Katerini
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Katerini Κατερίνη |
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Katerini town hall
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 Katerini
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Location within the region
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| Coordinates: 40°16′N 22°30′E / 40.267°N 22.500°ECoordinates: 40°16′N 22°30′E / 40.267°N 22.500°E | ||
| Country | Greece | |
| Administrative region | Central Macedonia | |
| Regional unit | Pieria | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Savvas Chionidis | |
| Area | ||
| • Municipality | 681.863 km2 (263.269 sq mi) | |
| • Municipal unit | 93.659 km2 (36.162 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 14 m (46 ft) | |
| Population (2011) | ||
| • Municipality | 85,851 | |
| • Municipality density | 130/km2 (330/sq mi) | |
| • Municipal unit | 62,205 | |
| • Municipal unit density | 660/km2 (1,700/sq mi) | |
| Community | ||
| • Population | 58,309 (2011) | |
| • Area (km2) | 63.196 | |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) | |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) | |
| Postal code | 601 00 | |
| Area code(s) | 23510 | |
| Vehicle registration | KN | |
| Website | www.katerini.gr | |
Katerini (Greek: Κατερίνη, [kate'ɾini]) is a town in Central Macedonia, Greece, the capital of Pieria regional unit. It lies on the Pierian plain, between Mt. Olympus and the Thermaikos Gulf, at an altitude of 14 m. The town, which is one of the newest in Greece, has a population of 85,851 (according to the 2014 census). It is near the city of Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city, which has been beneficial for Katerini's development over recent years. Katerini is accessible from the main Thessaloniki–Athens highway GR-1/E75 (with two interchanges near the town) and the Egnatia Odos to the north. It is served by both Intercity and local trains on the main railway line from Athens to Thessaloniki and there is a comprehensive regional and national bus service with its hub in the town.
A popular tourist destination in northern Greece, Katerini is close to the sea (6 km) and to several archaeological sites of great interest such as the ancient city of Dion (5th century BC, 17 km away) and the Castle of Platamon. The beaches of Korinos, Paralia and Olympiaki Akti (or Katerinoskala) are visited by both Greek and international tourists during the summer. The base of Mount Olympus and the town of , are at a distance of around 20 kilometres from the centre of Katerini.
The origin of the name is obscure. The modern town was probably founded during Ottoman rule, but already from the 13th century, travellers as well as maps record the existence of a settlement called Hatera (Ἅτηρα), which may have been the origin of the modern name. Thus Felix Beaujour recorded its name as "Katheri", while François Pouqueville gives the name of the settlement as "Kateri Hatera". According to another theory, the town derives its name from the small chapel dedicated to Saint Catherine (Aikaterini in Greek) to the east of the town, dating to at least the early 19th century. The latter hypothesis influenced official usage in Greek, where the town is found as "Aikaterini" or "Agia Aikaterini" until the early 20th century, when the vernacular name Katerini prevailed.
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Wikipedia