Agios Nikolaos, Messinia
Encyclopedia
Agios Nikolaos is a fishing village in the Mani Peninsula
in southern Greece
; it is popular with holidaymakers. The village, known to English-speaking tourists as "Ag Nik", lies about 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) south-east of Kalamata
, on the eastern shore of the Messenian Gulf
, and about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of Stoupa
, a larger tourist village. It is part of the municipal unit of West Mani
in Messenia
.
The population of Agios Nikolaos and similar fishing villages in this part of Greece fell rapidly in the decades after World War II
through emigration, mainly to Australia
, but since the road from Kalamata was built in the late 1960s the tourist business brought new prosperity to the area. Agios Nikolaos still has few tourist amenities, but the hills above the town offer Byzantine churches
and spectacular views of the Gulf and of the Taygetus
mountains further inland.
It is still an active fishing harbour with a fish market most days. There are several Taverna
s and Kafenons around the harbour. There is an emergency medical center, a pharmacy, a post office, and several small grocery stores.
Agios Nikolaos was formerly called Selinitsa (meaning simply village, settlement). The name Selinitsa is still used by many locals. It was a centre of fighting during the Greek Civil War
, being on the side of Government fighting the 'communists' who were mainly in the mountain villages. There are still three towers, built as machine gun emplacements scattered around the village; the largest about 20 metres (65.6 ft) high dominates the 'skyline' on the main road into the village. There are no ancient remains in the immediate area.
Mani Peninsula
The Mani Peninsula , also long known as Maina or Maïna, is a geographical and cultural region in Greece. Mani is the central peninsula of the three which extend southwards from the Peloponnese in southern Greece. To the east is the Laconian Gulf, to the west the Messenian Gulf...
in southern Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
; it is popular with holidaymakers. The village, known to English-speaking tourists as "Ag Nik", lies about 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) south-east of Kalamata
Kalamata
Kalamata is the second-largest city of the Peloponnese in southern Greece. The capital and chief port of the Messenia prefecture, it lies along the Nedon River at the head of the Messenian Gulf...
, on the eastern shore of the Messenian Gulf
Messenian Gulf
The Messenian Gulf is a sea that is part of the Ionian Sea. The gulf is circumscribed by the southern coasts of Messenia and the southwestern coast of the Mani peninsula in Laconia. Its bounds are Venetiko Island to the west and Cape Tainaron to the southeast...
, and about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) south of Stoupa
Stoupa
Stoupa is a village on the coast of the southern Peloponnese peninsula in Greece. It is part of the municipal unit of West Mani, in Messenia and the historic region of Mani Peninsula....
, a larger tourist village. It is part of the municipal unit of West Mani
West Mani
West Mani is a municipality in the Messenia peripheral unit, Peloponnese Periphery, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Kardamyli. It comprises the western part of the Mani Peninsula.-Municipality:...
in Messenia
Messenia
Messenia is a regional unit in the southwestern part of the Peloponnese region, one of 13 regions into which Greece has been divided by the Kallikratis plan, implemented 1 January 2011...
.
The population of Agios Nikolaos and similar fishing villages in this part of Greece fell rapidly in the decades after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
through emigration, mainly to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, but since the road from Kalamata was built in the late 1960s the tourist business brought new prosperity to the area. Agios Nikolaos still has few tourist amenities, but the hills above the town offer Byzantine churches
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
and spectacular views of the Gulf and of the Taygetus
Taygetus
Mount Taygetus, Taugetus, or Taigetus is a mountain range in the Peloponnese peninsula in Southern Greece. The name is one of the oldest recorded in Europe, appearing in the Odyssey. In classical mythology, it was associated with the nymph Taygete...
mountains further inland.
It is still an active fishing harbour with a fish market most days. There are several Taverna
Taverna
Taverna refers to a small restaurant serving Greek cuisine, not to be confused with "tavern". The Greek word is ταβέρνα and is originally derived from the Latin word taberna...
s and Kafenons around the harbour. There is an emergency medical center, a pharmacy, a post office, and several small grocery stores.
Agios Nikolaos was formerly called Selinitsa (meaning simply village, settlement). The name Selinitsa is still used by many locals. It was a centre of fighting during the Greek Civil War
Greek Civil War
The Greek Civil War was fought from 1946 to 1949 between the Greek governmental army, backed by the United Kingdom and United States, and the Democratic Army of Greece , the military branch of the Greek Communist Party , backed by Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and Albania...
, being on the side of Government fighting the 'communists' who were mainly in the mountain villages. There are still three towers, built as machine gun emplacements scattered around the village; the largest about 20 metres (65.6 ft) high dominates the 'skyline' on the main road into the village. There are no ancient remains in the immediate area.