From Crossroads to Cultural Destination: Reimagining Lamia’s Role in Greece’s North-South Continuum Through Heritage-Driven Tourism
Published:
Jul 28, 2025
Keywords:
Lamia, Phthiotida, Central Greece, Greece, Architectural Heritage, Cultural Heritage, Tourism, Greek Cities, Cities, City centers, Sustainability, Sus-tainable Development, Architecture, Preservation
Abstract
The old city of Lamia, today the core of the enlarged (Callicrates’) Municipality of Lamia, is a medium-sized city located roughly in the heart of Greece. [Figures 1 – 2] Its advantages include its geographical location, its rich historical past, its monumental constructions and ruins, the beautiful nature that surrounds it and its interesting intangible cultural heritage. In the context of this research, an effort was undertaken to formulate a systematic methodology—delineated in the second part of this paper—aimed at addressing a pivotal question: to what degree, if at all, the contemporary tourist influx in the city correlates with the management practices of the cultural heritage within its broader region. The first impression that is easily given, therefore, is that Lamia is characterized by limited visitor numbers, which makes it introverted and contributes to the reduced pleasure of its citizens from daily life there. The last ones declare that they observe problems in aesthetics, urban planning, cultural activity and the way of protecting and promoting their cultural heritage. The methodical collection and evaluation of data from bibliography, on-site observations, interviews and official sources, such as ELSTAT (Hellenic Statistical Authority) and EUROSTAT, indicate that there is indeed a relationship between cultural and tourist activity and that taking various measures with the aim of strengthening the former in Lamia could contribute gradually, with patience and persistence, to improving its position on the cultural and tourist map of Greece, as has also happened in the case of other European cities in recent decades.
Article Details
- How to Cite
-
Pineli, T. (2025). From Crossroads to Cultural Destination: Reimagining Lamia’s Role in Greece’s North-South Continuum Through Heritage-Driven Tourism. Technical Annals, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.12681/ta.41833
- Section
- Heritage and Tourism
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
References
ESPON Homepage, “Material Cultural Heritage as a Strategic Territorial Development Resource: Mapping Impacts Through a Set of Common European Socio-economic Indicators.”, ESPON 2019/9/27, https://archive.espon.eu/cultural-heritage, last accessed 2025/3/5.
Bianchini F., “Cultural Policy and revitalization of cities”, In: Bianchini F., Parkinson M. “The regeneration of European cities. The role of cultural policies.” (in Greek), EETAA (Greek Society for Local Development and Local Government), Athens (1994).
Angelidis M., Gerardi Kl., Georgoulis D., Mantouvalou M., Mavridou M., Sariyanni A., Sariyannis G.M., Zifou M., Vatavali F., “Unban interventions in the urban fabric” (University book for the course: “Urban Planning II” of the School of Architecture of the NTUA) (in Greek), NTUA Publications, Athens (2005).
ELSTAT, https://www.statistics.gr/, Last accessed 2024/7/25
"Greece, A Modern Atlas" (in Greek), Patakis Publications, Athens (2014).
Google Maps Homepage, https://www.google.gr/maps/@38.9063938,22.4333088,14z?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTExMy4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D, Last accessed 2024/11/19.
Pallis G., "From Lamia to Zitouni. Reconstructing a small Byzantine town." (in Greek), Guttenberg Publications, Athens (2020).
ACADEMIA Homepage, Froussou E. (2023), "Ancient Lamia 5th – 2nd century BC." (in Greek), https://www.academia.edu/95873063/Αρχαία_Λαμία_5ος_2ος_αι_π_Χ_Ancient_Lamia_5th_2nd_cent_BC_, Last accessed 2024/7/20.
Golden Greece Homepage, Anastassopoulou F., "Phthiotis – Archaeological sites”
(in Greek), https://golden-greece.gr/archaeological/sterea/fthiotida/arxaia, Last accessed 2024/7/20.
Kalimera Grèce Homepage, “City-States of Ancient Greece.”, https://www.kalimera-grece.eu/cites-etats-de-la-grece-antique/lamia/, Last accessed 2024/7/20.
