Volos

For the Slavic god, see Veles (god). For the steamship, see SS Volos.

Volos Βόλος
Volos seaside by night
Location
Volos
Coordinates	39°22′N 22°56′E
Location within the region
Government
Country:	Greece
Region:	Thessaly
Regional unit:	Magnesia
Districts:	18
Mayor:	Panos Skotiniotis (since: 2010)
Population statistics (as of 2011)
Municipality
- Population:	144,449
- Area:	387.1 km2 (149 sq mi)
- Density:	373 /km2 (966 /sq mi)
Municipal unit
- Population:	118,707
- Area:	27.678 km2 (11 sq mi)
- Density:	4,289 /km2 (11,108 /sq mi)
Other
Time zone:	EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Elevation (min-max):	0–5 m ­(0–16 ft)
Postal code:	38x xx
Telephone:	24210
Auto:	ΒΟx
Website
www.volos-city.gr

Volos (Greek: Βόλος) is a coastal port city in Thessaly situated midway on the Greek mainland, about 326 km north of Athens and 215 km south of Thessaloniki. It is the capital of the Magnesia regional unit. Volos is the only outlet to the sea from Thessaly, the country's largest agricultural region. With a population of 144,449 (2011), it is an important industrial centre, while its port provides a bridge between Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Volos is the newest of the Greek port cities, with a large proportion of modern buildings erected following the catastrophic earthquakes of 1955. It includes the municipal units of Volos, Nea Ionia and Iolkos, as well as smaller suburban communities. The economy of the city is based on manufacturing, trade, services and tourism. Home to the University of Thessaly, the city also offers facilities for conferences, exhibitions and major sporting, cultural and scientific events. Volos participated in the 2004 Olympic Games, and the city has since played host to other athletic events, such as the European Athletic Championships. Volos will host the 7th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics between 27 July and 5 August 2013.

Location

Built at the innermost point of the Pagasetic Gulf and at the foot of Mount Pilio or Pelion (the land of the Centaurs), Volos is the third of Greece's major commercial ports, with traffic by ferry and hydrofoil to the nearby Sporades Islands, which include Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonissos. There are also connections to Limnos, Lesvos, Chios and Skyros.

History

Antiquity

Further information: Ancient Greece and Hellenistic Greece

The return of the Argonauts by Constantine Volanakis (1837–1907).

Modern Volos is built on the area of the ancient cities of Demetrias, Pagasae and Iolcos. Demetrias was established by Demetrius Poliorcetes, King of Macedon. Iolkos, Iolcos or Iolcus, was the homeland of mythological hero Jason, who boarded the ship Argo accompanied by the Argonauts and sailed in quest of the Golden Fleece to Colchis. To the west of Volos lie the Neolithic settlements of Dimini, with a ruined acropolis, walls, and two beehive tombs dating to between 4000-1200 BC, Sesklo, with the remains of the oldest acropolis in Greece (6000 BC), and also the foundations of a palace and mansions, among its most characteristic examples of Neolithic civilisation.

Byzantine era

Further information: Byzantine Greece

According to a Byzantine historian of the 14th century, Volos was known as "Golos" (Greek: "Γόλος"). The most widely accepted theory for the derivation of the city's name suggests that Volos is a corruption of the Mycenaean Iolkos, which had become distorted through the ages to become "Golkos", later "Golos", and subsequently "Volos". Others contend that the name originates with Folos, who according to myth was a wealthy landlord of the region. It was conquered by Stefan Dusan, was king of Serbia in 1348 and was managed for 25 years. Volos returned to Byzantine rule in 1373 but was conquered by Ottomans in 1393. Volos returned to Byzantine again in 1402 but Ottomans retook it in 1423.^{[citation needed]}

Ottoman era

Further information: Ottoman Greece

The city marked a Southern border of Vilayet-i Rumeli-i Şarki in the Ottoman Empire, known then as "Golos". Since the early stages of the Greek Revolution, the provisional government of Greece claimed Volos as part of Greek national territory, but the Treaty of Constantinople (1832), which established a Greek independent state, set its northern boundary between Arta and Volos.

