Kastro-Kyllini
Encyclopedia
Kastro-Kyllini is a former municipality
in Elis, West Greece, Greece
. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andravida-Kyllini, of which it is a municipal unit. Its seat of administration is in the small port town of Kyllini. Other settlements are Kato Panagia, Kastro and Neochori.
) on a creek. It is the westernmost municipality in Elis and the Peloponnese. The boundaries with the municipality of Vartholomio
run north and west of Machos and north of Dimitra.
There are water towers in Kyllíni and Neochóri. There are forests south of Neochori, north of Machos, and on the hilltops, especially near the west coast of Kyllini. Fertile land are found mostly on a plain, and on hill, including olive trees. Its coastline is about 16 km long, measured from west of Lygia to west of Myrsini Beach
. There are nearly 1,500 buildings, units, hotels and hotel units, and houses in the municipality alone. Agriculture consists of tomatoes, watermelons, potatoes, and corn in the plains, while pasture lands, and olive production are very dominant because most of the municipality is hilly. Agriculture used to be dominant in their business before the 1960s. Most of the hotels after the late-20th century were built after the 1980s led by a sharp increase in tourism. There were only a few hotels in the region. An increase in tourism lead to expansion of hotels. Only about a quarter of hotels existed in the 1980s. After 2002, hotel expansion was halted. Currently, tourism is slightly slumping.
The campgrounds include
Founded in front of the Ionian coastline, this town has plenty of hotels and villas like the Avocado. A spring south of Kyllini has the same name. The westernmost point of the Peloponnese is one of the most scenic destinations in Elia. Most of the hill is covered with forests and olive trees. The plain covers only about 20% of the land, and Neochori is the only village lying. Most of the area is forested; the remainder is agricultural. The peninsula's westernmost port, the Port of Kyllini is just east of the heart of Kyllini. Restaurants and stores are line up with a street overlooking at the sea.
A military base is located to the southeast, off the Kyllini–Andravida Road, the former GR-84. The base contains luxury-sized houses for refugees. It is surrounded by barbed wire gates. There are no hospitals or health centers. The closest health center is in Varda. A monastery
is located in Vlacherna
southeast of Kato Panagia. Chlemoutsi
, a fortress, was built to protect the invaders from other parts of Europe. Today it is abandoned, and has been turned into a tourist attraction. It sits atop a hill 135 m above sea level and surrounded by pine trees and houses from Kastro. Singers including George Dalaras
(Giorgos Ntalaras) have entertained at the fortress.
The Thermal Springs of Kyllini (the Kyllini Baths) are the largest beach facility in the western Peloponnese. In the mid-20th century, construction began on opening a spring linking with about 1 km of roads with parking lot 200 to 300 m from the sea with hot-sandy beach. Kyllini is in an earthquake zone. There have been several strong earthquakes in community's history. The most significant recent earthquake was the Ionian Earthquake in 1953, which caused moderate damage.
Cape Kyllini is a cape located north of Kyllini. Between the cape and Kyllini is a small fortress named Glarentza
and slightly east is the beach. It also offers a view of the island of Kefallinia from the north. The island of Kafkalida is the only uninhabited settlement. The island is rocky and has Kyllini's lighthouse. The lighthouse is about 20 to 30 m tall. It is accessed by a tiny port holding one or two boats and is not used for cars from the port of Kyllini. It is only accessed by a pathway. The northern half of the island are made up of rocks. The island about 100,000 years ago was connected with the mainland.
The first paved road was Andravida to Kyllini road which was surfaced until the 1960s, then came Loutra Kyllini Road in the late-1960s, Kastro-Kyllini road came after, and road to Machos and road from Kastro to Kyllini came in the 1970s and to Kavasilas in the 1980s. Only less than a quarter of its roads were actually paved. In 1999, a new paved road opened for about 800 m which made traffic to Vlacherna made easier. Cars don't have to go around to follow the signs to the monastery. The distance was cut by 2 km. Distance from Neochori to Vlacherna is now 6 km from 8 km And from Lechaina 10 km from 12 km and before that, 14 km. The only road not paved which is about 4 km from Kastro is that narrow road connecting from Vlacherna to Kastro. Kyllini may pave that treacherous surfaced road to make better use of that route. About more than 40% to 50% of its road are actually paved. The other roads that do not link to villages especially country roads remain surfaced. The nearest national road is the GR-9 or E55
, which is 10 km (originally 13 km) to the east.
