Georgioupoli
Encyclopedia
Georgioupoli is a resort village and former municipality in the Chania peripheral unit, Crete
, Greece
.
Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Apokoronas
, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located 43 km east of Chania
, about 22 km west of Rethymno
and about 100 km west of Heraklio in the Apokoronas
region. It was named after Prince George of Greece, high commissioner
of the island in the last years of Ottoman
occupation.
trees.
Formerly a small fishing village, Georgioupolis is very much a tourist town now, with many cafés, tavernas and small hotels and apartment blocks. The town square is surrounded by outdoor seating used by tourists enjoying their drinks and ice creams. The 9 km beach is the main attraction of the area, with Kalyvaki beach on the other side of the river as well. Nearby Lake Kournas
is also a popular excursion by foot, bicycle or tourist 'train'. Georgioupolis is a well-located base for exploring the traditional villages of the area towards Vamos
or into the White Mountains to the south.
Archaeological evidence points to Georgioupoli as the site of ancient Amphimalla
(Amfimala or Amfimalion), the port of Lappa
, a classical city at modern Argyroupoli
.
In 2010 the new Kalikratis plan was introduced, bringing all municipalities in Apokoronas, including Georgioupoli, together. On 14 November 2010 Grigoris Markakis was elected mayor of Apokoronas, at the head of the DEKA party, winning after the second round of voting.
with Georgioupolis: - Kärdla
, Hiiumaa
, Estonia
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Apokoronas
Apokoronas
Apokoronas is a municipality and a former province in Chania peripheral unit, north-west Crete, Greece. It is situated on the north coast of Crete, to the east of Chania itself. The seat of the municipality is the village Vryses.-Geography:...
, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located 43 km east of Chania
Chania
Chaniá , , also transliterated Chania, Hania, and Xania, older form Chanea and Venetian Canea, Ottoman Turkish خانيه Hanya) is the second largest city of Crete and the capital of the Chania peripheral unit...
, about 22 km west of Rethymno
Rethymno
Rethymno is a city of approximately 40,000 people in Greece, the capital of Rethymno peripheral unit in the island of Crete. It was built in antiquity , even though was never a competitive Minoan centre...
and about 100 km west of Heraklio in the Apokoronas
Apokoronas
Apokoronas is a municipality and a former province in Chania peripheral unit, north-west Crete, Greece. It is situated on the north coast of Crete, to the east of Chania itself. The seat of the municipality is the village Vryses.-Geography:...
region. It was named after Prince George of Greece, high commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
of the island in the last years of Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
occupation.
Geography
Georgioupolis is found at the apex of Almiros Bay on the Sea of Crete, with Cape Drapano and its rocky coast to the north and the long sandy beaches towards Rethimno in the east, just 20 km away. Three rivers meet the sea at the village; the largest, Almiros, creates a small harbour for fishing and tourist boats. The entrance to the village on the old road from Vrisses is a long avenue of eucalyptusEucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a diverse genus of flowering trees in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Members of the genus dominate the tree flora of Australia...
trees.
Formerly a small fishing village, Georgioupolis is very much a tourist town now, with many cafés, tavernas and small hotels and apartment blocks. The town square is surrounded by outdoor seating used by tourists enjoying their drinks and ice creams. The 9 km beach is the main attraction of the area, with Kalyvaki beach on the other side of the river as well. Nearby Lake Kournas
Kournas
Kournas is the name of a village and nearby lake on the island of Crete, Greece. It is in the Apokoronas region of Chania Prefecture close to the border with Rethymno Prefecture, 47 km from the town of Chania. Kournas is a fairly large village perched on a hill overlooking the lake. It is in...
is also a popular excursion by foot, bicycle or tourist 'train'. Georgioupolis is a well-located base for exploring the traditional villages of the area towards Vamos
Vamos
Vamos is a small town and former municipality in the Chania peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Apokoronas, of which it is a municipal unit...
or into the White Mountains to the south.