Greek Travel Pages Homepage, "Toponym Information – Lamia (Ancient City) Phthiotis." (in Greek), https://www.gtp.gr/LocInfo.asp?InfoId=28&Code=EGRHFT30LAMLAM00090&PrimeCode=EGRHFT30LAMLAM00090&Level=10&PrimeLevel=10&lng=1, Last accessed 2024/7/2021.
Rossi A., “The architecture of the city” (in Greek), University Studio Press, Thessaloniki (1991).
Martinidis P., “Urbanity and how to obtain it” (in Greek), In: “City and region”, Volume 12, (1986).
Vaiou Nt., Lykoyanni R., Mavridou M., Papaioannou A., Sariyannni A.,
“Urban Space Design” (in Greek) (University book for the course: “Synthetic topic 7A”
of the NTUA School of Architecture), NTUA Publications, Athens (2005).
The Byzantine Legacy Homepage, “Lamia”, https://www.thebyzantinelegacy.com/lamia, Last accessed 2024/7/20.
Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation Homepage, “Lamia (Phthiotis) 96 Lamia – Λαμία.”, https://topostext.org/place/389224PLam, Last accessed 2024/7/20.
Delopoulos Giorgos, "Zitouni: the winding path of a place name." (in Greek).
Odysseus Homepage, Zachou E., "Castle of Lamia" (in Greek),
http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/gh351.jsp?obj_id=20544, Last accessed 2024/7/2021.
El Sito Homepage, Nikolaki Ntina, «Lamia,Sevasti, Zitouni, Εl Sito...» (in Greek),
https://elsito.gr/index.php/local/edo-meneis/item/77-lamia, Last accessed 2024/7/2021.
Celebi E., translated by Hiladakis N., "A Journey to Greece - from Thrace to Attica" (in Greek), Hekati Publications, Athens (2010).
Old Lamia Homepage (in Greek), https://www.facebook.com/istoriapaliaLamia/photos, Last accessed 2024/11/19.
Municipality of Lamia Homepage, "Post-revolutionary Lamia." (in Greek), https://www.lamia.gr/basiki-selida/i-metaepanastatiki-lamia, Last accessed 2024/7/23.
Municipality of Lamia Homepage, "Lamia after 1940.” (in Greek), https://www.lamia.gr/basiki-selida/i-lamia-meta-1940, Last accessed 2024/7/23.
Panhellenic Exhibition of Lamia Homepage, "The history of the exhibition" (in Greek), https://pelamias.gr/history/, Last accessed 2024/7/24.
WIKIPEDIA Homepage, "Municipality of Lamia (Kapodistrias Program)” (in Greek), https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/Δήμος_Λαμιέων_(πρόγραμμα_Καποδίστριας), Last accessed 2024/11/2.
WIKIPEDIA Homepage, "Municipality of Lamia" (in Greek), https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/Δήμος_Λαμιέων, Last accessed 2024/11/2.
Hellenic Republic – Ministry of Culture Homepage, “Archaeological site of the city of ancient Lamia” (in Greek), https://www.culture.gov.gr/el/service/SitePages/view.aspx?iID=1395, Last accessed 2024/7/20.
École française d’Athènes (EfA) Homepage, “Lamia – 1994. Report”,
https://chronique.efa.gr/?kroute=report&id=12691, Last accessed 2024/7/20.
14th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities Homepage, “Lamia. The fortification, the market and the cemeteries” (in Greek),
chrome-extension: https://www.culture.gov.gr/anaskafes/pdfs/ID_EPKA.pdf, Last accessed 2024/7/20.
Odysseus Homepage, Zachou E., "Lamia Castle" (in Greek) (2012), http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/gh351.jsp?obj_id=20544, Last accessed 2024/7/20.
WWW.GRECOMANIA.NET Homepage, “Lamia”,
Passion for Greece - The most comprehensive French-language site on Greece.
http://www.grecomania.net/Decouverte/Grece/Fthiotida/Lamia.htm, Last accessed 2024/7/20.
École française d'Athènes (EfA) Homepage, “ LAMIA. - Nécropole Sud-Est - 2006”,
https://chronique.efa.gr/?kroute=report&id=5479, Last accessed 2024/7/21.
École française d'Athènes (EfA) Homepage, “LAMIA. - Nécropole Sud-Est - 2001.”, https://chronique.efa.gr/?kroute=report&id=3520, 2024/7/21.