).
Kyllini is a town of about 2,200 people. It is a tourist destination and boasts the westernmost port on the Peloponnesian
peninsula.
in Greece. It is the peninsula's westernmost port. It carries cars, and automobiles to the harbours of Cephallonia at Poros, and Zante, at the city of Zante of the southern Ionian. It is a minor harbour, 50 km directly SW of Patras, 73 km (originally 76) SW by road, 45 km (originally 46) from Pyrgos, 66 km from Olympia. It is not as large as other harbours of Patras, and Greece. Operation is very small. The port is located not far from the centre of Kyllini.
A playground
, and a square neighbor the port. Buildings are found between and on the port. Beaches, restaurants, and hotels are located in the middle of the port. Before the closure of the railway, there was a railroad station that used to carry passengers by train. Now only the railroad hidden in bushes, and other types of grass remains without a train waiting to be seen. The harbour has access by road from Chlemoutsi
, Lechaina
, Andravida
, Amaliada
or Amalias, the area of Pyrgos, Southern Elia, Varda
, Lappa
, Western Movri, and northern Messenia
.
Fish is common in the ocean as the boats float away from the harbor. Tens of boats are in the harbor. Around 5 to 6 ferry boats are founded. Each carrying 3,000, sometimes 5,000 automobiles every day to the islands by boats owned by Ionian and Strintzis, 800 are carried to Kefallinia in and out of port of Poros, and thousands are carried to the port of the island of Zante each day.
The harbor was very small and carried only passengers. The harbour had been bombed by the German's during the Second World War, destroying the quay. Improvements were made later and started the ferry service to the Ionian Islands
. The harbor was extended by around 75 to 100 m. Lights from poles were begging to be lit. Later in the late 1990s, increasing amount of traffic led to a redevelopment and expansion of the port. The port's land increased to about 150 to 180 m further to the sea. The size of the port is now about 5,000 to 10,000 m². In 2001, train service was cut off or abandoned due to the opening of the road connecting direct traffic from Kyllini to Myrsini bypassing Neochori, like a beltway.
/E55
. The population is slightly larger than Kyllini and is the largest town in the municipality. It is located about 13 km W of GR-9/E55, about 75 km SW of Patras
, about 49 km NW of Pyrgos, about 11 km (old: 13 km) W of Lechaina
, about 12 km (old: 14 m) W of Andravida
, about 13 km NW of Vartholomio
and 6 km N of Kastro. The Ionian Sea
is further north.
Kato Panagia has a two schools, a lyceum, a gymnasium, a church, a post office, a gas station located in the east, and a square (plateia
) which is located in the centre next to the communal hall. A few resorts are situated in the east. The streets downtown are gridded. Much of the land are hilly and a small portion of the land within the shoreline are about a range to 5 m above sea level. The panorama of the small islands including Oxeia during the clearest days can be seen. Not all areas can see Kefallinia. Mavros Oros and parts of Aetolia can also be seen. Farming which includes pastures, vegetables and groves are in the north and east with a few pine trees. The hills are in the south, southeast and west and are mainly covered with pine trees with a few groves. Most of the groves are in the west. Kato Panagia had no train station and the tracks are about 50 m from the road. The nearest station (Kyllini - Kavasila
) was next to the port which is now abandoned or no longer in use. The communal boundary with Kyllini are situated 100 m to the west.
between Lechaina
and Andravida
. The distance from Patras
is 76 km SW. Its neighboring communes are Kyllini
and Kato Panagia to the north, Neochori and Machos
to the east, and Lygia to the south. Its nearest beach is Melissa Beach to the west. The famous Kyllini Baths are two and a half km NE. The town of about 800 people lies close to the peak of a slightly forested hill. The town has a school, a church, a square (plateia) and a post office. Much of the community is covered with groves and forested with a hilly setting. Most of the arable land is mixed and lies to the east of the town.
and to Gastouni and Pyrgos. Distances from other places are 2 km SW from Kastro, 75 km SW of Patras
, 10 km W of Vartholomio
, 16 km W of Gastouni
and about 43 km NW of Pyrgos. The western and the eastern parts is the Ionian Sea
.