Russian Consulate of the wider area during Ottoman Era, the Pelion Tower of Ano Lechonia

Modern Volos

The port of Volos by Constantine Volanakis (c.1875).

Volos' promenade.

The church of Saints Constantine and Helen at the seafront.

Volos is a relatively new city, beginning its strongest growth in the mid-19th century where an insignificant Turkish hamlet used to lie. According to local evidence, the modern town was first established in 1841. The locality of its castle was named Golos by Ottomans and locals, while Ano Volos was known as Gkolos.

After its incorporation into Greece from the Ottoman Empire in 1881, the town had a population of only 4,900, but grew rapidly in the next four decades as merchants, businessmen, craftsmen and sailors gravitated toward it from the surrounding area. In the 1920s a large influx of refugees to the settlement took place, especially from Ionia, but also from Pontus, Cappadocia and Eastern Thrace. In 1882, Andreas Syngros established the Privileged Bank of Epirus and Thessaly, which the National Bank of Greece acquired in 1899 after its founder's death. Volos was occupied by Ottomans in 8 May 1897, during the Greco Turkish War.

The development of the city was closely bound up with the establishment of its industrial estate, the upgrading of the port, and the growth of tourism, due to the city's location near the Mt. Pelion, the home of Chiron the Centaur, and the beaches of the Magnesia Prefecture, particularly those of the Northern Sporades. The city has been linked with a number of significant social movements in the past, such as the early teaching of Dimotiki, by Delmouzos in the early 20th century (when Katharevousa was the officially sanctioned version). Volos is also well known for its assortment of mezedes and a clear, alcoholic beverage known as tsipouro.

A street in a sister city, Rostov-on-Don, bears the name Улица Греческого Города Волос (Street of the Greek City of Volos), weaving through a mix of early 20th century buildings with characteristic inner yards, tiered balconies and open iron stairs that lend the old Rostov its characteristic Mediterranean look.

Administration

The municipality Volos was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 9 former municipalities, that became municipal units:

• Agria
• Aisonia
• Artemida
• Iolcos
• Makrinitsa
• Nea Anchialos
• Nea Ionia
• Portaria
• Volos

Province

The province of Volos (Greek: Επαρχία Βόλου) was one of the provinces of the Magnesia Prefecture. Its territory corresponded with that of the current municipalities Volos, Rigas Feraios, South Pelion and Zagora-Mouresi. It was abolished in 2006.

Geography

Volos panorama from Pelion mountain.

Volos panorama from Makrinitsa during dusk.

Volos is the administrative centre of the Magnesia regional unit. Many of the city domains are separated through natural barricades, such as rivers.

Three main rivers/mountain torrents all rise from mount Pelion (1651m), crossing the city to create a unique urban geography, before ending in the Pagasetic Gulf flowing west. The Anavros river, famous for Jason's pass, divides the Nea Demetriada district from the rest of the urban area. Krausidonas is the major river passing through the city, and constitutes the natural lung of the urbanized area of Volos, as well as the boundary between the major municipalities of the metropolitan city, the municipalities of Volos and Nea Ionia. Xirias (Ξηριάς), is the largest torrent of the metropolitan urban area of Volos, and passes through the Nea Ionia municipal area.

Climate

Climate graph of Volos.

Volos, as a Mediterranean city, experiences a typical climate of neither particularly high nor extremely low temperatures throughout the year. Its climate is one of a low humidity, favourable for all kinds of activities. The Pelion mountain, with its own microclimate, affects the city's weather.^{[citation needed]}

Urban plan

Architecture

The Archaeological Museum of Volos.

A snapshot from the promenade.

The architectural and urban setting of Volos is characterised by its grid of squares and streets, its sense of neighbourhood, its imposing neoclassical buildings, the aged industrial edifices, a number of green oases, and most obviously by the proximity of sea and harbour. These elements in combination lend Volos its atmosphere and distinctiveness, making up one of the most beautiful Greek cities. The current urban plan of Volos was largely established in 1882, shortly after the liberation of the city, and was greatly influenced by concepts of neoclassical town planning. The plan connected the two city-centers (The Castle and Nea Magazia) along a simple axis; it was, however, somewhat limited given the full development possibilities of the city. The arrival of its refugees in 1922 and the earthquakes of 1955 gave Volos its present form.

