Imathia
title: "Imathia" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["imathia", "prefectures-of-greece", "regional-units-of-central-macedonia"] topic_path: "general/imathia" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imathia" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox Greece place"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Imathia |
| name_local | Περιφερειακή ενότητα |
| Ημαθίας | |
| type | regional unit |
| image_skyline | 2010 Dimi Imathias numbered.svg |
| caption_skyline | Municipalities of Imathia |
| image_map | Nomos Imathias.png |
| map_caption | Imathia within Greece |
| coordinates | |
| periph | Central Macedonia |
| seat | Veroia |
| area | 1701 |
| population | 131001 |
| population_as_of | 2021 |
| postal_code | 59x xx |
| area_code | 233x0 |
| licence | HM |
| website | |
| :: |
| name = Imathia | name_local = Περιφερειακή ενότητα Ημαθίας | type = regional unit | image_skyline = 2010 Dimi Imathias numbered.svg | caption_skyline = Municipalities of Imathia | image_map = Nomos Imathias.png | map_caption = Imathia within Greece | coordinates = | periph = Central Macedonia | seat = Veroia | area = 1701 | elevation = | population = 131001 | population_as_of = 2021 | demonym = | postal_code = 59x xx | area_code = 233x0 | licence = HM | website = Imathia ( ) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Central Macedonia, within the geographic region of Macedonia. The capital of Imathia is the city of Veroia.
Administration
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/Veria_Sunset.JPG" caption="[[Veria"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Naousa_view_from_St_Theologos_hill_4.jpg" caption="Naousa"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Alexandria_Gida_church.JPG" caption="Alexandreia"] ::
The regional unit Imathia is subdivided into 3 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):
- Alexandreia (2)
- Naousa (3)
- Veroia (1)
Prefecture
As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Imathia was created out of the former Imathia prefecture (). The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.
::data[format=table]
| New municipality | Old municipalities | Seat |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandreia | Alexandreia | Alexandreia |
| Antigonides | ||
| Meliki | ||
| Platy | ||
| Naousa | Naousa | Naousa |
| Anthemia | ||
| Eirinoupoli | ||
| Veroia | Veroia | Veroia |
| Apostolos Pavlos | ||
| Vergina | ||
| Dovras | ||
| Makedonida | ||
| :: |
Provinces
The former prefecture of Imathia was subdivided into the following provinces: ::data[format=table]
| Provinces of Imathia Prefecture | Seat |
|---|---|
| Imathia Province | Veroia |
| Naousa Province | Naousa |
| :: |
Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status in Greece since 2006.
Geography
The northeastern part of Imathia, along the lower course of the river Aliakmonas, is a vast agricultural plain known as Kampania or Roumlouki. The area is known for the production of fruit crops, such as peaches and strawberries. Much of the population lives in this plain, where the towns Alexandreia and Veroia are situated. Imathia has a short shoreline on the Thermaic Gulf, around the mouth of the Aliakmonas. The mountainous western part of Imathia is covered by the Vermio Mountains, reaching 2,052 metres near the city of Naousa. The Pierian Mountains reach into the southern part of Imathia, south of the Aliakmonas. The regional unit borders on Pieria to the south, Kozani to the west, Pella to the north and Thessaloniki to the east. Imathia has a mainly Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters.
Transport
The railway from Thessaloniki to Florina and the important railway from Thessaloniki to Athens pass through Imathia, with main stations at Platy, Veroia and Alexandreia. The A1 and A2 (Egnatia Odos) motorways, and the EO1, EO4 and EO4a national roads pass through Imathia. The Alexandreia Airport is a military airport.
History
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3f/Vergina_Tombs_Entrance.jpg" caption="The entrance to the "Great Tumulus" at [[Vergina]]."] ::
Imathia was named after the historic region Emathia, which was used by several classical authors as a synonym for Bottiaea or even all of Macedon. Important ancient towns in the area of present Imathia were Aigai, the original capital of the kingdom of the Makedones, and Beroea. As a part of the Macedonia region, it was ruled by the kingdom of Macedonia, the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire and from early 15th century by the Ottoman Empire. In 1913, as a result of the Second Balkan War, it became part of Greece. During and after the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922), several refugees from Turkey settled in Imathia. Initially part of the prefecture of Thessaloniki, Imathia became a prefecture in 1946, and Veroia was selected as its capital.
Media
Newspapers
- Agrotikoi Orizontes
- Elefthero Vima
- Epikaira Imathias
- Epta Imathias
- Imerisia
- Kerkida
- Laos
- Pliroforisi
- Macedonika Nea
Culture
Museums
- Wine and Vine Museum (Naoussa)
- Archaeological Museum of Veroia
- Byzantine Museum of Veroia
- Folklore Museum of the Lyceum of Hellenic Women (Naoussa)
Sports clubs
- Veria F.C. - Veroia
- Pontioi Veria F.C. - Veroia
- Naoussa F.C. - Naousa
- Alexandria F.C. - Alexandria
References
References
- "ΦΕΚ A 87/2010, Kallikratis reform law text". [[Government Gazette (Greece).
- "Detailed census results 1991 }} {{small".
- [https://www.eetaa.gr/eetaa/metaboles/fek/1946/fek_35a_1946.pdf FEK 1946 nr. 35]
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::