A view of Kastro and Chlemoutsi
fortress can be seen mostly over the hilly forests which also cover the east. Tourism was famously very popular in the 1980s and the 1990s. North of the springs has another campsite and Melissa Beach which bears its name. The most famous baths also offers inhalation therapy, said to assist in asthma and skin problems. It is situated next to the Roman
ruins.
On the hill lies the Chlemoutsi fortress or the castle which the town receives its name (elevation: about 200 m). It was built by prince Geoffrey I Villehardouin of the Principality of Achaea
in 1220-1223, who called it Clairmont (from which Chlemoutsi is a derivation ). After the decline of the Principality the castle gradually lost its importance. Today it is as a monument and is sometimes used for concerts.
: Modern: Νεοχώρι, before the abandonment of Katharevousa
: Νεοχώριον Neohorion or Neochorion, 1970s-1990s: Neohori) is a village 6 km SE of Kyllini
, 6 km NE of Kastro, NW of Dimitra
, and 7 km west of Lechaina
, almost originally between the two communities. Its nearest communities and village are Vytineika (village) and Kyllini to the north, the Ionian Sea
to the north, Myrsini
to the east, Dimitra
to the southeast, and Machos
(village) to the southwest.
The village has a train station which is no longer used, a school, a church in the centre, a square (plateia
), and 3 gas stations in the east. After 2001 or 2002, traffic between Kyllini and Lechaina is no longer used. It's now bypassed about 1 km north of the centre and away from Neochóri. South of the village, forests cover the southern half along with olive groves, north of Neochori, and are sporadically founded in the plain and some hills northwest. It's bounded by a military camp northwest along with its closest beaches. Agriculture used to dominate the market of Neochori until the late-20th century. The beaches in the north aren't usable because the surface is rocky between Avocado and slightly west of Myrsini Beach. The view of the castle of Chlemoutsi
can be seen at its closest, one of the closest. The village is 1 km east of the hills and sits in the westernmost part of the plain.
Communities and Municipalities of Greece
For the new municipalities of Greece see the Kallikratis ProgrammeThe municipalities and communities of Greece are one of several levels of government within the organizational structure of that country. Thirteen regions called peripheries form the largest unit of government beneath the State. ...
in Elis, West Greece, 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 Andravida-Kyllini, of which it is a municipal unit. Its seat of administration is in the small port town of Kyllini. Other settlements are Kato Panagia, Kastro and Neochori.
Municipality of Kastro-Kyllini
The municipality's population is around 3,000 to 3,500 people. 2,392 of those live in Kyllini-Kato Panagia. The largest town is Kato Panagia; Kyllini, the municipality's seat, is second. 80% of the total population lives in urban areas. The remainder remains rural. The boundaries run west of Myrsini (munic. LechainaLechaina
Lechaina is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andravida-Kyllini, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It is situated 39 km north of the city of Pyrgos, and 60 km southwest of Patras...
) on a creek. It is the westernmost municipality in Elis and the Peloponnese. The boundaries with the municipality of Vartholomio
Vartholomio
Vartholomio is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pineios, of which it is a municipal unit. Its population is around 3,182 . Elevation is 3 to 4 m above sea level. The Pineios River flows southeast...
run north and west of Machos and north of Dimitra.
There are water towers in Kyllíni and Neochóri. There are forests south of Neochori, north of Machos, and on the hilltops, especially near the west coast of Kyllini. Fertile land are found mostly on a plain, and on hill, including olive trees. Its coastline is about 16 km long, measured from west of Lygia to west of Myrsini Beach
Myrsini
Myrsini is a town in the Elis Prefecture in Greece, part of the municipal unit of Lechaina since 1997. As of 2001, it has a population of around 1,200.-Location:...
