Managing the Cultural Heritage of Cities in Times of Climate Change: Case Study: Larissa, One of the Hottest Cities in Greece

Although cultural and urban environments are often seen as separate from the natural environment in planning and development by local authorities and governments, a transdisciplinary approach to cultural heritage is necessary—or at the very least a viable alternative—in today’s context of severe global challenges such as climate change. This perspective must encompass vital aspects of intangible heritage, including the practices, knowledge, and skills that communities, groups, and individuals recognize as part of their cultural legacy, which are passed down through generations in response to their environment, interactions with nature, and historical experiences. Within this framework, traditional knowledge, skills, and practices related to climate can become subjects of preservation, supported by the existence of old buildings as records of the historical continuity of the city and effective climatic management. As climate change is likely to increase the frequency and intensity of severe heat stress events, studies are examining the relationship between urban geometry and microclimate within city centers. The conservation of built heritage in historic centers helps promote local sustainable development by preserving both the historical character and urban geometry of the area. By turning this threat into an opportunity, the climatic factor can be seen as a key area of interaction between the natural, urban, and cultural environments of a city. This perspective is crucial for the sustainable development of cities like Larissa, where the main climatic challenge—high summer temperatures—diminishes the city’s appeal to residents, visitors, and investors.

The City of Larissa and its Development Prospects

Larissa, though an ancient city with a continuous habitation for over 4000 years, does not rely on its historical heritage as its primary attraction. Therefore, its potential for tourism development lies in the realm of ‘Urban Tourism.’ This type of tourism leverages attractions such as museums, art galleries, and music halls, and it thrives on concerts, conferences, leisure activities centered around food and drink, evening entertainment, and special events like artistic festivals and sports (Samaras, 2001a).

The Special Framework for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development for Tourism in Greece (GG 1138 B/11.6.2009) and its latest amendment (GG 3155 B/12.12.2013) advocate for the development of Urban Tourism in Larissa and other Greek cities. The focus is on promoting and enhancing historic centers, monuments, archaeological sites, and other valued elements of the natural and cultural landscape. Additionally, it highlights sports tourism by utilizing sports facilities for hosting periodic international events.

Despite its historical heritage not being the main draw for tourists, Larissa’s city environment, which includes ancient monuments, preserved architectural ensembles, and significant buildings, serves as a ‘Primary’ tourism element. These features attract tourists beyond the traditional venues of museums, galleries, music halls, and conference centers (Jansen-Verbeke, 1988) and warrant the city’s attention in its quest for tourism development.

A comparative analysis from the empirical research conducted among residents, business people, visitors, and operators in Larissa, as part of the ‘Strategic Marketing Plan of Larisa’ by the University of Thessaly/Laboratory of Tourism Planning, Research, and Policy for the Municipality of Larissa in 2015, revealed a shared conclusion. While Larissa is noted as a city with a ‘strong geographic position and financial background within Greece’ and a ‘modern Greek town with a robust economic identity,’ it is also characterized by an introverted nature and a poorly supported image (University of Thessaly/Department of Planning and Regional Development/Laboratory of Tourism Planning, Research and Policy, 2015).

The ‘Secondary’ tourism elements—such as hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, and market services (Jansen-Verbeke, 1988) —in Larissa can be deemed adequate. However, the ‘commercial monoculture’ represented by the city’s extensive coffee shop scene (with 1600 coffee shops, making it the leading city per capita in Greece, known as the ‘City of Café’) raises concerns about the city’s future prospects (University of Thessaly/Department of Planning and Regional Development/Laboratory of Tourism Planning, Research and Policy, 2015). This situation might exacerbate as the economic recession is expected to impact leisure activities, similar to other large and medium-sized urban areas where unemployment is high. The challenge is not only quantitative (more individuals are unable to sustain higher consumption) but also qualitative (certain modes of recreation becoming inaccessible and less attractive to leisure investors). Notably, a few historical buildings that have withstood demolition owe their survival to the revenue generated by being repurposed as coffee shops.