Neoclassical buildings

The development of the new city coincided with the flourishing of neoclassicism. Public buildings conformed to this style and prestigious private buildings belonging to prosperous merchants were particularly sophisticated. Typical examples include:

• The 3-storeyed Hotel de France, with its impressive decorative murals (1894, Iasonos and K. Kartali Street)
• The National Bank, formerly the Epirothessalian Bank(1895)
• The Athens Bank (1903, today the library of University of Thessaly)
• The Achillopouleion Hospital (1901)
• The Archaeological Museum of Volos, Athanasakeio (1909)
• The Agricultural Bank (1909, formerly the Kosmadopoulos Bank)
• The Cinetheater Achillion, (1925)
• The Aegli Hotel, (1927), designed by Kassiopoulos
• The Building of the Air-force High officials Club near Agios Konstantinos Park, believed to have been designed by Le Corbusier
• The Bank of Greece (1935)
• The Averofeian courts of Justice
• The family houses of Kartalis, Glavanis, Kastemis, Saratsis
• The Sarafopoulos Mansion (1927), today the Volos Club
• The well preserved Regas house and its singular decorative murals, today the Lyceum of Greek women.

Demographics

A street of Volos.

Volos is a relatively new city, and according to local statistics, its growth was substantially launched in 1881 when the area became part of the former Greek Kingdom. At this time the city had a population of around 4,000, mostly distributed around the old castle city (Palaia District today). Over the following century the city multiplied its population, reaching an overall population of approximately 150,000, including both permanent and temporary citizens, as well as university students.

A large proportion of the population (today, around 34% of the total) derives from the refugee population, established in the area in 1924, while another population group, comprising almost 30%, are the internal immigrants of Thessaly, whose consolidation began in 1890 and reached its peak in the late 1970s. The remaining population is mainly from Pelion and Almyros county, as well as from elsewhere in Greece. A significant number of inhabitants from elsewhere in Europe have also lived and continue to live in the city.

The city represents a fully urbanized Greek city with a large population in tertiary employment; 52%; 42% in secondary and less than 6% in primary employment. Volos today attracts more than 65% of Magnesia's perfectural population.

Districts

City Centre 60,420

• Agios Nikolaos
• Kallithea
• Hiliadou
• Oxygono
• Agios Konstantinos
• Agios Georgios
• Palia
• Analipsi
• Metamorfosi
• Karagats

South-West 21,000

• Agii Anargyri
• Neapoli
• Alykes

North 15,000

• Agia Paraskevi
• Aerokampos

North-West 33,000

• Nea Ionia
• Melissatika

East 15,000

• Nea Dimitriada

Squares

• Neoleas
• Paleon
• Politismou
• Riga Ferreou
• Eleftherias
• Tehnon
• Episkopis
• Dimokratias
• Logotehnon
• Agiou Konstantinou
• Olympiakon Agonon
• Anavrou
• Irinis
• Agoniston
• Filias
• Antheon
• Syntrivaniou

Education

There are many school monads in Volos. The conurbation is obliged by 56 kindergartens, 51 primary schools, 18 junior high schools and 13 senior high schools.^{[citation needed]} Also, there is the University of Thessaly, which is housed in Volos.

Economy

Panorama view of Volos

Volos is one of the most industrialized provincial cities of Greece, due to its strategic location between the largest population centers of the country (Athens - Thessaloníki) and its port. Industry is intensely specialized in steel production and manufacturing, and METKA has two large factories in the industrial area of Volos, while large factories of SIDENOR - a steel producer - operate in close proximity from the nearby city of Almyros. Hellenic Steel industry (Ελληνική Χαλυβουργία) also has production facilities in Volos, and AGET - Hraklis, a member of the Lafarge group, operates one of the largest cement facilities in the world (with capacity exceeding 7,000,000tn) with its own private port, next to the city. Volos is also active in the research sector, hosting the CERETETH.

