Serres Σέρρες | |
|---|---|
       Clockwise from top:Saints Theodoroi Church, Serres Acropolis,Serres Prefecture Building,Archaeological Museum of Serres,Lake Kerkini,Emmanouel Pappas Statue andSarakatsani Folklore Museum | |
 Seal | |
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  Serres | |
| Coordinates:41°5′N23°33′E / 41.083°N 23.550°E /41.083; 23.550 | |
| Country | Greece |
| Geographic region | Macedonia |
| Administrative region | Central Macedonia |
| Regional unit | Serres |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Varvara Mitliagka[1] (since 2023) |
| Area | |
• Municipality | 600.5 km2 (231.9 sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 253.0 km2 (97.7 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 50 m (160 ft) |
| Population (2021)[2] | |
• Municipality | 70,703 |
| • Density | 117.7/km2 (304.9/sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 60,888 |
| • Municipal unit density | 240.7/km2 (623.3/sq mi) |
| • Community | 59,260 |
| Demonym(s) | Serrean (Greek:Serreos) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 621 xx |
| Area code | (+30) 2321 |
| Vehicle registration | ΕΡ |
| Website | www.serres.gr |
Serres (Greek:Σέρρες[ˈseɾes]ⓘ) is a city inMacedonia,Greece. It is the capital of theSerres regional unit and the second largest city in the region ofCentral Macedonia, afterThessaloniki.
Serres is one of the administrative and economic centers ofNorthern Greece. The city is situated in a fertile plain at an elevation of about 70 metres (230 feet), some 24 kilometres (15 miles) northeast of theStrymon river and 69 km (43 mi) north-east ofThessaloniki. Serres' official municipal population was 70,703 in 2021.[2]
The city is home to the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science of theAristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greek:Τ.Ε.Φ.Α.Α. Σερρών) and the Serres Campus of theInternational Hellenic University (former "Technological Educational Institute of Central Macedonia"), composed of the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Economics and Management, and the Department of Interior Architecture and Design. The head of the Faculty of Engineering of the International Hellenic University is located in Serres.
TheAncient Greek historianHerodotus mentions the city asSiris (Σίρις) in the 5th century BC.Theopompus refers to the city asSirra (Σίρρα). Later, it is mentioned asSirae, in the plural, by theRoman historianLivy. Since then the name of the city has remained plural and by the 5th century AD it was already in the contemporary form asSerrae orSérrai (Σέρραι) (plural), which remained theKatharevousa form for the name till modern times. In the local Greek dialect, the city is still known as "ta Serras" (τα Σέρρας), which is actually a corruption of the plural accusative "tas Serras" (τας Σέρρας) of the archaic form "Serrae".[3] The oldest mention of this form is attested in a document of theDocheiariou Monastery inMount Athos from 1383, while there are many other such references in documents from the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. It was known asSerez orSiroz (سيرس) inOttoman Turkish. In theSlavic languages, the city is known asSer (Сер) inMacedonian, while inBulgarian it is known asSyar (Сяр) orSer (Сер). InAromanian, Serres is known asSiar orNsiar.[4]
Although the earliest mention of Serres (asSiris) is dating in the 5th century BC (Herodotus), the city was founded long before theTrojan War, probably at the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC. The ancient city was built on a high and steep hill (known as "Koulas") just north of Serres.[5] It held a strategic position, since it controlled a land road that followed the valley of the riverStrymon from the shores ofStrymonian Gulf to the Danubian countries.
The most ancient known inhabitants of the area were theBryges (Phrygians) and Strymonians. Afterwards were thePaeonian tribes of theSiropaiones[6] (since 1100 BC) andOdomantes (from the early 5th century BC until the end of antiquity).[7] These populations mainly engaged in agriculture and cattle-raising especially worshiped the Sun, the deified riverStrymon and later the "Thracian horseman".[8]
The ancient city ofSerraepolis was founded inCilicia by Siropaiones exiled from Serres.