Pineli Triantafyllia, Personal archive of photographs on the theme of the city of Lamia (2025).
Archaeology Online Homepage, "News – Ephorate of Antiquities of Phthiotis and Evrytania. The new archaeological finds of Phthiotis are impressive” (in Greek),
https://www.archaiologia.gr/blog/2015/05/21/εντυπωσιάζουν-τα-νέα-αρχαιολογικά-ευ/ , Last accessed 2024/7/20.
Amphictyon Homepage, Balomenos K.A., (2014), "The people who built pre-war Lamia” (in Greek), https://amfictyon.blogspot.com/ , Last accessed 2024/7/23.
KALITERI LAMIA.GR Homepage, "Lamia: When the city had two castles and Ypsilantou Street was a river with stone-built, carved bridges” (in Greek), https://www.kaliterilamia.gr/2022/10/blog-post_637.html, Last accessed 2024/11/8.
Michanikos online Homepage, "Neoclassicism in Lamia" (in Greek) (2019), https://www.michanikos-online.gr/ο-νεοκλασικισμός-στη-λαμία/, Last accessed 2024/7/23.
Yotopoulos D., Argyropoulos E., Andreou A., Kantas G., "Architectural heritage - Preservable buildings of Lamia and utilization of some of them. Neoclassical houses of Lamia." (in Greek), Technical Chamber of Greece, Department of Eastern Central Greece (1976).
Municipality of Lamia Homepage, "Neoclassical listed buildings" (in Greek), https://www.lamia.gr/basiki-selida/neoklassika-diatiritea-ktiria, Last accessed 2024/7/23.
Time Machine (Michani tou Chronou) Homepage, “Lost Neoclassical Buildings. The demolished civilization of Lamia. See what it was like in the early 20th century without apartment buildings. (Photos.)” (in Greek), https://www.mixanitouxronou.gr/o-katedafismenos-politismos-tis-lamias-istorika-neoklasika-megara-xenodocheia-kai-archontika-poy-eginan-polykatoikies-fotografiko-afieroma-stin-poli-poy-chathike/, Last accessed 2024/7/23.
Lefteria Homepage, Michalakis V., "The demolished civilization of Lamia. Buildings that we demolished and regretted." (in Greek) (2018), https://lefteria.blogspot.com/2018/11/blog-post_5835.html, 2025/3/5.
Ioannou V., Serraos K., “Transformations of the Greek city. Impacts on the image of the urban landscape” (in Greek), In: Gospodini A., Bieratos I. (editors), “The new urban landscapes and the Greek city” (in Greek), Kritiki Publications, Athens (2006).
Stefanou I., Stefanou I., “Description of the city’s image” (in Greek), NTUA Publications, Athens (2003).
Karydis D. N., “Reading urban planning - The social significance of spatial forms” (in Greek), Symmetria Publications, Athens (1991) .
Verschaffel B., “On ugliness in architecture”, In: Van Acker W. and Mical T. (eds.) “Architecture and ungliness – Anti-Aesthetics and the Ugly in Postmodern Architecture”, p.p. 39-55, Blumsbury Visual Arts, London (2021).
Bryman A., "Social Research Methods", Gutenberg Publications, Athens (2017).
WIPKIPEDIA Homepage, "List of Cities in Greece" (in Greek),
https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/Κατάλογος_πόλεων_της_Ελλάδας, Last accessed 2024/9/15.
Travel Project Homepage, «Ioannina» (in Greek), https://travelproject.gr/perioxi/ioannina/, Last accessed 2024/11/19.
Greece Homepage, “Lamia” (in Greek), https://www.visitgreece.gr/mainland/central-greece/lamia/, Last accessed 2024/11/19.
Athens Voice Homepage, "Larissa, an open city" (in Greek), https://www.athensvoice.gr/life/poleis/549091/larisa-mia-poli-anoihti/, Last accessed 2024/11/19.
Exploring Greece Homepage, Trig. M., "Mesolongi, a unique lagoon, an impressive ecosystem” (in Greek), https://exploringgreece.tv/destinations/sterea-ellada/taxidi-sto-mesologgi-limnothalassa-elliniki-istoria/62637/#goog_rewarded, Last accessed 2024/11/19.