Cultural Heritage in the Historic Center of Larissa

The center of Larissa has been almost entirely rebuilt over the last six decades, replacing historical buildings and thereby disrupting the architectural continuity of the city. This represents the most significant deficit in the city’s historic center. Preserving the remaining architectural heritage has become a top priority. Strategies like the ‘conservation of listed buildings’ and ‘redevelopment of historic centers’ were highlighted during the Regional Workshop on ‘Business Planning and Urban Development of Residential Areas.’ This workshop, which included interdisciplinary and social consultations as part of preparing the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) 2007-13, was held from February to May 2005 in Larissa. We contributed as representatives of the Technical Chamber of Greece/Department of Central and Western Thessaly.

A small number of Larissa’s historical buildings remain, some of which are listed as historic monuments, but many have been neglected due to the significant financial pressures from the high land values in the city center. The buildings that have been preserved are primarily those repurposed for commercial use, such as food and beverage establishments. An exemplary piece of early 20th-century industrial architecture is the listed complex of the Mill of Pappas.

In June 1994, a working group from the Technical Chamber of Greece/Department of Central and Western Thessaly completed a study on the ‘Documentation of Important Buildings of Larissa.’ The study covered 76 buildings: seven were already listed, 18 were deemed highly worthy of preservation, and 51 featured remarkable architectural elements (Antonouliet al., 1994). However, over the subsequent 25 years, local municipal authorities took no significant steps to preserve the city’s architectural heritage. Important buildings faced an ‘ad hoc’ approach, often seeing demolition under property owners’ pressure to construct new buildings. This long-standing conflict between building owners and the Committee on Urban and Architectural Control typically favored the owners, who exploited a largely bureaucratic and inefficient conservation framework. Today, only eight buildings remain listed in Larissa. Regrettably, six buildings identified as of ‘great interest’ for preservation have been demolished.

Larissa has had a historically poor performance in preserving its historical heritage, with the underlying issues rooted in long-standing attitudes and perceptions. A landmark decision in 2018 to acquire the listed ‘Mousson Building’—located at the junction of Palestine and Farmakidou streets—by the Municipality of Larissa, using its own resources after lengthy negotiations with the owners, seems to be an effort to reclaim the city’s ‘lost honor’ regarding cultural heritage preservation (Apostolidi, 2021).

Climatic Factor and Urban Environment of Larissa

Although Larissa offers an appealing array of attractions for visitors, it is often overshadowed by its reputation as the hottest city in Greece. This reputation is perpetuated every summer as it frequently records the highest temperatures nationwide. It’s time to stop viewing this challenging aspect of its climate as taboo and instead recognize it as a critical component of the city’s planning strategy (Samaras, 2001b).

Larissa is situated at longitude 22° 25′ 1″ and latitude 39° 37′ 58″, with an average elevation of 74 m. It lies within the Thessaly plain and is a short distance from Mount Olympus to the north and the Ossa and Mavrovouni mountains to the east. Additionally, it is traversed by the Peneus River. The climate in the broader area surrounding Larissa is continental, characterized by significant temperature fluctuations between winter and summer, as well as between day and night during the hot and dry season. The hottest period is typically the last ten days of July and the first ten days of August, with average maximum temperatures ranging from 32.6°C to 33.1°C, and an absolute maximum recorded temperature of 45.2°C. Conversely, winter temperatures in Larissa can also plummet to some of the lowest in Greece, with an absolute minimum temperature of −21.6°C.

In the warm season, high temperatures are exacerbated by the ‘Liva’ south wind, which brings warm air masses. Although this wind is generally low in intensity, it creates very dry conditions and a pronounced sense of thermal discomfort. Additionally, air masses occasionally penetrate from the east, passing through gaps between the Ossa and Mavrovouni mountains. Another significant wind effect, independent of the season, occurs in the northeast of the region at the Tempi valley’s exit along the east-west axis. This wind, known as the ‘Bougazi’ of Tempi, primarily affects the northern villages and districts of the city. Humidity is particularly high from November (79.5%) to March (73.4%), and even during the warmer months, average monthly humidity remains relatively high (e.g., July: 46.6%), augmenting the discomfort caused by heat.

In conclusion, Larissa’s climatic challenges are most pronounced in the summer months with extremely high temperatures (Figs. 1–3). Therefore, efforts toward the bioclimatic redevelopment of the city should focus on addressing these seasonal extremes (Palla, 2013).