During theRoman period (168 BC – 315 AD) the city is mentioned in sources under the nameSirra (Σίρρα) and in inscriptions asSirraion polis (Σιρραίων πόλις,lit. '"city of the Sirraians"').[9] It was an important city of theRoman province of Macedonia, with the status of acivitas stipendaria. It flourished especially during the imperial period thanks to thePax Romana. Then, during thegreat crisis of the Roman Empire (235–284 AD), the city declined and only in the times ofDiocletian, with its reforms (Tetrarchic system), returned to prosperity.[10]
As regards the urban structure it featured, like all Greek cities, a market (agora), parliament (bouleuterion), theater, gymnasium and temples. As we know from epigraphic evidence, the local government was also based on the known Greek institutions, which were the parliament (boule), the citizen body (demos) and thearchons (politarchai,agoranomoi,gymnasiarchai, high priests etc.).[11] It was also the seat of a federation of five cities ("Pentapolis") and actively participated in the provincial life and organization of the Macedonians; while many residents, mostly members of the local aristocracy, had received the right ofRoman citizenship and were promoted to senior provincial dignities.[12]
As a city-state (polis), apart from the usual Greek institutions, Sirra also had its own territory (chora), which roughly coincided with the area of the modernprovince of Serres. The organization of its territory was based on villages (komai, sing.kome), whose many sites have been found in various places near modern villages, such asLefkonas,Oreini,Ano Vrontou,Neo Souli,Agio Pnevma,Chryso,Paralimnio etc. Within the limits of its territory have also discovered traces of marble quarries and iron mines, which indicate systematic exploitation of the existing mineral wealth in the imperial period (1st to 3rd century AD).[13]
In terms of population, except the most numerous Greek element, are recognized some population substrates even from prehistoric times. Concerning the society, the main feature was its distinction in upper (rich) and lower (poor) social strata (honestiores andhumiliores in Latin). Finally, concerning the cults of the residents, except the knownpanhellenic cults (Dionysus,Zeus,Dioscuri,Apollo,Asclepius,Artemis andIsis),[14] are evidenced and some local and Thracian cults as theThracian horseman (or "Hero").[15]
Many inscriptions of Roman (imperial) times have been found in the city (and to the early 1960s in the surrounding area). From these inscriptions (almost all written in Greek and only three inLatin), the eight are votive or honorific[16] and all other on epitaph reliefs or steles.[17]
The first attested bishop of the city is recorded as participating in theSecond Council of Ephesus in 449.[18]
Inc. 803 EmperorNikephoros I rebuilt the town and installed a strong garrison against the Slavic tribes of the Balkans.[19] The city's history was uneventful until the 10th century, being in the heartland of the Byzantine Greek world,[18] until it was pillaged and briefly occupied by theBulgarians.[18] In 1185, the environs of the city were pillaged by aNorman invasion, and in theBattle of Serres in 1195/6 the Byzantines were defeated by the rebellious Bulgarian rulerIvan Asen I.[18] After theFourth Crusade,Boniface of Montferrat took over the city, but shortly afterKaloyan of Bulgariadefeated the Crusaders of theLatin Empire and captured the city, until it was retaken by the Crusaders in the early 1230s.[18] According toGeorge Akropolites, Kaloyan almost destroyed the city, reducing it from a sizeable urban centre to a small settlement clustered around the fortified citadel, while the lower town was protected by a weak stone wall.[18]
The city returned to Byzantine rule in 1246, when it was captured by theNicaean Empire. By the 14th century, the city had regained its former size and prosperity, so thatNikephoros Gregoras called it a "large and marvelous" city.[18] Taking advantage of theByzantine civil war of 1341–47, theSerbs besieged and took the city on 25 September 1345. It became the capital ofStefan Dušan'sSerbian Empire.[18] Dušan rebuilt the citadel for the last time.[19] After Dušan's death in 1355 his realm fell into feudal anarchy, and Serres became the separatePrincipality of Serres [bg], initially under Dušan's Empress-dowagerHelena and after 1365 by theDespotJovan Uglješa.[18] Jovan Uglješa maintained close political and cultural ties to the Byzantine court in Constantinople, and the Greek element rose again to prominence: local Greeks played a major role in his administration, which was carried out in the Greek language.[18] After the 1371Battle of Maritsa, the Byzantines underManuel II Palaiologos (then governor ofThessalonica) retook Serres.[18]
Serres fell to theOttoman Empire for the first time briefly in 1371,[19] and definitely on 19 September 1383—although the Ottoman sources give several earlier and contradictory dates, the date is securely established by multiple Greek sources.[20]
