Gortyna, Arcadia

Gortyna, Arcadia

"For the Gortyna in Crete see Gortyn"

Infobox Greek Dimos
name = Gortyna
name_local = Γόρτυνα
image_coa =


periph = Peloponnese
prefec = Arcadia
province =
population = 1266
population_as_of = 2001
population_ref =
pop_dens =
area =
elevation = 482
lat_deg = 37
lat_min = 23
lat_hem = N
lon_deg = 22
lon_min = 3
lon_hem = E
postal_code = 220 22
area_code = 27910
licence = TP
mayor =
website = [http://www.gortynos.gr/ www.gortynos.gr]


caption_skyline =
city_

city_

districts =
party =
since =
elevation_min =
elevation_max =

Karytaina (Greek: Καρύταινα, also written as "Karitena"), is a town located in the western part of the prefecture of Arcadia in the central Peloponnese. It is the seat of the municipality of Gortyna (Γορτυνα). Skorta was the Frankish domination name. The shortest length is about 200 ot 300 m. It is located about just 1 km NW from GR-76 (Krestena - Andritsaina - Megalopoli), 1 km NW of the Karytaina - Stemnitsa - Dimitsana road, 25 km SW of Dimitsana, about 50 km (old: 54 km) W of Tripoli, 26 km NW of Megalopoli, about 28 km (old: 25 km) from GR-7/E65, about 75 km (old: 80 km) N of Kalamata, about 70 km SE of Krestena and about 72 to 75 km SE of GR-9/E55 and 28 km E of Andritsaina. The location is on a triangular-trapezoidal rocky hill with bushes and some forests which include a fortress on the top. The name of the municipality dates back to the ancient times as an ancient region. The ancient settlement of Gortys (modern: Γόρτυνος, Ancient.Katharevousa: Γόρτυς), modern Gortynos which Gortynia comes from is to the north. In the Medieval times, Karytaina used to be known as the Toledo of Greece. It is bordered with the prefecture of Ilia in the west along with its boundary over a steep cliff in the west where the highway passes.

Municipal districts and subdivisions

*Atsicholos (pop: 63)
*Karytaina
**Kalyvakia (pop: 54)
**Karvounari (pop: 54)
*Katsimpali (pop: 61)
*Kourounios (pop: 80)
*Kyparissia (pop: 95)
*Kotyli (pop: 148)
**Palato (pop: 36)
**Strongylo (pop: 22)
*Maratha, (Vlachorrapti until 2002), (pop: 101)
*Mavria (pop: 49)
*Sarakini (pop: 37)
**Kryoneri (pop: 41)
**Palaiokastro (pop: 36)
*Zoni (pop: 118)

Historical population

The population lost 661 inhabitants or 71.85% of the total population between 1920 and 1991, which was the last time the region lost inhabitants. The population recovered in 1990 being one of the few places where the population did not boom since the early to mid-20th century. The decline slowed every ten years until 1991. Karytaina has a school, a lyceum, a church, a post office, a gas station, and a square ("plateia"). Karytaina is surrounded by mountains and a larger one to the north. The houses are about 50 m lower than the fortress and line straightly to the other side of the mountain. The groves are to the east and south and areas under 482 m. Much of the area are mountains and has a rocky landscape and bushes. The plain of Megalopolis is to the southeast. The forests are to the south and in the valleys where the Alpheus River flows to the south. It includes an old bridge which was used until the 1960s.

The population was entirely consists of agriculture and the main production was cereals and silk. In the ancient times, an ancient highway linking Patras and Kalamata via Sparta passed near the Alpheus river. Another river is the Loussios (ancient: Lussius) which flows west of Karytaina which begins east of Lagkadia. The length is about 40 km. The origin of the name comes from the ancient form of "loutra", "loussis" meaning bath in Ancient Greek. In the Greek War of Independence in 1821, Nikitas Stamatetopoulos, Ilias Mavromichalis, the Plaplouta brothers, Kanellos Deligiannis and his army headed north fo Karytaina after the events in Kalamata.

ites of interest

*Castle of Karytaina - built on a steep rocky outcrop NW of Karytaina. It was first built in 1245 by Hugues De Bruyere

External links

*http://cgi.di.uoa.gr/~grad0039/Welcome.html (in Greek)
*http://arcadia.ceid.upatras.gr/arkadia/engversion/places/karitena.htm (in Greek)
* [http://arcadia.ceid.upatras.gr/arkadia/archsites/xwroi/gortis.htm Ancient Gortys and the Loussios Gorge]
*http://arcadia.ceid.upatras.gr/arkadia/arcadia-hist/topics/gortis.html (in Greek)

ee also

*List of settlements in the Arcadia prefecture
*Ophrys Gortynia
*Xylokaritaina



Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Arcadia (Titularbistum) — Arcadia ist ein Titularbistum der römisch katholischen Kirche. Es geht zurück auf ein früheres Bistum in der römischen Provinz Creta et Cyrene bzw. in der Spätantike Creta. Es gehörte der Kirchenprovinz Gortyna an. Titularbischöfe von Arcadia Nr …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Derveni, Arcadia — For other uses, see Derveni (disambiguation). Derveni Δερβένι Location …   Wikipedia

  • Kalyvakia, Arcadia — Kalyvakia or Kalivakia (Greek: Καλυβάκια) is a Greek settlement in the west southwest of the Arcadia prefecture Kalyvakia is in the municipality of Gortyna. Kalyvakia is connected with the road with the GR 76 (Krestena Andritsaina Megalopoli).… …   Wikipedia

  • Sarakini, Gortyna — Sarakini (Greek, Modern: Σαρακίνι, Ancient/Katharevousa: ον on meaning Saracen), older forms: o and on is a Greek settlement in the west southwest of the Arcadia prefecture Sarakini is connected with the road linking Karytaina as well as… …   Wikipedia

  • Kryonero, Arcadia — Kryonero or Krionero (Greek, Modern: Κρυόνερο meaning cold water, Ancient/Katharevousa: ον on ), older form: on is a Greek settlement in the west southwest of the Arcadia prefecture Kryonero is in the municipal district of Sarakino and the… …   Wikipedia

  • Palaiokastro, Arcadia — Palaiokastro or Palaiokastro (Greek, Modern: Παλαιόκαστρο meaning old castle, Ancient/Katharevousa: ον on ), older form: on is a Greek settlement in the west southwest of the Arcadia prefecture Palaiokastro is in the municipal district of… …   Wikipedia

  • Kyparissia, Arcadia — Kyparissia or Kiparissia (Greek: Κυπαρίσσια) is a Greek village in the west southwest of the Arcadia prefecture Kyparissia is in the municipal district of Sarakino and the municipality of Gortyna. Kyparissia is connected with the road linking the …   Wikipedia

  • Trapezus, Arcadia — Trapezus modern form: Trapezounta or Trapezounda is an ancient city located west of the village of Mavria and south southeast of Karytaina in the municipality of Gortyna. Trapezus dates back to ancient times.Trapezus features marble remains which …   Wikipedia

  • Arcadocypriot Greek — Distribution of Greek dialects in the classical period.[1] Western group …   Wikipedia

  • Karytaina — 37° 29′ 07″ N 22° 02′ 28″ E / 37.485218, 22.040994 …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”