Astros, Greece
Encyclopedia
Astros is a town near the Argolic Gulf
in the northeast Peloponnese
in eastern Arcadia
. The name and the settlement both date back to ancient times, when it was known as Astron. Astros is the seat of North Kynouria
municipality (Greek: Βόρεια Κυνουρία), which is the largest in Arcadia and has the greatest number of communities and settlements. Astros is accessible by the road connecting Tripoli
and Argos and Tyros and Leonidio
and Monemvasia to the south. Its port, Paralio Astros
lies to the east and slightly north of the inland town.
Astros was the site of the Second National Assembly of the Hellenes
during the Greek War of Independence
, under the presidency of Petros Mavromichalis
. This assembly produced the first constitution
of Modern Greece.
Astros has a school, a lyceum
, a high school, a number of churches including one which is situated on a hilltop, banks, and a post office. There is a health clinic on the road to Leonidio
. There are a number of squares (plateies), the most westerly of which contains a small amphitheater built into the hillside.
Much of the land is rocky and bushy and unsuitable for cultivation, but there are some farms and groves are in low-lying areas near town.
Argolic Gulf
The Argolic Gulf is a small gulf off the east coast of the Peloponnese, Greece, opening into the Aegean Sea. Its main island is Spetses. This gulf and its islands are sometimes combined with the Saronic Gulf and Saronic Islands, with the result called the Argo-Saronic Gulf and the Argo-Saronic...
in the northeast Peloponnese
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
in eastern Arcadia
Arcadia
Arcadia is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Peloponnese. It is situated in the central and eastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. It takes its name from the mythological character Arcas. In Greek mythology, it was the home of the god Pan...
. The name and the settlement both date back to ancient times, when it was known as Astron. Astros is the seat of North Kynouria
North Kynouria
North Kynouria or Vóreia Kynouría is a municipality in Arcadia, Greece. It is located in the eastern part of the peripheral unit, between the northwestern shores of the Argolic Gulf and northern Laconia. Its land area is 576.981 km². Its population is 12,825 . The seat of the municipality is in...
municipality (Greek: Βόρεια Κυνουρία), which is the largest in Arcadia and has the greatest number of communities and settlements. Astros is accessible by the road connecting Tripoli
Tripoli, Greece
Tripoli is a city of about 25,000 inhabitants in the central part of the Peloponnese, in Greece. It is the capital of the prefecture of Arcadia and the centre of the municipality of Tripolis, pop...
and Argos and Tyros and Leonidio
Leonidio
Leonidio is a town and a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality South Kynouria, of which it is a municipal unit...
and Monemvasia to the south. Its port, Paralio Astros
Paralio Astros
Paralio Astros is a port serving the inland town of Astros, Greece.Paralio Astros possesses beaches and a harbour which can accommodate small ships. A medieval Frankish fortress commands the heights of a peninsula called "The Island" which juts out to form the harbour...
lies to the east and slightly north of the inland town.
Astros was the site of the Second National Assembly of the Hellenes
Second National Assembly at Astros
The Second National Assembly at Astros was the second Greek National Assembly, a national representative body of the Greeks who had rebelled against the Ottoman Empire....
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...
, under the presidency of Petros Mavromichalis
Petros Mavromichalis
Petros Mavromichalis , also known as Petrobey , was the leader of the Maniot people during the first half of the 19th century. His family had a long history of revolts against the Ottoman Empire, which ruled most of what is now Greece...
. This assembly produced the first constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
of Modern Greece.
Astros has a school, a lyceum
Lyceum
The lyceum is a category of educational institution defined within the education system of many countries, mainly in Europe. The definition varies between countries; usually it is a type of secondary school.-History:...
, a high school, a number of churches including one which is situated on a hilltop, banks, and a post office. There is a health clinic on the road to Leonidio
Leonidio
Leonidio is a town and a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality South Kynouria, of which it is a municipal unit...
. There are a number of squares (plateies), the most westerly of which contains a small amphitheater built into the hillside.
Much of the land is rocky and bushy and unsuitable for cultivation, but there are some farms and groves are in low-lying areas near town.