Edessa, Greece

Edessa
Έδεσσα
Edessa's waterfalls, landmark of the town
Edessa's waterfalls, landmark of the town
Edessa is located in Greece
Edessa
Edessa
Location within the region
Coordinates: 40°48′N 22°3′E / 40.800°N 22.050°E / 40.800; 22.050
CountryGreece
Geographic regionMacedonia
Administrative regionCentral Macedonia
Regional unitPella
Districts15
Government
 • MayorIoannis Tsepkentzis[1] (since 2023)
Area
 • Municipality611.212 km2 (235.990 sq mi)
 • Municipal unit321.2 km2 (124.0 sq mi)
 • Community39.0 km2 (15.1 sq mi)
Elevation
320 m (1,050 ft)
Population
 (2021)[2]
 • Municipality26,407
 • Density43/km2 (110/sq mi)
 • Municipal unit
23,210
 • Municipal unit density72/km2 (190/sq mi)
 • Community
19,036
 • Community density490/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
582 00
Area code(s)23810
Vehicle registrationΕΕ
Websitedimosedessas.gov.gr

Edessa (Greek: Έδεσσα, pronounced [ˈeðesa]; also known as the "City of Waters and of the 5 Senses"),[3] until 1923 Vodena (Greek: Βοδενά), is a city in northern Greece and the capital of the Pella regional unit, in the Central Macedonia region of Greece. It was also the capital of the defunct province of the same name.

Edessa holds a special place in the history of the Greek world as, according to some ancient sources, it was here that Caranus established the first capital of ancient Macedon.[4] Later, under the Byzantine Empire, Edessa benefited from its strategic location, controlling the Via Egnatia as it enters the Pindus mountains, and became a center of medieval Greek culture, famed for its strong walls and fortifications.[4] In the modern period, Edessa was one of Greece's industrial centers until the middle of the 20th century, with many textile factories operating in the city and its immediate vicinity. Today however its economy mainly relies on services and tourism. Edessa hosts most of the administrative services of the Pella regional unit, as well as some departments of the Thessaloniki-based University of Macedonia.[5]

  1. ^ "Municipality of Edessa, Municipal elections – October 2023". Ministry of Interior.
  2. ^ "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Edessa city of waters. Pella - Macedonia - Greece. Waterfalls, Agios Athanasios, Kaimaktsalan. Εδεσσα, Πέλλα, Μακεδονία, Ελλάδα. Καταρράκτες, Αγιος Αθανάσιος, Καιμάκτσαλάν". www.edessacity.gr. Retrieved 2021-08-16.
  4. ^ a b "Pellanet - Καθημερινή ενημέρωση".
  5. ^ "Edessa - Tourism".