In both international and Greek literature, the relationship between climate and the urban environment is often described as one of cause and effect, with each alternating roles. This relationship underscores the dual necessity of climate-informed urban planning and the assessment of how construction activities impact the local climate.

Fig. 1. During July 2019, Larissa, once more, justified its reputation of the hottest city in Greece, a reputation, maintained and reproduced, every summer, with the first high temperatures scoring nationwide. On the above figures, it is shown the city’s highest temperature in Greece on 07-07-2019 (a), 41.1°C between 16:00 and 17:00 hours (b). Two days later Larissa’s highest temperature in Greece was 41.6°C (c). Source:  http://penteli.meteo.gr/stations/larissa/,  https://www.larissanet.gr/2019/07/07/protathlitria-zestis-i-larisa/.

Fig. 2. Larissa’s annual climatological summary shows the city’s highest temperature (41.1°C) at 07-07-2019 when the mean max temperature for July is 37.7°C (a). At the map of Greece, the highest temperature is pointed in Larissa also at 08-07-2019 (b). Source:  http://penteli.meteo.gr/stations/larissa/NOAAYR.TXT.

Fig. 3. July 2023 and July 2024 were the warmest July in the last 15 years for most areas of Greece. Very high maximum temperatures had already been recorded since the last four days of March this year, when 70 meteorological stations, out of 128, set a temperature record for the month of March. The two maps show the deviations of the average maximum temperature in July 2023 (a), and July 2024 (b) by geographical region. Source:  https://www.meteo.gr/article_view.cfm?entryID=2863,  https://www.meteo.gr/index.cfm.

Larissa, a city almost entirely rebuilt over the last six decades with larger building blocks, has experienced significant impacts on its climate and local microclimate due to intensive and widespread construction activities. The introduction of tall, dense buildings alters wind patterns and natural cooling processes, while these structures also serve as heat accumulators, releasing stored heat at night and negating cooler temperatures. Notably, this extensive urban development occurred without considering climatic factors like sunlight and wind, nor assessing their impact on the city’s microclimate.

Urban climates are typically influenced by two main effects: the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, where city centers are significantly warmer than surrounding areas; and the Urban Canyon effect, where wind speed and direction are altered within city streets (Samaras, 2001c). Factors contributing to these phenomena include the thermal (absorbance and reflectance) and optical properties (transparency and opacity) of building materials, activities generating anthropogenic heat, and the presence or absence of vegetation. Most importantly, urban geometry, such as the height-to-width ratio of buildings and streets, plays a role (Fig. 4).

Fig. 4. Two Buildings in the historic center of Larissa described of great interest and proposed to be declared as listed at the “Documentation of Important Buildings of Larissa” (1994). After the demolition of Building No 15, Papakiriazi - Panagouli St. (a) and the rebuilding, the volume of the new building is five times larger than the original one (b). It isn’t a matter of morphology. Preserving only the façade of the original Building No 61, Ifaistou St. 37 (c), the urban geometry changed dramatically (d) with impacts on the local microclimate. Source: ‘Documentation of Important Buildings of Larissa’ and author’s photographic archive.

Improving microclimates in existing urban settings can be achieved by adjusting the city’s thermal balance. This involves minimizing heat gains through measures like using sunshades, increasing vegetation, and selecting less absorbent materials. Maximizing heat loss can be achieved by utilizing materials with high emissivity, promoting cooling through vegetation and water features, and enhancing convection heat loss via wind flow.

Preindustrial societies, including old Larissians, have historically employed techniques to control temperature in climates similar to Larissa’s hot, dry conditions. These techniques can be summarized in two areas: rational building design (using materials with high thermal capacity and insulation, compact geometric forms, and reflective roof paints) and prudent building management (such as ventilating at night and minimizing daytime activities that generate heat). This practical knowledge comes from a long history. In Karagatsis’ novel “Colonel Liapkin,” he describes how Larissians respond to the Liva by staying indoors with everything shut to create a cool environment, reopening windows at midnight when cooler breezes arrive from Olympus (Karagatsis, 1933/1955/1996).

Addressing climate challenges with gentle, sustainable methods is part of energy-saving efforts and environmental protection, aligning with sustainable development goals as stated in Agenda 21 and Greek Law 2508/1997. These efforts are also in line with the principles set out by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives for integrating environmental considerations into urban planning (Samaras, 2001c).