. There are nearly 1,500 buildings, units, hotels and hotel units, and houses in the municipality alone. Agriculture consists of tomatoes, watermelons, potatoes, and corn in the plains, while pasture lands, and olive production are very dominant because most of the municipality is hilly. Agriculture used to be dominant in their business before the 1960s. Most of the hotels after the late-20th century were built after the 1980s led by a sharp increase in tourism. There were only a few hotels in the region. An increase in tourism lead to expansion of hotels. Only about a quarter of hotels existed in the 1980s. After 2002, hotel expansion was halted. Currently, tourism is slightly slumping.
The campgrounds include
- Thermal Springs of Kyllini:
- Kyllini: Avocado
Geography and Information
A military base is located to the southeast, off the Kyllini–Andravida Road, the former GR-84. The base contains luxury-sized houses for refugees. It is surrounded by barbed wire gates. There are no hospitals or health centers. The closest health center is in Varda. A monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
is located in Vlacherna
Vlacherna
Vlacherna is a village and a former municipality in the Arta peripheral unit, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Arta, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 3,326 . The seat of the municipality was in Grammenitsa....
southeast of Kato Panagia. Chlemoutsi
Chlemoutsi
Chlemoutsi is a medieval castle in the northwest of the Ilia Prefecture, Greece 12 km west of Andravida, 13 km southwest of Lechaina and 6 km south of Kyllini. It was built by the Crusader rulers of the Principality of Achaea as their main stronghold, and is perhaps the finest...
, a fortress, was built to protect the invaders from other parts of Europe. Today it is abandoned, and has been turned into a tourist attraction. It sits atop a hill 135 m above sea level and surrounded by pine trees and houses from Kastro. Singers including George Dalaras
George Dalaras
George Dalaras , also possibly spelled as Yorgos or Giorgos Dalaras, is a Greek singer. He is of international fame and has recently been selected as a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency. He was born in Nea Kokinia, Piraeus. His father was Loukas Daralas, a singer of rebetiko.-Early...
(Giorgos Ntalaras) have entertained at the fortress.
The Thermal Springs of Kyllini (the Kyllini Baths) are the largest beach facility in the western Peloponnese. In the mid-20th century, construction began on opening a spring linking with about 1 km of roads with parking lot 200 to 300 m from the sea with hot-sandy beach. Kyllini is in an earthquake zone. There have been several strong earthquakes in community's history. The most significant recent earthquake was the Ionian Earthquake in 1953, which caused moderate damage.
Cape Kyllini is a cape located north of Kyllini. Between the cape and Kyllini is a small fortress named Glarentza
Glarentza
Glarentza is a medieval city located next to the location of today's Kyllini in the Ilia prefecture, Greece.Glarentza, a corruption of Clarentia or Clarence, was an important city, mint and port during Frankish rule in the Peloponnese...
and slightly east is the beach. It also offers a view of the island of Kefallinia from the north. The island of Kafkalida is the only uninhabited settlement. The island is rocky and has Kyllini's lighthouse. The lighthouse is about 20 to 30 m tall. It is accessed by a tiny port holding one or two boats and is not used for cars from the port of Kyllini. It is only accessed by a pathway. The northern half of the island are made up of rocks. The island about 100,000 years ago was connected with the mainland.
