-air Stadium of Katerini.
 * 2nd Municipal Athletic Center of Katerini (B DAK) "Theodoros Diamantopoulos" comprises Indoor Sports Stadium, football field, tennis courts, basketball courts, indoor shooting range, indoor swimming pool.
 * Indoor Sports Stadium of Katerini Railway Station.

Football
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.

Other sports

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


 * Chess Club of Katerini
 * Chopper Riders Club Katerini
 * Go-kart Track of Katerini in Paralia
 * Free Cyclists of Pieria (ELPPI)
 * Olympios Cycling Club of Katerini
 * Cycling Escape of Pieria - Cycling Club
 * DIAS Environmental and Cycling Club of Katerini
 * Athlos Sports Club (weightlifting, track and field)
 * Aiolos Sports and Cultural Club of Katerini (volleyball)
 * Olympioi of Katerini Gymnastics Sports Club (wrestling)
 * Pyrros Dimas Sports Club (weightlifting, track and field)
 * Aero Club of Pieria (air sports, R/C model aircraft, UAV)
 * Zeus Sports and Cultural Club (APS) of Pieria's Runners
 * Panthers Gymnastics Sports Club of Pieria, basketball
 * Sports Gymnastics Club of Pieria (AGEP 2011), basketball
 * Katerini Tennis Club
 * Tennis Club of Katerini (OAK)
 * Equestrian Club of Pieria
 * DIAS Sports Swimming Club
 * Nautical Club of Katerini (NOKAT)
 * Asterias Sports Academy (water sports)
 * Nereus Sports Academy of Katerini (water sports)
 * Vouliaxtaria Underwater Explorers and Diving Club
 * Sports Academy of Pieria '92 - Swimming Academy
 * Club of Greek Mountaineers (SEO) of Katerini
 * Hellenic Mountaineering Club (EOS) of Katerini
 * Ski Club of Katerini - Skiing & Snowboarding Academy
 * Enalios Diving Center - Scuba divers' Training School
 * Tritones of Katerini Friends of Free Diving - Underwater Fishing
 * Poseidon Sports & Cultural Club of Katerini - Swimming Academy

Notable people

 * Dimos Anastasiadis (1985), musician, singer
 * Basil Athanasiadis (1970), musician, composer
 * Eleni Chatziliadou (1993), karateka, karate world champion 2018
 * Giannis Christoforidis (1941–2020), footballer, member of the Greece national football team
 * Georgios Diamantidis (1984), swimmer who specialized in long-distance freestyle events
 * Tim Efkarpidis (1944) Australian businessman
 * Giorgos Fourniadis (1937), actor and director
 * Elias Gaganelis, founder of the Replicar Hellas car firm in Katerini
 * Dimitris Giannoulis (1995), footballer
 * Anastasios Gkogkos (1925–1991), hagiographer, painter
 * Matthew Josafat (1937–2022), psychiatrist, psychoanalyst
 * Kostas Kamperidis (1970), sculptor
 * Christos Kotzamanidis (1950–2023), handball coach, professor at School of Physical Education and Sports Science (TEFAA) of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
 * Stelios Malezas (1985), footballer
 * Dimos Manglaras (1940), long jumper
 * Christina Moschi (2002), 10m air pistol shooter of the Archelaos Katerinis Sports Club, Member of the Hellenic Shooting Federation (HSF) and Hellenic National Shooting Team
 * Katerina Nikolaidou (1992), rower, 4th place 2016 Olympic Games, 2nd place in the lightweight single sculls at the 2013 World Rowing Championships
 * Athanasios Mpatsaras (1972–2007), Flight Lieutenant of Hellenic Air Force
 * Konstantinos Papachronis (1977–2008), actor
 * Kyriakos Papadopoulos (1992), footballer
 * Georgios P. Piperopoulos (1942), university professor
 * Athanasios Stathakopoulos (1942), painter
 * Yannis K. Semertzidis (1961), physicist
 * Maria Skliopidou (1954–2021), gallerist, owner of the Gallery Chrysa founded in 1990
 * Maria Tsionoglou (1991), 10m air pistol shooter of the Archelaos Katerinis Sports Club, Member of the Hellenic Shooting Federation (HSF) and Hellenic National Shooting Team
 * Alexandros Tziolis (1985), footballer

International relations
Katerini is twinned with:


 * 🇷🇴 Brăila, Romania
 * 🇧🇬 Karlovo, Bulgaria
 * 🇷🇸 Čačak, Serbia
 * 🇩🇪 Maintal, Germany
 * 🇦🇹 Moosburg, Austria
 * 🇷🇺 Surgut, Russia