Giannitsa - Γιαννιτσά

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The Giannitsa is the largest city in the Prefecture of Pella with 29,789 inhabitants.

At a glance

The city is located 48 km west-northwest Thessaloniki, at an altitude of 40 m. between Mount Paiko and the Plain of Giannitsa.

History

Giannitsa has been inhabited since ancient times Neolithic period. In fact, the Neolithic settlement of Giannitsa, which extends to the southernmost hill of the city, in the wider area of ​​the "Old Market", is one of the oldest Neolithic settlements in Europe. Giannitsa was inhabited during the Bronze Age (3200-1100). The Iron Age follows (1100-750 BC). The cemetery dates to this period, with men, women and a children's burial located at the exit of the city to Edessa. Random finds such as coins and sculptures show that Giannitsa was inhabited during the Hellenistic period. In the middle Neolithic period, the settlement of Giannitsa was abandoned, most likely due to rising sea levels and landslides. In ancient times, the area of ​​Giannitsa was called Vottiaia (borders of the river Axios and Aliakmonas). The Bottaeans were the first inhabitants of Giannitsa, who were expelled by the Macedonians and specifically King Perdiccas, in the 7th century BC. Archaeological and historical research of recent years showed that Giannitsa was not founded by the Turks, as generally believed , but pre-existed in the late Byzantine years (finds in the area of ​​the Old Agora) as a settlement named "Vardarion". The first mention of Vardar as a place name is made in the 11th century in the years of Komnenos. When, around 1385, Gazi Evrenos set up his army to march against the Byzantines, he encountered an already organized settlement, which he captured.

Byzantine era and Ottoman rule

Giannitsa in 1500 had 450 Muslim households.

The name Eniche Vardar (Enidje Vardar) is first mentioned by the Venetian Lorenzo Bernardo in 1591.

The Turkish phase of the city essentially begins and is sealed by the personality of Gazi Evrenos Bey. The fact that it was buried in the city of Giannitsa (Gazi Evrenos Mausoleum) will make it a holy city of the Turks and a place of worship, which perhaps explains the stubbornness with which the Turks defended them in 1912.

The Turks always maintained important forces in their holy city and became the starting point for the conquest of the rest of the Balkans. From the middle of the 15th century, the city of Giannitsa became a center of letters and arts. In the city, under the rule of Ahmet Bey, many mosques, schools, orphanages were established and public works were carried out. Many Turkish authorities were based there, such as the kehagias of the slaughterers, the kehagias of the city, the serdaris and others. Among the settlers, there were important personalities and people of letters, who also contributed to the city gaining a special radiance. The memory of the spiritual man Sheikh Ilahi was preserved for centuries, sealing many monuments of the city. Giannitsa, during the Turkish occupation, was a typically Ottoman city with strong Turkish characteristics. However, travelers point out that in the 16th century the city was inhabited by Christian and Jewish families.

During the Greek Revolution of 1821, an important role was played by the Giannitsiotis teacher Dimitrios Barlaoutas who was in Naoussa, as well as the patriot, doctor Antonios Perdikaris with his son Anastasios who had been exiled by Zafeirakis Theodosiou in the city of Gianni. After the destruction of Naoussa, in 1822, the city received large waves of refugees from residents of Naoussa and the surrounding villages.

Macedonian Struggle - Lake Giannitsa

The city of Giannitsa due to its location near the lake, offered a lot to the Macedonian Struggle. Many people from Giannitsa joined and fought in the Greek guerrilla corps. Others offered their services as guides, transporters and agents of the lake captains.

Under the responsibility of the Consulate General of Thessaloniki, civil defense committees were appointed in every city and village of Macedonia, which took care of the organization and mobilization of the inhabitants, to defend their interests from the arbitrariness of the occupiers and to strengthen the guerrilla groups in their area. . In Giannitsa this Committee consisted of Antonios Kasapis (President), Papa-Dimitris Oikonomou (Secretary), Christos Didaskalou (Treasurer), who were savagely murdered by the komitatzides for their action. Antonios Kasapis in 1904 (earlier they had brutally murdered his daughter, Velika Roma at her house in Pylorigi on March 6, 1903), Christos Didaskalou near Gypsochori in 1907 and Papa-Dimitris in Lakka in 1909. For their services Also killed in the struggle were: Christos Hadjidimitriou (17-7-1905) on the main street of the city, in the market, Dionysis Samoladas in 1904, Aristidis Douvantzis and Dionysis Tsakmakis in 1905. Giannis Karabatakis with his niece, Mitzouris, Athanasios Oikonomou, Athanasios Organzis in 1906.

