Véroia

Véroia

Véroia, historically Beroea, dímos (municipality) and commercial centre of Greek Macedonia (Modern Greek: Makedonía), Central Macedonia (Kendrikí Makedonía) periféreia (region), northern Greece. It lies on a plateau at the western edge of the Thessaloníki (Salonika) plain, at the eastern foot of the Vérmio (also spelled Vérmion) Mountains north of the Aliákmon River. The city straddles the Tripótamos (river), an Aliákmon tributary that provides hydroelectric power and irrigation. Véroia is the seat of a metropolitan bishop of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Véroia is on the site of ancient Beroea, a city of Emathia prominent from at least the beginning of the 4th century bce. Part of the kingdom of Macedonia, it surrendered to Rome in 168. The Apostle Paul and Silas preached to the Jewish community there in 54 or 55 ce. Under the emperor Diocletian (reigned 284–305), the city was one of the two capitals of the Roman province of Macedonia. At an early date it was the seat of a bishop. Invaded by Serbs and Bulgars, in 1361 it was captured by the Turks, who named it Karaferiye and established a military colony.

The modern city has cotton and woolen mills and trades in wheat, fruit, and vegetables. It is linked to Edessa by the Thessaloníki-Kozáni railway, with connections to Bitola in the Republic of Macedonia. Lignite mines operate in the area. The city has an archaeological museum and many Byzantine churches of wattle and timber. Pop. (2001) city, 43,394; municipality, 65,530; (2011) city, 43,158; municipality, 66,547.