Plateia Laou (the People's Square) is the heart of modern Larissa — a large pedestrianised square ringed by cafes, restaurants, and trees, and the city's main social gathering point. From mid-afternoon onward it fills with the Greek ritual of the volta, the evening stroll, as families, students, and couples circulate between the outdoor tables and the fountain. It is one of the more genuinely animated town squares in northern Greece.
The square is not architecturally distinguished but its human geography is interesting: it sits at the boundary between the old Ottoman quarter (uphill toward the Frourio) and the modern Greek city laid out after 1881. On summer evenings outdoor cinema and concerts occasionally take place here. The cafes are open from early morning until late at night; prices are significantly lower than their equivalents in Athens or Thessaloniki.