The Secrets of the Swamp of Penelope Delta capture the aspects of the bloody Macedonian Struggle. They are the city's favorite book, perhaps its best guide to the most critical period in its history. At the beginning of the 20th century and mainly in the period 1904-1908, the lake was one of the most important fields of the Greek-Bulgarian competition.

Bulgarian komitatzides, using the lake of Giannitsa as their base, terrorized the Greek populations in order to achieve their enslavement. At the beginning of our century, Giannitsa was the center of the Macedonian struggle with a leading Macedonian warrior, Gono Giotas, who is the modern hero of Giannitsa. It was "the element of the Lake". Important Macedonians from Giannitsa were also Demosthenes Vafopoulos, Dionysios Giotas, Aristides Dovantzis and the priests Dimitrios Oikonomou and Argyrios Papargiriou.

During prehistoric and historical times, the Thermaic Gulf covered the current plain of Giannitsa and the plain of Thessaloniki. However, with the alluvium of the rivers Aliakmonas, Axios and Echedoros (Gallikos), the sea slowly recedes and the Lake of Giannitsa is formed. It had an area of ​​5,000-10,000 acres and the swampy passages that surrounded it reached 340,000 acres. It was dried during the period 1926-1937 by the Foundation Company. A great impetus to the economy of the city and the surrounding area was given by the drainage of the lake and the settlement of refugees from Asia Minor of Pontus, Eastern Thrace and Eastern Romulia in 1922.

Main entry: Battle of Giannitsa

The Turkish army on the Greek front, after not restraining its forces in the straits of Sarandaporos and only managed to create problems for the Greeks to advance in Western Macedonia, gathered in Giannitsa, where it fortified itself, believing that Thessaloniki could not be held. outside its walls. The strategic position of Giannitsa, the low hills, which act as excellent defense barriers while the adjacent lake made the course of the opponents in a relatively narrow area, was further strengthened by artillery units. 25,000 Turkish army and 30 cannons were waiting for the Greeks (with a force of five divisions, of which four took part in the battle), who advanced from Veria. The battle began on October 19 and lasted for two days. The Greek military forces had to cross a bridge in the stream of Balitza, which was already targeted by the enemy. Under torrential rain, the Greek regiments had many losses and difficulties in development. By nightfall, when they had to pass it on the spot, the development of the artillery was completed and corrective movements of overtaking were made from the side of the northwestern hills above Giannitsa. The raid of the Greek army was impetuous and in the morning of the 20th, the victory was a fact. The losses were heavy. The losses of the Turks were threefold. A fire had broken out in the city. However, the road to the liberation of Thessaloniki was now open. The battle of October 20, 1912 was the deadliest battle of the Balkan wars and perhaps the most important. It meant the liberation of the city from the Turks and its integration into the Greek state. At the same time, however, it paved the way for the liberation of Thessaloniki and contributed to the formation of the modern map of Greece. The "Black Statue" testifies to the sacrifice of the people of Giannitsa. Chief of Staff Manuel Raktivan wrote about the battle of Giannitsa against Penelope Delta. "October 20th. Giannitsa. It is the day we took Thessaloniki."