The city (Siroz in Turkish) and the surrounding region became a fief ofEvrenos Beg, who brought inYörük settlers fromSarukhan.[20] Oral sources report that the terms of surrender guaranteed to the Greek population possession of its city quarters and churches, while the Turks were to settle outside the Byzantine walls, which were soon demolished to prevent any rebellion. The new Turkish quarters were established to the west and south of the walls, and named after their military leaders.[19] The Grand VizierÇandarlı Kara Halil Hayreddin Pasha built the town's first mosque, the Old Mosque (Eski Camii), now destroyed, in 1385, as well as the Old Baths (Eski Hammam).[19] In the same year, SultanMurad I used the city as a base for operations against the Serbs.[19] During theOttoman Interregnum, the rebelSheikh Bedreddin was executed in the city in 1412.[19] Although never rising to particular prominence within the Ottoman Empire, Serres became the site of a mint from 1413/14 on.[20]
In 1454/55, the city is estimated to have had some 6,200 inhabitants.[19] The Muslim population grew steadily, and in the 15th century there were 25 Muslim to 45 Christian quarters.[19] Towards the end of the 15th century, the firstSephardi Jews arrived from Sicily and Spain,[19] and the Grand VizierKoca Mustafa Pasha funded various public and charitable buildings in the city.[19] In the early 16th century, Serres was visited by the French traveller Pierre Belon, who reported that the town was mainly inhabited by Greeks alongside German and Sephardi communities, while the people in the surrounding country spoke Greek and Bulgarian.[20] In 1519 (Hijri 925) the town had 684 Muslim and 545 Non-Muslim households 54 of which being Jewish households; it was a has of the Sultan.[21] In the aftermath of the Christian victory at theBattle of Lepanto in 1571, Turkish reprisals were directed at the Greek population, who had risen in revolt.[19] The metropolitan cathedral of Serres was looted along with seven other churches, while land and land titles owned by the Monastery of St John the Baptist were confiscated.[22]
Much information on the town's history in the years 1598–1642 is given by the chronicle of the priest Synadinos, a former merchant who became a priest.[19] The town is also described in some detail by the 17th-century Ottoman travellersHaji Khalifa andEvliya Çelebi, as well as theCapuchin friarRobert de Dreux.[19] Evliya records a prosperous settlement, comprising the 10 Christian quarters of the old town, and 30 Muslim quarters in the new town, with about 2,000 and 4,000 houses respectively, 12 main mosques and 91 smaller ones, 26madrasahs, twotekkes and five baths.[19] It boasted a large market, among the most important in the region of Macedonia, with 2,000 shops and 17khans.[19]
In the 18th and early 19th centuries, Serres was an autonomous lordship (beylik) under a succession ofderebeys, within theSanjak of Salonica.[20][23] At the end of the 18th century, Serres was a cotton-producing area, exporting 50,000 balls of cotton toGermany,France,Venice andLivorno.[24] The metropolitan bishop Gabriel founded in 1735 the Greek School of Serres, which he directed until 1745. The school was maintained by donations from wealthy Greek merchants, among them Ioannes Constas fromVienna with 10,800florins and the banker and tragic leader of theGreek War of Independence in MacedoniaEmmanouil Pappas, who donated 1,000 Turkish silver coins.Minas Minoides taught philosophy and grammar in 1815–19. The school operated also in the period of the Greek War of Independence under Argyrios Paparizou fromSiatista.[25]
A great fire in 1849 destroyed most of the city's 31 surviving churches.[19] Serres became a regular provincec. 1846 as theSanjak of Siroz of theSalonica Eyalet (laterSalonica Vilayet).[23] In the late 19th century, thekaza of Serres had a total population of 83.499, consisting of 31.210 Muslims, 31.148Greeks, 19.494Bulgarians, 995Jews, 5Armenians and 647 foreign citizens, and ranked, along withMonastir and Salonica, as one of the most important towns in Macedonia.[19][26]
The development of railways, highways and sea transport by steamship diminished the importance of the annual fairs for which the city was famous, and commercial activity declined in the late 19th century.[19] In 1886, the Greek colonel N. Schinas described the city as having 28,000 inhabitants, 26 churches and 22 mosques, two Greek and six Turkish schools, 24 khans and an enclosed market.[19] The city recovered some of its importance when it wasconnected via railway to Salonica and Constantinople in 1896.[19] During the last decades of Ottoman rule, the once dominant cultivation of cotton was replaced bytobacco.[19]
In the early 20th century, the city became a focus of anti-Ottoman unrest, which resulted in theIlinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising of 1903.