Transportation
Railways used to cover 9 km. They were abandoned with the opening of the Neochori bypass, and trains no longer run in the area. Along with the Neochori and Kyllini railroad stations and even one electric and three hand-operated crossings (totaling four) the rest didn't have any. They are abandoned. 15 trains used to run this track. Speed limit on these roads is 20 km/h for surfaced roads, 30 to 40 km/h on hilly slopes, including 4 km of Andravida-Kyllini road and narrow unused roads, and 60 km/h on by-pass and paved flat roads. About 5 to 10% are lined with bamboo sticks and about 10% are lined up with pines and other kinds of trees. Only its phone lines exist in front of the bush and grass-covered abandoned train tracks. 4 km of hydro lines opened around 2002, powers hydro to the island of Zante by the Greek (Hellenic) Hydro (ΔΕΗ, DEI or DE-E).The first paved road was Andravida to Kyllini road which was surfaced until the 1960s, then came Loutra Kyllini Road in the late-1960s, Kastro-Kyllini road came after, and road to Machos and road from Kastro to Kyllini came in the 1970s and to Kavasilas in the 1980s. Only less than a quarter of its roads were actually paved. In 1999, a new paved road opened for about 800 m which made traffic to Vlacherna made easier. Cars don't have to go around to follow the signs to the monastery. The distance was cut by 2 km. Distance from Neochori to Vlacherna is now 6 km from 8 km And from Lechaina 10 km from 12 km and before that, 14 km. The only road not paved which is about 4 km from Kastro is that narrow road connecting from Vlacherna to Kastro. Kyllini may pave that treacherous surfaced road to make better use of that route. About more than 40% to 50% of its road are actually paved. The other roads that do not link to villages especially country roads remain surfaced. The nearest national road is the GR-9 or E55
European route E55
European route E 55 is a E-route. It passes through the following cities:Helsingborg … Helsingør – Copenhagen – Køge – Vordingborg – Nykøbing Falster – Gedser … Rostock – Berlin – Lübbenau – Dresden – Teplice – Prague – Tábor – Linz – Salzburg – Villach – Tarvisio – Udine – Palmanova – Mestre...
, which is 10 km (originally 13 km) to the east.
Subdivisions
The municipal unit Kastro-Kyllini is subdivided into the following communities (constituent villages in brackets):| Community | Population 1981 | Population 1991 | Population 2001 | Elevation (m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyllini - Kylllini - Kafkalida |
--- | 952 | 1,079 | 0-10 |
| Kato Panagia - Kato Panagia - Ikaros - Moni Vlachernon |
1,123 | 1,266 | 1,313 | 0-25 |
| Neochori - Neochori - Vytinaiika |
1,015 | 1,323 | 1,164 | 5-7 |
| Kastro - Kastro - Analypsi - Kalamia - Karavaki - Loutra Kyllinis - Psili Rachi |
244 | 857 | 930 | 110 |
Kyllini
Kyllini (Greek: Κυλλήνη, classically Cyllene or Kyllênê) is the seat of administration of the municipality. The population of Kyllini hovered at 100 to 200 from its founding about 3,000 years ago until the mid-20th century, when it first surpassed 500. Kyllini has a school, a lyceum, a gymnasium a church, banks, a post office, gas stations, restaurants 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...
).
Kyllini is a town of about 2,200 people. It is a tourist destination and boasts the westernmost port on the Peloponnesian
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...
peninsula.
Port of Kyllini
The Port of Kyllini is the largest and busiest harbour of EliaElia
Elia may refer to:* European League of Institutes of the Arts , an organization of art schools* Elia , a prominent public artwork in Denmark* Elia, a historical and alternative name for the Jane and Finch neighbourhood of Toronto, Canada...
in Greece. It is the peninsula's westernmost port. It carries cars, and automobiles to the harbours of Cephallonia at Poros, and Zante, at the city of Zante of the southern Ionian. It is a minor harbour, 50 km directly SW of Patras, 73 km (originally 76) SW by road, 45 km (originally 46) from Pyrgos, 66 km from Olympia. It is not as large as other harbours of Patras, and Greece. Operation is very small. The port is located not far from the centre of Kyllini.
A playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
, and a square neighbor the port. Buildings are found between and on the port. Beaches, restaurants, and hotels are located in the middle of the port. Before the closure of the railway, there was a railroad station that used to carry passengers by train. Now only the railroad hidden in bushes, and other types of grass remains without a train waiting to be seen. The harbour has access by road from Chlemoutsi
Chlemoutsi
Chlemoutsi is a medieval castle in the northwest of the Ilia Prefecture, Greece 12 km west of Andravida, 13 km southwest of Lechaina and 6 km south of Kyllini. It was built by the Crusader rulers of the Principality of Achaea as their main stronghold, and is perhaps the finest...