Ethnos Homepage, Chiotopoulou D., "Tripoli: The Heart of Arcadia" (in Greek), https://www.ethnos.gr/travel/article/63150/tripolhhkardiathsarkadias, Last accessed 2024/11/19.
ESPON Homepage, “HERIWELL-Cultural Heritage as a Source of Societal Well-being in European Regions – Annex I to Chapter 1 Inputs to analytical model and methodology – Final Report”, ESPON (2022), chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://archive.espon.eu/sites/default/files/attachments/ANNEX%20I_Inputs%20to%20analytical%20model%20and%20methodology.pdf, Last accessed 2025/3/5.
ESPON Homepage, “HERIWELL-Cultural Heritage as a Source of Societal Well-being in European Regions – Synthesis Report” (2022), chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://archive.espon.eu/sites/default/files/attachments/HERIWELL_Synthesis%20report.pdf , Last accessed 2025/3/5.
Eurostat Homepage, “Tourism statistics at regional level.” (2023), https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Tourism_statistics_at_regional_level, Last accessed 2025/3/5.
iAitoloakarnania.gr Homepage, “The list of protected archaeological sites & monuments in the Municipality of Agrinio” (in Greek), https://iaitoloakarnania.gr/2020/09/o-katalogos-anakirygmenon-archaiologikon-choron-amp-mnimeion-ston-dimo-agrinioy/΄, Last accessed 2024/9/25.
ESPON Homepage, “HERIWELL-Cultural Heritage as a Source of Societal Well-being in European Regions – Final Report” (2022).
Greece Homepage, “Kavala” (in Greek), https://www.visitgreece.gr/mainland/macedonia/kavala/, Last accessed 2024/11/19.
Akron Travel Homepage, “Best things to do in Kalamata Greece” (in Greek), https://akrontravel.gr/best-things-to-do-in-kalamata-greece/, Last accessed 2024/11/19.
Hotel Hermes Pieria – Greece Homepage, https://www.hotelhermespieria.com/blog, Last accessed 2024/11/19.
Travel.gr Homepage, Kapetaniou L., “Best of Komotini, Walks through the historic alleys and special local flavors” (in Greek), https://www.travel.gr/best-of/best-of-komotini-voltes-sta-istorika-stena-k/, Last accessed 2024/11/19.
Pineli, T. “Correlation between the degree of preservation and promotion of cultural heritage and the level of tourist activity in the city of Lamia.”, Proceedings of the 2rd Open Air Cities International Conference – “Local and Regional Sustainable Development and Urban Reconstruction”, Athens, Greece, February 2025.
“Trade and Tourism in Crete” (in Greek), Institute of Trade and Services of ESEE (Hellenic Confederation of Commerce), Athens (2014).
Andrikopoulou E., Giannakou A., Kafkalas G., Pitsiava – Latinopoulou M. “City and Urban Planning Practices for Sustainable Urban Development” (in Greek), 3rd revised edition”, Kritiki Publications, Athens (2024).
Service for Modern Monuments and Technical Works of Thessaly and Central Greece Homepage (in Greek), https://www.culture.gov.gr/el/ministry/SitePages/viewyphresia.aspx?iID=1714, Last accessed 2024/11/4.
Ministry of Culture and Sports – Ephorate of Antiquities of Phthiotis and Evrytania (in Greek), Homepage, http://www.efafeu.gr/, Last accessed 2024/11/4.
Zivas D., “The monuments and the city” (in Greek), Libro Publications, Athens (1997).
Panourgias C, Zavantis D., “Urban Redevelopment of Residential Areas - Micro-Urban Planning Elements” (in Greek), Ath. Stamoulis Publications, Athens (2004).
Grassi G., “Texts about architecture” (in Greek), Kastaniotis Publications, Athens (1997).
Koukis G., “IBA building and urban space” (in Greek), Symmetria Publications, Athens (2000).
Kleinhues J.P., “Die Anfänge der Bauaustellung”, Idee Prozess Ergebnis, Berlin (1984).
Aggelidis M., “Spatial planning and sustainable development” (in Greek), Symmetria Publications, Athens (2000).