TheOttoman census of 1905 registered 42,000 inhabitants.[19]
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A Bulgarian army commanded by GeneralGeorgi Todorov captured Serres during theFirst Balkan War on November 6, 1912, but was forced to withdraw by Greek forces commanded by the King of Greece,Constantine I, during theSecond Balkan War. The first officer of theHellenic Army to enter Serres was infantry colonelNapoleon Sotilis, head of the7th Infantry Regiment on July 11, 1913.
Prior to abandoning the city, the Bulgarians set fire to it, which burned down much of the old Byzantine town, as well as many of the newer Muslim quarters.[19] As theNational Schism erupted in Greece during theFirst World War, Serres was temporarily occupied by theCentral Powers afterKing Constantine ordered the local garrison not to resist to a token force of theImperial German Army; eventually the city was liberated in 1917 by Greek-FrenchEntente forces under theVenizelos government.
During theSecond World War, after the conquest of mainland Greece byNazi Germany in April 1941 (which was followed by theconquest of Crete in June), Serres was assigned by the Nazis to their Bulgarian allies (along with the rest ofEast Macedonia and Thrace and the island ofThasos), who occupied the city until the Allied liberation of Greece in 1944.[27] In 1943, Serres'Jewish population was deported by theGestapo to theTreblinkadeath camp and exterminated. There was a significant resistance movement in the city during the occupation, led by the left-wingNational Liberation Front (EAM).[28]
In the postwar years, the city's population grew substantially, and there was also a significant rise in the standard of living. The long-serving conservative Greek Prime MinisterConstantine Karamanlis (in office from 1955 to 1963 and again from 1974 to 1980) was a native of Serres, and as a result its people could count on the support of the central Greek government inAthens. However, the villages in the plains around the city were not so lucky; the low prices of agricultural products led many people of these villages to emigrate, mostly to theUnited States andWest Germany.
As of 2015[update], the Mayor of Serres is Petros Angelidis (independent, formerly a member ofPASOK).
The present Serres municipality was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 6 former municipalities, that became municipal units of the new municipality:Ano Vrontou,Kapetan Mitrousi,Lefkonas,Oreini, Serres, andSkoutari.[29]
The municipality has an area of 600.479 km2, the municipal unit 252.973 km2.[30]
Serres has a hot summerMediterranean climate (KöppenCsa) with someHumid (Cfa) influences. Serres has an irregular precipitation pattern throughout the year and rainfall is fairly light year round. July and August are the driest months. Due to its inland location Serres has particularly hot summers, while winters are cool but rarely very cold. According to the HNMS climate Atlas the Serres regional unit reaches an average annual sunshine close to 2.600 hours.[31] The lowest temperature ever recorded in Serres was −23.0 °C (−9.4 °F) on January 27, 1963[32] while the highest was 44.6 °C (112.3 °F) on July 25, 2007.[33] In June 2024, theHellenic National Meteorological Service station in Serres reached a mean maximum temperature of 37.6 °C (99.7 °F) which is along withSparta Greece's record for June.[34][35][36] Also, in July 2024 Serres reached a mean maximum temperature of 39.1 °C (102.4 °F) which is Greece's record to date, while it recorded 14 consecutive days over 40.0 °C (104.0 °F).[37][38][39][40][41][42]
