Anciently known as Aeolian, the central Thessaly is surrounded by most mainland Greece regions and the Aegean Sea. Its large plains, between Mount Othrys and Mount Olympus, now a vital agricultural area, were the site of the battle between the Titans and the Olympian gods. The region faced 4 ½ centuries of ottoman rule, and evidence of this past are everywhere. Modern capital is the urban city of Larissa, close to the university town of Trikala, but the most visited site is Meteora,

a unique series of giant arenite formations topped by Byzantine monasteries

and a paradise for climbers, next to the picturesque village of Kalambaka.