The German occupation

The German army invaded Giannitsa on April 11, 1941. On April 20, 1941, an Austrian division was temporarily established and the inhabitants witnessed their violent behavior. The study of the files of the registry office of the Municipality of Giannitsa confirms 4 random executions in various parts of the settlements of the city. Climate change was observed at the end of 1943. On September 16, 1943, the Municipality of Giannitsa, led by the Mayor, Thomas Magriotis, with the help of local football teams, organized a demonstration in the city and delivered a text to the German Guards against the German to cede Central Macedonia to the Bulgarians. According to oral testimonies on November 13, 1943, the Germans arrested around 50 citizens, who were transferred to the camp of Pavlos Melas in Thessaloniki. At the beginning of 1944 they execute the thirteen (13), while the rest are released. At the same time, the Germans invade for the first time the village of Eleftherochori, Giannitsa. They plunder, seize and destroy. There were no casualties in this attack. On March 23, 1944, the Germans and their collaborators executed residents of Eleftherochori and set fire to the village. The village is burning, the place is deserted. Eleftherochori gave 19 dead in the fight. On August 5, 1944, the Austrian soldier Otmar Dorne left the German occupation army and joined the 30th ELAS Regiment, as did many residents of the area, based on Mount Paiko. The fact of Dorne's self-confession, as well as the presence of the SS sergeant Fritz Schubert (known from the brutality of Chortiatis), led to the mass execution on September 14, 1944 in Giannitsa. 112 people were executed that day. Among the executed citizens was the Mayor of Giannitsa, Thomas Magriotis. Swedish Ambassador Tümberg says a third of the city was destroyed by fire. The people of Giannitsa leave the city. They take refuge in the fields of the swamp and live in makeshift huts. Emil Wenger visited Giannitsa a few days after the group execution, as a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross and writes characteristically "Giannitsa is already a dead city". On September 20, 1944, a committee of citizens of Giannitsa sent a message to the National Government, stating the facts of the massacre and requesting weapons.

Giannitsa was liberated by the Germans on November 3, 1944.

Ideal period of visit

How to get there

By air

The nearest airport to the city of Giannitsa is the Macedonia International Airport of Thessaloniki and the journey is about an hour and a half.

By train

Giannitsa is not connected by train so the only way one can visit the city is only by road. The nearest train station is in Alexandria (Gida area) and the next one in Thessaloniki.

By road

The National Road Thessaloniki passes through Giannitsa-Edessa where is part of it National Road 2. The KTEL of N. Pella [1] connects the city of Giannitsa with its daily Edessa, Thessaloniki and Athens.

Orient yourself

How to move

In the city of Giannitsa there are very regular transports through the "KTEL URBAN LINES OF GIANNITSA" that connect the city from end to end and of course with the surrounding villages.

What to see

•   Pella. The ruins of ancient Pella, the birthplace of Alexander the Great and the capital of ancient Macedonia. (updated Sep 2015)
• The Mausoleum of Gazi Evrenoz, Founder of the city of Giannitsa.
• The Metropolitan Church of Giannitsa (Assumption of the Virgin Mary) where it was built in 1860 with the issuance of a special firman by the Turkish commander, after privileges granted to Christians.
• The Folklore Museum of Giannitsa of the company "O FILIPPOS", located in the city center, on the main pedestrian street of the city.
• You should not miss to visit the River "Loudia"
• The term "Child"
• The Baths of Gazi Evrenoz
• Sharif Ahmet's Clock Tower
• Turbe. The old inhabitants of the city testify that they were dervishes' tombs. It probably served as a mosque for daily prayer.
• The House of Oman Bey (This is a neoclassical house measuring 15.20 x 12.30 m. Which was built in the early 20th century and was the residence of the last descendant of Gazi Evrenos who ruled the area until 1912, Emin Bey. However, it remained After the Battle of Giannitsa (First Balkan War) and the defeat of the Ottoman army, he was forced to leave the city and Kaza, sealing the end of Ottoman rule).
• The monument of the Group Tomb. The people of Giannitsa executed on September 14, 1944 by the Germans are buried in the Group Tomb.
• The Hero of Giannitsa or as the locals call it "The black statue, because of its black polishing.
• Old town market.

Entertainment

Studies

Job opportunities

What will you buy

Where are you going to eat?

Where to go for coffee - drink

There are many good options on the pedestrian street of Giannitsa, a variety of shops of similar taste and desire

Where will you stay?

Stay safe

Health and precautions

Communications

Small problems

Nearby destinations

• Edessa - the green city famous for its waterfalls
• Ancient or Old Pella - The birthplace of Alexander the Great
• Verroia
• Thessaloniki
• Nea Pella
• Damiano,
• Galatades
• Pentaplatanos
• Aridea
• Messianic
• Mill
• Vineyards

• Goumenissa
• Hexaplatanos
  

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