| Climate data for Serres AWS,Hellenic National Meteorological Service 32 m a.s.l. | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 20.5 (68.9) | 23.4 (74.1) | 28.4 (83.1) | 33.4 (92.1) | 37.5 (99.5) | 42.1 (107.8) | 43.8 (110.8) | 43.4 (110.1) | 39.9 (103.8) | 32.7 (90.9) | 27.7 (81.9) | 22.6 (72.7) | 43.8 (110.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 10.0 (50.0) | 13.8 (56.8) | 17.4 (63.3) | 22.7 (72.9) | 27.7 (81.9) | 32.9 (91.2) | 36.0 (96.8) | 36.1 (97.0) | 30.8 (87.4) | 23.7 (74.7) | 16.6 (61.9) | 11.2 (52.2) | 23.2 (73.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.1 (41.2) | 8.2 (46.8) | 11.3 (52.3) | 15.5 (59.9) | 20.4 (68.7) | 25.1 (77.2) | 27.9 (82.2) | 27.7 (81.9) | 23.1 (73.6) | 17.1 (62.8) | 11.3 (52.3) | 6.5 (43.7) | 16.6 (61.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 0.3 (32.5) | 2.8 (37.0) | 5.1 (41.2) | 8.2 (46.8) | 13.0 (55.4) | 17.4 (63.3) | 19.8 (67.6) | 19.3 (66.7) | 15.3 (59.5) | 10.4 (50.7) | 6.0 (42.8) | 1.8 (35.2) | 10.0 (49.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −10.8 (12.6) | −7.5 (18.5) | −6.0 (21.2) | −1.4 (29.5) | 6.8 (44.2) | 10.1 (50.2) | 14.9 (58.8) | 13.3 (55.9) | 4.9 (40.8) | 1.7 (35.1) | −4.1 (24.6) | −7.0 (19.4) | −10.8 (12.6) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 49.7 (1.96) | 33.7 (1.33) | 48.7 (1.92) | 34.6 (1.36) | 59.3 (2.33) | 41.6 (1.64) | 25.7 (1.01) | 16.5 (0.65) | 39.6 (1.56) | 35.6 (1.40) | 47.0 (1.85) | 55.7 (2.19) | 487.7 (19.2) |
| Source: Serres HNMS AWS (May 2011-Aug 2025),[43][44]World Meteorological Organization[45] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for SerresNational Observatory of Athens 32 m a.s.l. | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 20.6 (69.1) | 22.3 (72.1) | 26.8 (80.2) | 31.2 (88.2) | 35.8 (96.4) | 39.2 (102.6) | 41.1 (106.0) | 40.8 (105.4) | 37.1 (98.8) | 31.8 (89.2) | 27.0 (80.6) | 21.4 (70.5) | 41.1 (106.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 9.7 (49.5) | 13.4 (56.1) | 16.7 (62.1) | 21.5 (70.7) | 26.4 (79.5) | 31.5 (88.7) | 34.2 (93.6) | 34.2 (93.6) | 29.4 (84.9) | 22.7 (72.9) | 16.3 (61.3) | 11 (52) | 22.3 (72.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.8 (40.6) | 7.8 (46.0) | 10.7 (51.3) | 14.8 (58.6) | 19.5 (67.1) | 24.4 (75.9) | 26.7 (80.1) | 26.5 (79.7) | 22.1 (71.8) | 16.2 (61.2) | 11 (52) | 6.3 (43.3) | 15.9 (60.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −0.1 (31.8) | 2.2 (36.0) | 4.7 (40.5) | 8 (46) | 12.7 (54.9) | 17.2 (63.0) | 19.2 (66.6) | 18.8 (65.8) | 14.8 (58.6) | 9.7 (49.5) | 5.8 (42.4) | 1.6 (34.9) | 9.5 (49.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −12.6 (9.3) | −7.7 (18.1) | −6.0 (21.2) | −2.4 (27.7) | 6.4 (43.5) | 9.8 (49.6) | 14.0 (57.2) | 12.8 (55.0) | 3.7 (38.7) | 0.8 (33.4) | −5.8 (21.6) | −7.5 (18.5) | −12.6 (9.3) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 49 (1.9) | 31.6 (1.24) | 54.6 (2.15) | 45.4 (1.79) | 58 (2.3) | 45.1 (1.78) | 29.7 (1.17) | 20.3 (0.80) | 33.6 (1.32) | 38.3 (1.51) | 57.8 (2.28) | 57.2 (2.25) | 520.6 (20.49) |
| Source:National Observatory of Athens (Jun 2013- Nov 2025)[46] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Serres (1971–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 8.3 (46.9) | 11.0 (51.8) | 15.1 (59.2) | 19.9 (67.8) | 25.6 (78.1) | 30.3 (86.5) | 32.6 (90.7) | 32.2 (90.0) | 27.9 (82.2) | 21.5 (70.7) | 14.3 (57.7) | 9.1 (48.4) | 20.7 (69.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.2 (39.6) | 6.4 (43.5) | 9.9 (49.8) | 14.5 (58.1) | 20.0 (68.0) | 24.6 (76.3) | 26.8 (80.2) | 26.0 (78.8) | 21.7 (71.1) | 16.0 (60.8) | 9.7 (49.5) | 5.2 (41.4) | 15.4 (59.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 0.0 (32.0) | 1.3 (34.3) | 4.1 (39.4) | 8.0 (46.4) | 12.9 (55.2) | 16.9 (62.4) | 18.9 (66.0) | 18.2 (64.8) | 14.5 (58.1) | 9.9 (49.8) | 4.9 (40.8) | 1.2 (34.2) | 9.2 (48.6) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 34.6 (1.36) | 37.7 (1.48) | 32.6 (1.28) | 38.5 (1.52) | 47.3 (1.86) | 40.7 (1.60) | 27.6 (1.09) | 26.8 (1.06) | 29.1 (1.15) | 43.0 (1.69) | 48.8 (1.92) | 55.4 (2.18) | 464.2 (18.28) |
| Average precipitation days | 7.9 | 8.0 | 8.2 | 8.9 | 9.7 | 7.1 | 5.2 | 5.1 | 5.1 | 6.5 | 8.2 | 9.3 | 89.2 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 77.1 | 71.7 | 68.1 | 63.2 | 59.8 | 53.8 | 51.7 | 54.5 | 59.5 | 69.6 | 76.8 | 80.2 | 65.5 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 98.4 | 111.4 | 147.4 | 191.6 | 237.5 | 293.9 | 316.5 | 294.7 | 236.3 | 169.0 | 106.8 | 85.9 | 2,289.4 |
