Konitsa
Konitsa
Κόνιτσα | |
|---|---|
Settlement | |
 The center of Konitsa | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Epirus |
| Elevation | 600 m (2,000 ft) |
| Population (2001)[1] | |
| • Total | 6,225 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 441 00 |
| Area code(s) | 26550 |
| Vehicle registration | ΙΝ |
Konitsa (Greek: Κόνιτσα, Aromanian: Conita) is a town in Epirus, Greece, near the Albanian border located at Mertzani near Melissopetra. It lies amphi-theatre shaped on a mountain slope of the Pindos mountain range, overlooking the valley where the river Aoos meets the river Voidomatis. The valley is used for farming. Konitsa is a regional centre for many small Pindos villages, and there are shops, schools and a hospital. It is a good starting point for tourists who want to explore the Pindos mountains, or who want to go rafting in the river Aoos or parapenting. Since 2009, a helicopter team operates from Konitsa, offering cross-country flights[2]. Other places of interest nearby are:
- The Vikos-Aoos National Park, including the Vikos Gorge, the Aoos Gorge and the Tymfi mountains. It is where Vikos spring water is collected;
- Mount Smolikas (2637 m), Greece's second highest mountain;
- The sulfur baths of Kavasila;
- Zagori, a group of small mountain villages;
- The nearest city is Ioannina.
History
In antiquity, the area of Konitsa was part of the terrirory of the Greek tribe of the Molossians.
A Greek school was operating already from the end of 18th century by a Georgios Mostras, originary from Arta and student of Balanos Vasilopoulos.[3]
John Murray, a British travel book writer, documented the city in 1872 as composed of 500 families and mostly populated by Albanians.[4] During the Albanian National Awakening the tekke of Konitsa, similarly to other Albanian bektashi tekkes, was a covert center of culture, learning and tolerance, but also national activism against the Ottoman Empire.[5] On the other hand, the local Greek population displayed tolerance towards actions by the Albanians that didn't reveal chauvinist inclinations.[6]
Subdivisions
The municipality Konitsa is subdivided into the following districts:
- Aetopetra
- Agia Paraskevi
- Agia Varvara (Agia Varvara, Pyxaria)
- Aidonochori
- Amarantos (Amarantos, Loutra)
- Armata
- Elefthero
- Exochi (Exochi, Trapeza)
- Gannadio
- Iliorrachi
- Kallithea
- Kavasila
- Kleidonia (Kleidonia, Kalyvia)
- Konitsa
- Mazi
- Melissopetra (Melissopetra, Kalovrysi)
- Molista
- Molyvdoskepastos
- Monastiri
- Nikanoras
- Pades
- Palaioselli
- Pigi
- Pournia
- Pyrgos
Historical Demographics
| Year | Town population | Municipality population |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 2,859 | - |
| 1991 | 2,858 | 6,572 |
| 2001 | 2,871 | 6,225 |
Notable People
- Konstantinos Dovas (1898–1973)
- Saint John Vrachoritis (-1813), Greek Orthodox Saint
- Eleftherios Ikonomou, current Chief of the Greek Police.
- Faik Konica, writer and ambassador of Albania in Washington, DC
- Mehmet Konica, twice Foreign Minister of Albania
- Giannis Lyberopoulos, professor and author.
References
- ^ De Facto Population of Greece Population and Housing Census of March 18th, 2001 (PDF 39 MB). National Statistical Service of Greece. 2003.
- ^ konitsa.eu (in Greek)
- ^ M. V. Sakellariou. Epirus, 4000 years of Greek history and civilization. Ekdotikē Athēnōn, 1997. ISBN 9789602133712, p. 307: ""In the city of Konitsa in particular, a Greek school had been founded at the end of the eighteenth century at which the.. "
- ^ (Firm), John Murray (1872). A handbook for travellers in Greece: describing the Ionian Islands, continental Greece, Athens, and the Peloponnesus, the islands of the Ægean Sea, Albania, Thessaly, and Macedonia. J. Murray. pp. 433–.
- ^ Sellheim, R. (1992). Oriens. BRILL. p. 298. ISBN 9789004096516. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
- ^ M. V. Sakellariou.Epirus, 4000 years of Greek history and civilization. Ekdotike Athenon, 1997. ISBN 9602133716. p 361: "The Greek population displayed toleration whenever the action taken.
External links
| North: Albania | |||
| West: Ano Pogoni? |
Konitsa | East: Konitsa | |
| Southwest: Delvinaki | South: Papingo (community), Tymfi | Southeast: Bizani |