Volos

Volos
Βόλος
View to Volos' promenade and port
View to Volos' promenade and port
Official seal of Volos
Volos is located in Greece
Volos
Volos
Location within the region
Coordinates: 39°22′N 22°56′E / 39.367°N 22.933°E / 39.367; 22.933
CountryGreece
Administrative regionThessaly
Regional unitMagnesia
Districts18
Government
 • MayorAchilleas Beos[1] (since 2014)
Area
 • Municipality
385.6 km2 (148.9 sq mi)
 • Municipal unit108.6 km2 (41.9 sq mi)
Elevation
15 m (49 ft)
Population
 (2021)[2]
 • Municipality
139,670
 • Density360/km2 (940/sq mi)
 • Municipal unit
85,803
 • Municipal unit density790/km2 (2,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
38x xx
Area code(s)2421x
Vehicle registrationΒΟx (ended), ΒΒx (current use)
Websitewww.volos-city.gr

Volos (Greek: Βόλος [ˈvolos]) is a coastal port city in Thessaly situated midway on the Greek mainland, about 330 kilometres (205 miles) north of Athens and 220 kilometres (137 miles) south of Thessaloniki. It is the capital of the Magnesia regional unit of the Thessaly Region. Volos is also the only outlet to the sea from Thessaly, the country's largest agricultural region. With a population of 85,803 (2021),[2] the city is an important industrial centre, and its port provides a bridge between Europe and Asia.

Volos is the newest of the Greek port cities, with a large proportion of modern buildings erected following catastrophic earthquakes in 1955. It includes the municipal units of Volos, Nea Ionia and Iolkos, as well as smaller suburban communities. The economy of the city is based on manufacturing, trade, services and tourism. Home to the University of Thessaly, the city also offers facilities for conferences, exhibitions and major sporting, cultural and scientific events. Volos participated in the 2004 Olympic Games, and the city has since played host to other athletic events, such as the European Athletic Championships. Volos hosted the 7th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics from 27 July to 5 August 2013.[3]

  1. ^ Municipality of Volos, Municipal elections – October 2023, Ministry of Interior
  2. ^ a b "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. ^ http://www.ioaa2013.gr/ 7th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics official website