Historically, vernacular builders skillfully managed climatic challenges in harmony with nature, achieving optimal results with minimal resources. Greek architecture developed characteristic solutions akin to those throughout the Mediterranean, adapting to both hot-dry and hot-humid climates (Rapoport, 1969). Moreover, formal architecture since ancient times has also considered climate as a crucial factor. Roman and Byzantine laws included building codes focusing on climate, like allowing sunlight access and regulating building heights and distances. Similar regulations persisted through Ottoman laws in the 19th century.

Incorporating these regulations and the empirical knowledge of craftsmen and residents regarding climate, traditional Larissan houses were built to harmonize with their environment. These homes featured courtyards and were designed to transition smoothly between private and public spaces. The integration of climate-responsive design maintained essential microclimate variables and preserved ancient architectural typologies.

Transitions within these spaces—from open to closed, dark to light, and indoor to outdoor—along with vegetation, provide positive psychological effects and contribute to thermal comfort. Karagatsis (1938/2002/2003) captures this in his literary text, noting the architectural harmony and coolness provided by old Thessalian homes.

The traditional, empirical management of climate by Larissa’s past residents and craftsmen represents valuable knowledge embedded within the city’s built heritage. Ignoring these climatic factors in modern building design often leads to incorrect solutions, necessitating reliance on complex mechanical systems that are costly and environmentally detrimental. Recognizing and applying these historical insights could enhance the energy efficiency and environmental sustainability of new developments.

In January 2013, I supervised a thesis for the graduate studies program at the Technical Educational Institute of Thessaly, authored by Danai Palla, titled “Redevelopment of the Area of the Ancient Theatre of Larissa.” The thesis concentrated on the area surrounding the ancient theater of Larissa, encompassed by Venizelou, Apollonos, Kyprou, and Papanastasiou streets. This area, once the bustling old market of the city with buildings of significant historical value, was designated as a common shared space for citizens under the General Urban Planning of Larissa. The thesis aimed to conduct an architectural and urban study of this zone, presenting an alternative proposal for preserving the historic buildings, such as Nos. 27 and 28, as documented in the “Documentation of Important Buildings of Larissa,” to prevent their planned demolition (Fig. 5).

Fig. 5. Building No 13, Ifaistou - Kentavron St. (a), described of great interest and proposed to be declared as listed at the ‘Documentation of Important Buildings of Larissa,’ was demolished in June 2013, after the judgement of the Municipality of Larissa that non-classifying the building as listed, will contribute to the upgrading of this main street of the Historic Center of Larissa. Source: ‘Documentation of Important Buildings of Larissa’ Technical Chamber of Greece/Department of Central and Western Thessaly, 1994. In the map of a part of the historic center of Larissa (b) with green color are shown the existing historic buildings and with red color the demolished ones, in the blue frame the study area of D. Palla’s Thesis (2013) ‘Redevelopment of the Area of the Ancient Theatre of Larissa.’ The landmark decision in 2018 to acquire the listed ‘Mousson Building’ (c) by the Municipality of Larissa, using its own resources, after lengthy negotiations with the owners, seems to be an effort to reclaim the city’s ‘lost honor’ regarding cultural heritage preservation.

The proposal for the area centered around the reuse of historic buildings to support the cultural activities of the Ancient Theater, providing spaces for offices, dressing rooms for actors, and storage facilities, alongside their energy upgrades. Additionally, the project investigated the energy efficiency of the region and proposed the installation of a solar panel shelter. This shelter would supply energy to the buildings and support the electrical needs of the ancient theater. Using thin-film solar technology, the panels would allow filtered natural sunlight to pass through, providing desirable shading while maintaining visibility (Palla, 2013).

In June 2013, one of the few remaining historic buildings in Larissa’s Historic Center, designated as No. 13 in the “Documentation of Important Buildings of Larissa” and proposed for preservation, was demolished. The decision against listing it as a protected structure cited two official documents from the Municipality of Larissa. These documents argued the necessity of maintaining functionality on a major street within the historic center and suggested that not classifying the building as listed would contribute to the street’s upgrading (Municipality documents Νο 5353/9-2-2011 and 26144/11-4-2011). This approach by local authorities to upgrade the historic center through the demolition of historic buildings is not unprecedented and partially explains the paucity of older structures in Larissa’s center.

