Aridaía is a town and a former municipality in the Pella regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Almopia, of which it is a municipal unit. It was the capital of the former Almopia eparchy. It is located in the northwest corner of the Pella regional unit, bordering the southern part of the North Macedonia and the northeast corner of the Florina regional unit. Its land area is. The population of Aridaia proper is 7,057, while that of the entire municipal unit is 20,313. Its largest other towns are Prómachoi, Sosándra, Ápsalos, Loutráki, Polykárpi, Tsákoi, Voreinó, and Χifianí. The municipal unit is divided into 17 communities. The town was used to be called "Αρδέα". The Municipal Department of Aridea includes the settlement of Ydrea with a population of 600 inhabitants.
Etymology
There are two possible etymologies of the name Aridea. One is that "Aridea", is a corruption of the old name of the town "Ardea", which comes from the verb "lit= Irrigate, which is explained by the multiple rivers, streams, irrigation canals, etc. Another explanation is that the name "Aridea" comes from Philip III Arrideus, half-brother of Alexander the Great.
Sightings
At a distance of 7km from Aridea is the Byzantine Castle of which dates back to the 8th century AD. North of Aridea is a historic, though not very well known Monastery of the Province of Almopia, the Holy Monastery of Saint Hilarion, bishop of Moglena. This monastery has as its owner and founder Saint Hilarion himself, who was a great Hierarch of the Church of Greece in the 12th century, who lived and worked in the area of today's Almopia. At a distance of 10 km from Aridea are the with impressive natural beauty and thermal waters. It is a tourist destination with many infrastructures and all the amenities in combination with the Kaimaktsalan Ski Center which geographically belongs to the Municipality of Almopia. Next to the tourist village of Loutraki, seat of Loutra Pozar, is the tourist village of Orma from which the road to the Ski Center starts. Near the New Town Hall there is a Museum of Natural History in the building that once housed the Railway Station. Aridea used to be crossed by the Almopaios river but it was decided to close it. Other rivers in the area are the Belitsa to the south and the Koziakas to the east. Aridea is home to one of the largest dynamic Forest Offices in the country. In Aridea there are 2 churches, Agios Antonios, and Agios Nikandros and Ioannikios
Sports
The Municipal Stadium of Aridea hosts athletics classes of the newly established club "IKAROS ALMOPIAS" and "F.O. Arideas ". A well-known football team based in Aridea is Almopos Arideas. The "Ethnikos Arideas" club, founded in 1978, has a special football history to show. The basketball team of Aridea is the "Sports Club" with a history of over 35 years.
The town does not have a railway station and is served by the railway stations of Edessa and Skydra, while in the period 1916-1936 there was a railway station, since there was a railway line from Skydra to Aridea and Orma that closed in 1936. Railway Station, houses the Museum of Natural History. On February 19, 2019, the construction of the railway line Agios Athanasios – Chalkidona – Koufalia – Pella – Nea Pella – Giannitsa – Galatades – Karyotissa – Dafni – Kalivia – Skydra-Edessa and bypass from Skydra to Aridaia was anounced, however no study has been presented, and it is currently unknown when the project will be completed.
Roads
There is no National Road passing through the town, but there are five provincial roads that connect Aridea with the surrounding settlements. The following streets pass through the town