International consulates

The city of Volos has always had a major role in the financial, economic, commercial and administrative matters of the region of Thessaly and Central Greece, due to the strategic position of the city's port, unique between Athens and Thessaloniki. Several European countries have established consulates in Volos including:

• Italy
• France
• Belgium
• Germany
• Denmark
• Netherlands

Culture

Vangelis Papathanasiou (Vangelis).

Giorgio de Chirico (1888-1978) was born in Volos.

Tsipouro.

Spetsofai, traditional dish with country sausage, onion, peppers and tomato, originating from the region of Pelion.

Ancient

• Iason, mythological hero
• Peleus, mythological hero
• Chiron, mythological centaur

Notable people

• John Argyris, engineer (1913–2004)
• Tinì Cansino, actress and television personality (1959)
• Giorgio de Chirico, painter (1888–1978)
• Yorgos Foudoulis, musician and composer (1964)
• Phaidon Gizikis, army officer and President of Greece during the junta (1917–1999)
• Lavrentis Mahairitsas, musician and songwriter (1956)
• Yiorgo Moutsiaras, orchestral conductor (1976)
• Theophilos Hatzimihail, painter (1871–1934)
• Kostas Papahristos, actor (1916–1995)
• Vangelis, composer (1943)
• Vasileios Polymeros, rower, olympic medalist (1976)
• Nikolaos Skiathitis, rower, olympic medalist (1981)
• Olga Vasdeki, triple jumper (1973)

Sports

Volos has a number of professional football clubs including:

• Α.Σ. ΕΡΜΗΣ
• Olympiakos Volou FC
• Niki Volou FC

Panthessaliko Stadium.

Museums and galleries

• Archaeological Museum of Volos
• Modern History Museum of Volos City
• Thessaly Railway Museum, Railway Station of Volos
• Tsalapatas, National Museum of Industrial History

Transport

All land transport reaches Volos, while the International Airport of Central Greece in Nea Anchialos links the city to international destinations, and the Port of Volos provides links to the islands, mostly the Sporades, as well as to some destinations in Pilio.

Motorways

Volos is linked through Greece's E75 Highway Axis (most often known as PATHE) with Northern and Southern Greece. Beyond this, the Axis E65 will be the gateway to Western Greece and the port of Igoumenitsa, through the plains of inner Thessaly; this part of the E65 motorway will be completed by 2012.

Airport

The city of Volos, along with the rest of Central Greece, is linked to the rest of Greece and Europe by the Nea Anchialos National Airport. The airport represents the biggest air lane in Greece after Eleftherios Venizelos.

Volos is the first city in Europe to feature Seaplane Services through Argo Airways, which is based in Volos. The seaplanes connect Volos with Skiathos, Skopelos, Allonisos, Athens and Thessaloniki.

Railway

The railway station

Volos' railway station building was designed by Evaristo De Chirico soon after the liberation of Central Greece. Part of the station still functions in this picturesque 1884 structure, reminiscent to some of a stately home. The adjacent neoclassical building, built between 1900 and 1903 under Evaristo De Chirico, served as the administrative headquarters of the Thessaly Railways.

Today, the city is served by direct lines to the rest of Greece, and the railway complex houses facilities for train maintenance. Volos is directly linked with Athens once per day, with Thessaloniki twice per day, and with Larissa 15 times a day. In the past Volos was served by railway lines of three different gauges, the metre gauge line of Thessaly Railways to Kalampaka, the standard gauge line to Larissa and the 600 mm line to Pelion. Remnants of triple gauge lines still exist near the station.

Twin towns — Sister cities

Volos is twinned with:

• - Le Mans, France
• - Antofagasta, Chile
• - Rostov-on-Don, Russia
• - Pleven, Bulgaria

See also

• Panthessaliko Stadium

External links

• Volos The Official website of the Greek National Tourism Organisation
• Homepage of the Municipality of Nea Ionia