Local authorities, including the municipality’s technical department, are vocal about sustainable development, touting policies that ostensibly aim to satisfy present needs without jeopardizing future generations. However, the challenge lies in translating this rhetoric into meaningful action—recognizing the importance of learning from how past generations met their needs is crucial, but often overlooked in current planning and development strategies.

Safeguarding the Local Knowledge, Practices, and Skills Concerning Climate

Built Heritage Conservation can also play a crucial role in safeguarding the local intangible cultural heritage related to climate, as outlined in the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (Paris, 17 October 2003). This is particularly relevant in the context of “knowledge and practices concerning nature” (Article 2.2d) (UNESCO, 2003).

According to Article 2.1 of the Convention, “intangible cultural heritage” comprises “the practices, knowledge, skills… that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage… transmitted from generation to generation… in response to their environment, their interaction with nature and their history.” It is clear that the traditional knowledge, skills, and practices concerning climate management, as historically applied by the people of Larissa, could be preserved and utilized. These practices, demonstrated through the city’s older buildings, serve as tangible records of both historical continuity and effective climate management.

The concept of “safeguarding,” as defined in Article 2.3, includes “measures aimed at ensuring the viability of the intangible cultural heritage, including the identification, documentation, research, preservation, protection, promotion, enhancement, transmission, particularly through formal and non-formal education, as well as the revitalization of the various aspects of such heritage.” By safeguarding Larissa’s traditional methods of climate management, the city can foster a new culture of climate collaboration, especially among the youth. This effort not only preserves valuable cultural heritage but also promotes innovative approaches to contemporary climate challenges.

The Climatic Factor as the Field of Interrelationship Between Natural, Urban and Cultural Environment of the City

Cultural and historical resources are often treated separately from natural resources in planning and development by communities, towns, and governments. However, a transdisciplinary approach to cultural heritage is essential, especially in the face of global risks like climate change. This perspective should encompass intangible heritage forms such as meanings, values, and social behaviors (Brabec & Chilton, 2015).

With the anticipated rise in air temperatures due to climate change, there is an increased frequency, duration, and magnitude of heat stress events. Studies are examining how urban geometry affects daytime heat stress in European cities. Findings indicate that mean radiant temperature in urban environments is highly influenced by urban geometry (Lauet al., 2015). Additional research links urban morphology with changes in microclimate and air quality within city centers, demonstrating through measurements and surveys that urban climate is closely tied to street configurations, building heights, and their attributes. These studies underscore the impact of urban geometry on human thermal comfort in pedestrian streets (Krügeret al., 2011).

Mitigation and adaptation to climate change must account for urban form. For a hot-dry climate, this might involve buildings positioned closely together to create shading and lower temperatures during summer. For a hot-humid climate, buildings might be spaced further apart to facilitate breeze circulation, reducing temperature and humidity (Pizarro, 2009). Historic city centers often preserve such climate-compatible urban forms from pre-industrial times, reflecting a harmonious relationship between settlement development and nature.

Understanding urban climate factors is crucial for mitigating heat stress amid ongoing urbanization and climate change. Investigating the relationship between climate change and built heritage in dense urban areas in Hong Kong and China (Yung & Chan, 2015), as well as analyzing the largest 5,000 cities in Europe, researchers found that urban heat island (UHI) intensity increases with compactness. Interestingly, sprawling cities have the least influence on UHI, suggesting that small, scattered, and stretched urban forms are preferable for UHI mitigation (Zhouet al., 2017).

Since the Paris Agreement (COP21), European countries have committed to mitigating climate change and adapting to its impacts. The resulting Climate Action Plan (CAP) outlines a city’s roadmap for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and bolstering climate resilience. Many cities have developed Paris Agreement-compliant CAPs. As cities become key players in global climate efforts, their participation in climate policy is critically studied, especially considering the challenges of implementing adaptation measures in historic urban environments (Nicolini, 2024).