Archaeological evidence points to Georgioupoli as the site of ancient Amphimalla
Amphimalla
Amphimalla or Amphimala or Amphimalion , was an ancient town on the north coast of Crete, Greece, situated on the bay named after it , which corresponds, according to some, to the Bay of Almiros , and, according to others, to Suda Bay.The site of Amphimalla has not been located with precision;...
(Amfimala or Amfimalion), the port of Lappa
Lappa, Rethymno
Lappa is a former municipality in the Rethymno peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Rethymno, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 2,628 . The seat of the municipality was in Episkopi. The municipality's name was a revival of...
, a classical city at modern Argyroupoli
Argyroupoli (Rethymno)
Argyroupoli is a village in the municipality of Lappa, Rethymno Prefecture, Crete, Greece, population 402 , altitude 260m. It was previously known as Lappa or Lampa, Stimboli, and Polis.-Name:...
.
Municipal unit
Georgioupolis, with 513 residents (as of 2001 census), is the largest village of the municipal unit of the same name, covering several other villages inland as far as Kournas. The town hall of Georgioupoli municipality is at Kavros-Kournas. The Mayor is, , Georgios Papadakis. As of the elections on 15 October 2006, the mayor is now Ferdinandos Marikakis.In 2010 the new Kalikratis plan was introduced, bringing all municipalities in Apokoronas, including Georgioupoli, together. On 14 November 2010 Grigoris Markakis was elected mayor of Apokoronas, at the head of the DEKA party, winning after the second round of voting.
Historical population
| Year | Village population | Municipality population |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 616 | - |
| 2001 | 513 | 2,483 |
Sister cities
The following cities are twinnedTown twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...
with Georgioupolis: - Kärdla
Kärdla
Kärdla is the largest town on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa and the capital of Hiiu County.-Geography:Kärdla is located on the north-eastern coast of Hiiumaa, by the Gulf of Tareste . Southeast of the town is the Kärdla meteorite crater, which is 455 million years old.Several small rivers flow...
, Hiiumaa
Hiiumaa
Hiiumaa is the second largest island belonging to Estonia. It is located in the Baltic Sea, north of the island of Saaremaa, a part of the West Estonian archipelago. Its largest town is Kärdla.-Name:...
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
External links
| Northwest: Vamos Vamos Vamos is a small town and former municipality in the Chania peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Apokoronas, of which it is a municipal unit... |
North: Vamos Vamos Vamos is a small town and former municipality in the Chania peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Apokoronas, of which it is a municipal unit... |
Northeast: Sea of Crete Sea of Crete thumb|300px|Map of the Sea of CreteThe Sea of Crete is the sea south of the Aegean Sea, north of the island Crete, and south of the Cyclades. The sea also stretches from Kythera east to the Dodecanese islands of Karpathos and Kassos. The bounding seas to the west are the Ionian Sea as well as... (Almyros Bay) |
| West: Kryonerida Kryonerida Kryonerida is a former municipality in the Chania peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Apokoronas, of which it is a municipal unit. The seat of the municipality of Kryonerida was the large village of Vryses. Vryses became the seat of... |
Georgioupoli | East: Rethymno Prefecture Rethymno Prefecture Rethymno is one of the four regional units of Crete, Greece. Its capital is the city of Rethymno. Today its main income is tourism. The countryside is also based economically on agriculture and herding.-Administration:... |
| Southwest: Sfakia Sfakia Sfakiá is a mountainous area in the southwestern part of the island of Crete, in the Chania peripheral unit. It is considered one of the few places in Greece to never have been fully occupied by foreign powers... |
South: Asi Gonia Asi Gonia Asi Gonia , is a former community in the eastern part of the Chania peripheral unit, Crete, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Apokoronas, of which it is a municipal unit. The community is situated northeast of the Lefka Ori mountain range... (community) |