| Source: Serres SYNOPTIC station,Hellenic National Meteorological Service[47] | |||||||||||||
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Serres is the capital of a primarily agricultural district and is an important trade centre fortobacco,grain, andlivestock. Following the development of a government-sponsored manufacturing area in the late 20th century, it has also become a centre for the production oftextiles and other manufactured items. Various products, meat and dairy, are also produced by breeding atLake Kerkini.
LateOttoman authorOmer Seyfeddin set his fictional work White Tulip (Beyaz Lale) describing events during the First Balkan War in the town.[48][49]
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Probably the most well-known food from Serres isbougatsa. Additionally,gyros andsouvlaki are standard forms ofGreek cuisine served in many restaurants and taverns. One delicacy that is truly unique to the region isAkanés, which is a type of gourmet candy delight prepared according to a secret recipe since the beginning of the 20th century. Another popular dessert of the area isPoniró, similar tosfogliatella.
E79 passes near the city, connecting the city with Thessaloniki and the Greek-Bulgarian border of Promachonas.
The UrbanKTEL of Serres (has undertaken the transport within the city, while the Intercity KTEL of Serres connects the city with other cities of Macedonia and the rest of Greece.
Outside the city therailway station is located, on theThessaloniki-Alexandroupoli Line, with local and regional services toThessaloniki andAlexandroupolis.
| Year | Municipal unit | Municipality |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 46,317 | – |
| 1991 | 49,830 | – |
| 2001 | 56,145 | – |
| 2011 | 58,287 | – |
| 2021 | 59,260 | 70,703 |
The City of Serres attracts high attention for motor sports. In the city is the Serres Circuit. It was built in 1998 in accordance with the construction requirements of up toFormula 3 races.[50] The racetrack is the largest in Greece and meets the construction specifications of theInternational Automobile Federation and of theInternational Motorcycling Federation. It is a municipal corporation with majority shareholder the Municipality of Serres.
In the city of Serres there is the Technological Educational Institution (TEI) of Central Macedonia. It has more than 14.000 bachelor and master students, also three faculties and even more departments. In autumn 2012 there operated (for first time) two master programmes in English (MBA, MSc) and in 2013 a third one was added (MSc). In 2019 the Technological Educational Institution (TEI) of Central Macedonia merged with the International Hellenic University.
There is also a Department of Physical Education and Sport Science of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki that operates in the city of Serres, offering bachelor's and master's degrees.
In addition, in the Vocational Training Institute (Greek: Ι.Ε.Κ.) of Serres, various specialisations are being taught in programmes that last for up to two years of study.
Serres hosts the sport clubPanserraikos, a football club that plays in second national division (football league 2),[51]
| Club | Founded | Sports | Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panserraikos | 1964 | Football | Earlier presence in Alpha Ethniki |
Serres istwinned with:
The metropolis of Serres was looted along with seven other churches, the Monastery of St John the Baptist, while land owned by the monastery was confiscated.
At the end of the 18th C, Serres was cotton producing area, exporting 50,000 balls of cotton to Germany, France, Venice and Livorno.
Administrative division of theCentral Macedonia Region | ||
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| Regional unit ofChalkidiki |  | |
| Regional unit ofImathia | ||
| Regional unit ofKilkis | ||
| Regional unit ofPella | ||
| Regional unit ofPieria | ||
| Regional unit ofSerres | ||
| Regional unit ofThessaloniki | ||
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| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