The urban heat island effect significantly impacts environmental and microclimate conditions in cities, affecting quality of life and exposing vulnerable populations to adverse conditions. This underscores the priority of integrating climate change considerations into the management of historic city centers. In Athens, for example, resilience planning addresses specific issues like building age, density, and the lack of green spaces, balanced with the presence of significant archaeological sites (Santamouriset al., 2015).

Complex assessment and intervention strategies for adapting historic cities to contemporary climate needs require a multidisciplinary approach. This involves architectural, landscape, historical, engineering, social, economic, and geographical perspectives (Kelleret al., 2017).

Examining the relationship between climate change and built heritage reveals not only the impacts of climate change on heritage properties but also how heritage preservation can influence climate change mitigation in urban areas.

The preservation of the built heritage in the historic centre is an obligation under the “Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe”, adopted in October 1985 in Granada, Spain (Council of Europe Treaty Series No. 121), but for the city of Larissa, it also offers numerous benefits:

• It rescues the bioclimatic features embedded in old buildings.

• It preserves knowledge and techniques used by traditional craftsmen to manage climate.

• It provides Larissians and visitors the opportunity to experience traditional bioclimatic architecture firsthand.

• It maintains urban geometry and the relationship between historic buildings and streets.

• It preserves the setting of historic buildings at the same scale, as advocated by the Venice Charter (Article 6).

• It helps maintain the microclimate within buildings and their surroundings.

• It fosters a relationship between old and new structures, allowing us to learn from the past while applying modern innovations.

• It supports safeguarding traditional knowledge, skills, and practices concerning climate.

• It contributes to cultivating a new culture of climate cooperation, especially among young people.

• It creates favorable conditions for bioclimatic planning through education and public awareness initiatives.

Overall, integrating heritage conservation with climate adaptation efforts can foster sustainable urban development and a resilient future.

Discussion

Larissa, while not primarily known for its historical heritage, possesses a rich cultural and natural landscape that holds significant potential for urban tourism development. This potential lies in the city’s well-preserved architectural ensembles, ancient monuments, and important buildings, which form a captivating backdrop for visitors. To fully capitalize on this asset, Larissa should prioritize the following initiatives:

1. Comprehensive Heritage Preservation:

• Documentation of Important Buildings: Initiate a comprehensive study documenting Larissa’s significant buildings, encompassing their historical, architectural, and cultural value. This documentation will serve as a foundation for informed conservation efforts.

• Public and Private Investment: Encourage both public and private investment in the protection and preservation of the city’s cultural heritage. This can be achieved through funding programs, tax incentives, and collaborations with cultural organizations.

• Highlighting Local Knowledge: Recognize the role of local knowledge and practices in managing the city’s climate and integrate them into conservation strategies. This approach can contribute to the preservation of the city’s unique character and demonstrate the successful adaptation of human settlements to the environment.

2. Climate Change as a Catalyst for Tourism:

• Bioclimatic Planning: Embrace climate change as an opportunity to develop a bioclimatic planning framework for Larissa. This framework should integrate climate-responsive design strategies into urban development, prioritizing sustainable practices and reducing the city’s environmental impact.

• Public Awareness and Education: Implement public awareness campaigns and educational programs to raise understanding of climate change and its implications for Larissa’s urban environment and cultural heritage. This will foster a proactive approach to climate change adaptation and promote a culture of sustainable living.

• Sustainable Tourism Development: Promote sustainable tourism practices that prioritize the preservation of Larissa’s natural and cultural assets while minimizing environmental impact. This can include encouraging eco-friendly accommodations, promoting green transportation options, and educating tourists on the importance of responsible travel.

3. Fostering Interrelationship:

• Cultural Landscape and Climate: Recognize the city’s cultural landscape as a valuable resource for understanding and mitigating climate change. Encourage research and initiatives that explore the relationship between the city’s built environment, its natural surroundings, and its cultural heritage in the context of climate change.

• Community Engagement: Involve local communities in the development and implementation of climate-responsive strategies. This can be achieved through community workshops, public consultations, and collaborative projects that empower residents to become active participants in shaping their city’s future.

By embracing a holistic approach that prioritizes cultural preservation, climate adaptation, and community engagement, Larissa can transform itself into a model city for sustainable tourism development. This approach not only safeguards the city’s unique heritage but also positions it as a leader in responding to the challenges of climate change, creating a vibrant and resilient urban environment for generations to come.