Altomira
Encyclopedia
Altomira is a mountain village in the municipal unit of Avia, Messenia
, Greece
. As of 2001, it had a population of 38 and sits at 860 metres above sea level. Many of its residents only live here during the summer months.
It had about 30 inhabitants in 1829, its population boomed from 216 in 1835 to 403 in 1907. Its population loss by early immigration mostly to the cities and the United States and later other parts of the world. It had 169 inhabitants in 1951, 18 in 1961 and only one in 1971. It recovered slowly to 72 by city inhabitants in 2001.
) is 6 km to the west. Altomira is located southwest of Sparta
, north of Areopoli
and SSE of Kalamata
..
The village has about 4 km of paved road, 6 km of gravel road and has about 5 km of hydro and phone lines.
). Its nearest school, lyceum (middle school) and gymnasium (secondary school) are in Avia.
.
During the Greek War of Independence
in 1821, its residents had a large number of shooters. It was administratively part of the municipality of Gerinia (Γερηνία) and since 1841 Avia with the exception of 1914 until 1998 as it was a community.
Altomira features a cobblestone sidewalk Biliovo (Μπίλιοβο) which was made in the late 19th century and connected the field village of the area. It is only used for residents.
It had a low-level summer school between 1875 and 1940. Its students begin in March and ends on October due in the winter, its residents which attend from the plain area. The school ran again from 1955 until 1960 and became winter school. It closed due to a declining population and its students presently attend in Avia.
After World War II
and the Greek Civil War
, most of its inhabitants moved into the field villages of Avia, Kambos, Megali Mantineia
and Sotirianika as well as Kalamata
and other cities. No one ever forgot the village. Festivals occur every summer and bring in a large number of crowds.
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...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. As of 2001, it had a population of 38 and sits at 860 metres above sea level. Many of its residents only live here during the summer months.
Nearest places
- Pigadia, northeast
- Anatoliko, southeast
- Voreio, south
- Sotiranika, west
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1829 | 30 |
| 1825 | 216 |
| 1907 | 403 |
| 1951 | 169 |
| 1961 | 18 |
| 1971 | 1 |
| 1981 | 71 |
| 1991 | 89 |
| 2001 | 38 |
It had about 30 inhabitants in 1829, its population boomed from 216 in 1835 to 403 in 1907. Its population loss by early immigration mostly to the cities and the United States and later other parts of the world. It had 169 inhabitants in 1951, 18 in 1961 and only one in 1971. It recovered slowly to 72 by city inhabitants in 2001.
Location and transportation
The Kalamata-Areopoli Road (uncertainly GR-7Greek National Road 7
The Moreas Motorway is a motorway in Peloponnese, Greece. Locally it is known as the Moréas , which was the medieval name of the Peloponnese. The A7 begins just west of the Isthmus of Corinth, branching off from Greek National Road 8A...
) is 6 km to the west. Altomira is located southwest of Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
, north of Areopoli
Areopoli
Areopoli is a town on the Mani Peninsula, Laconia, Greece. The word Areopoli means "city of Ares", the ancient Greek god of war. It was the seat of Oitylo municipality. Areopoli was called Tsimova by the invading Slavs during the 7th century AD...
and SSE 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...
..
The village has about 4 km of paved road, 6 km of gravel road and has about 5 km of hydro and phone lines.
The village today
Altomira hasa church, a post office, and a square (plateiaPlateia
Plateia or platia is the Greek word for town square. Most Greek and Cypriot cities have several town squares which are a point of reference in travelling and guiding...
). Its nearest school, lyceum (middle school) and gymnasium (secondary school) are in Avia.
Geography and history
Altomira was mentioned for the first time in 1618 with 20 families. Later, it was mentioned along with all the census and writings of the villages in Outer ManiMani 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...
.
During the Greek War of Independence
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
in 1821, its residents had a large number of shooters. It was administratively part of the municipality of Gerinia (Γερηνία) and since 1841 Avia with the exception of 1914 until 1998 as it was a community.
Altomira features a cobblestone sidewalk Biliovo (Μπίλιοβο) which was made in the late 19th century and connected the field village of the area. It is only used for residents.
It had a low-level summer school between 1875 and 1940. Its students begin in March and ends on October due in the winter, its residents which attend from the plain area. The school ran again from 1955 until 1960 and became winter school. It closed due to a declining population and its students presently attend in Avia.
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...
and 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...
, most of its inhabitants moved into the field villages of Avia, Kambos, Megali Mantineia
Megali Mantineia
Megali Mantineia or Megali Mandinia is a mountain settlement in the municipal unit of Avia, Messenia, Greece. As of 2001, it had a population of 180 for the village and the municipal district and sits at 200 m above sea level...
and Sotirianika as well as 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...
and other cities. No one ever forgot the village. Festivals occur every summer and bring in a large number of crowds.
Sources
- Theodoros Belitsos Ta Altomira tis Exo Manis (Τα Αλτομιρά της Έξω Μάνης (Ιστορία-Οικογένειες-Τοπωνύμια) = Altomira in Outer Mani (History-Family-Toponyms), 1999