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 CULTURAL
LIFE OF VOLOS
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The economic development of
the city was accompanied by exceptional progress ßç the fields of education
and culture, with the foundation of libraries, model schools.
municipal theatre, publishing houses and the
publication of magazines and daily newspapers.
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The popular painter Theophilos worked
ßç Volos and the villages of Ìt. Pelion from the end
of the last century until the 1930's, continuing a
long tradition ßç the decoration of churches and mansions
and creating many important works art. He was "discovered" ßç
1935 by the modern painter Gounaropoulos who later
decorated the church of the Holy Ôrßnßty (Agia Triada)
which is situated ïç the seafront close to the Volos
hospital.
Around the time that Theophilos arrived ßç
Volos, the city was also the birthplace of another
great artist of world-wide fame Giorgio
De Chirico,
whose father was the Italian Evaristo De Chirico
manager of the Thessalian Railways and the engineer who
designed the Pelion railway. Giorgio spent his childhood
ßç Volos, where he discovered forms and mythological
elements which are the hallmark of his work.
The artistic tradition continue tÉï play an undiminished role ßç the city
tï this day.
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The new Municipal Theatre ïf Volos, with approximately one thousand
seats and the largest stage ßç the Balkans, is a continuation of
a theatrical tradition stretching back over the century, the old
Municipal Theatre, following its construction in 1897, soon
established itself as one of the most ßmpïrtant theatres
of its day together with those of Smyrna, Constantinople
and SaIonica, and was capable of attracting fhe best
theatre companies. |
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During the 43 years of its operation,
untßl the earthquakes of 1955, it was host tï the most
famous performers of the Greek theatre and the success
of a performance ßð Volos ensured its favourable reception
throughout the rest of Greece.
Interest ßð the É theatre
was, so intense that from time to time various local
theatre groups were set õñ which often gave
notable performances and operated as a hot bed for
it, professional
actors ßn both theatre and cinema. The youngest of
these received their first lessons at the first School
of Dramatic Art to be set õñ outside Athens, which
operated ßð Volos during the 1950's.
Today the Volos Municipal
Regional Theatre, with established and emerging actors,
continues the rich theatrical tradition of the city. |
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With the foundation of the University, the city of Volos has
rounded out its idenlity as a contemporary cily and entered a
new phase ßn its development. The character of the Universily
was determined by the needs of the city and the region for trained
specialists, ßç combination with contemporary ideas ïn the educational
process. |
The relalionship between Volos and the University is one
of dynamic and creative inleraction. The spontaneous atmosphere
of sludent life spills o í er i n t ï the streets of the
city and the vitalily of the new residents brings a wealth
of new ideas, enlivening te local youth and opening õ p
new horizons.
The functional integration of the University içtï the
fabric, of Ihe city was achieved by the use of old, abandoned,
industrial and neoclassical buildings to house the faculties.
Én this way the conservation of these buildings brings
them once again to public attention and contributes to
the preservation of the archilectural character of Volos,
reinstaling buldings which bear the memories and aesthetic
values of the past intï the city's contemporary life. |
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