Grevena (, Grevená ; ) is a town and municipality in Western Macedonia, northern Greece, and the capital of the Grevena regional unit. Grevena lies about from Athens and about from Thessaloniki. According to the 2021 census, the town's population is 12,515, and that of the municipality 25,905.

Grevena has immediate access to the A2 motorway (Egnatia Odos) since the early 2000s. The motorway connects Igoumenitsa (an important port connecting the west coast of Greece with Italy) to Thessaloniki and Alexandroupoli (at the border with Turkey). A direct series of motorway links to Athens will become available sometime in 2026 through the completion of the northern section of the E65 Central Motorway.

Mountains surround the municipality, which is situated by the river Greveniotikos, which itself flows into the Aliakmon.

Other significant towns in the municipality are Amygdalies and Mega Seirini. The Grevena Municipal Museum is located in the town.

History

Ottoman period

thumb|Photo of Grevena (1900) by [[Manakis brothers]]

Under Ottoman rule, Grevena was a small administrative and military centre, the seat of a kaza belonging to the Sanjak of Serfiğe within the Vilayet of Manastir.

Grevena was a mixed town and a part of its population were Greek-speaking Muslim Vallahades. The 1920 Greek census recorded 3,108 people in Grevena, and 200 inhabitants (40 families) were Muslim in 1923.

Due to its small size, the town's Ottoman past, represented through a few public buildings and the homes of Muslims located in the urban centre, all disappeared during the 20th century. Another mosque existed in Grevena and was converted into a church in 1927; later it and its minaret were demolished, and the church of Agios Achillios built on the site. Military barracks remained until World War Two, and were later destroyed.

1995 earthquake

The earthquake that occurred in the region on 13 May 1995 was 6.6 on the Richter magnitude scale, but it caused only material damage. The worst hit area was the county of Ventzia. There were two foreshocks of lesser intensity that preceded the main earthquake by a few minutes and warned people. These warnings sent the population out of their houses. When the main earthquake came, it destroyed nearly all the houses in several villages of the Ventzia County – the houses collapsed to the ground – but all the inhabitants were outside.

Another earthquake on 5 January 2005 measured 4.9 near Grevena. It took place at 20:00 local time (EET), and no damage was reported. Another earthquake with a measured intensity of 5.4 occurred on 17 July 2007 at 21:23 local time (EET) and was followed by weak aftershocks. Some older buildings were lightly damaged in villages northeast of Grevena.

Administrative division

Municipality

thumb|240px|Grevena municipality

thumb|240px|Grevena municipal unit

The municipality Grevena was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 13 former municipalities, that became municipal units:

  • Agios Kosmas
  • Dotsiko
  • Filippaioi
  • Gorgiani
  • Grevena
  • Irakleotes
  • Mesolouri
  • Samarina
  • Smixi
  • Theodoros Ziakas
  • Ventzio

Municipal unit

The municipal unit of Grevena is divided into the following communities: and Business Administration.

Economy

In the area, there is large production of mushrooms, collected in the Valia Calda area. It is also the place of production of Anevato cheese.

Climate

Grevena has a mediterranean continental climate characterized by a great diurnal temperature variation. Winters are cold with frequent snowfalls, whereas summers are hot during the day and cool during the night.

Historical population

{| class=wikitable

! Year !! Community !! Municipal unit !! Municipality

|-

| 1981 || 7,739 || — || —

|-

| 1991 || 9,345 || 14,986 || —

|-

| 2001 || 12,037 || 16,421 || —

|-

| 2011 || 13,374 || 17,610 || 25,905

|-

| 2021 || 12,515 || 15,716 || 21,421

|}

People

  • Theodoros Ziakas, fighter in the Greek revolution
  • Konstantinos Dimidis, printer, gunsmith, fighter in the Greek revolution
  • Charissios Tziogas, fighter in the Greek revolution
  • Nicolaos Tsolakis, chieftain of the Greek Struggle for Macedonia
  • Nicolaos Zamkinos, leader of the Greek Struggle for Macedonia
  • Georgios Boussios, fighter of the Greek Struggle for Macedonia, politician, minister of the Interior (Greece)
  • Kostas Koutsomytis, director
  • Kostas Papanikolaou, former NBA player
  • Miltiadis Tentoglou, Olympic and European champion long jumper
  • Eva Chantava, volleyball player

References

  • Official website
  • Dasilio Grevenon
  • Awarded "EDEN - European Destinations of Excellence" non traditional tourist destination 2008