, Lechaina
Lechaina
Lechaina is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andravida-Kyllini, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It is situated 39 km north of the city of Pyrgos, and 60 km southwest of Patras...
, Andravida
Andravida
Andravída is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andravida-Kyllini, of which it is a municipal unit. Its population is about 4,300. Distance from Patras is around 63 km SW and 33 km NW of...
, Amaliada
Amaliada
Amaliada is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Ilida, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It has 32,090 citizens...
or Amalias, the area of Pyrgos, Southern Elia, Varda
Varda
Varda Elentári is a deity in J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium to whom the hymn A Elbereth Gilthoniel is directed..-Character overview:Varda is one of the Valar, a group of semi-divine beings similar to archangels. Also known as "Queen of the stars", she is said to be too beautiful for words; within...
, Lappa
Lappa
Lappa may refer to:*Lappa, Achaea, a village in the municipality Larissos, in Achaea, Greece*Lappa, Rethymno, a municipality in the Rethymno prefecture, Greece*The ancient city of Lappa, now known as Argyroupoli *the Arctium lappa...
, Western Movri, and northern 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...
.
Fish is common in the ocean as the boats float away from the harbor. Tens of boats are in the harbor. Around 5 to 6 ferry boats are founded. Each carrying 3,000, sometimes 5,000 automobiles every day to the islands by boats owned by Ionian and Strintzis, 800 are carried to Kefallinia in and out of port of Poros, and thousands are carried to the port of the island of Zante each day.
The harbor was very small and carried only passengers. The harbour had been bombed by the German's during the Second World War, destroying the quay. Improvements were made later and started the ferry service to the Ionian Islands
Ionian Islands
The Ionian Islands are a group of islands in Greece. They are traditionally called the Heptanese, i.e...
. The harbor was extended by around 75 to 100 m. Lights from poles were begging to be lit. Later in the late 1990s, increasing amount of traffic led to a redevelopment and expansion of the port. The port's land increased to about 150 to 180 m further to the sea. The size of the port is now about 5,000 to 10,000 m². In 2001, train service was cut off or abandoned due to the opening of the road connecting direct traffic from Kyllini to Myrsini bypassing Neochori, like a beltway.
Kato Panagia
Kato Panagia is a town located about 1 km from the centre of Kyllini in the western part of the prefecture of Ilia. It is accessed by a road connecting Kyllini and the port and GR-9Greek National Road 9
Greek National Road 9 is the second-longest national highway of Greece. It runs through the western Peloponnese, from Patras to Pylos. Its length is around .This highway travels near:*Bypasses:*Patras and Area, since 2002*Vrachneika*Alissos*Kato Achaia...
/E55
European route E55
European route E 55 is a E-route. It passes through the following cities:Helsingborg … Helsingør – Copenhagen – Køge – Vordingborg – Nykøbing Falster – Gedser … Rostock – Berlin – Lübbenau – Dresden – Teplice – Prague – Tábor – Linz – Salzburg – Villach – Tarvisio – Udine – Palmanova – Mestre...
. The population is slightly larger than Kyllini and is the largest town in the municipality. It is located about 13 km W of GR-9/E55, about 75 km SW of Patras
Patras
Patras , ) is Greece's third largest urban area and the regional capital of West Greece, located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers west of Athens...
, about 49 km NW of Pyrgos, about 11 km (old: 13 km) W of Lechaina
Lechaina
Lechaina is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andravida-Kyllini, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It is situated 39 km north of the city of Pyrgos, and 60 km southwest of Patras...
, about 12 km (old: 14 m) W of Andravida
Andravida
Andravída is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andravida-Kyllini, of which it is a municipal unit. Its population is about 4,300. Distance from Patras is around 63 km SW and 33 km NW of...
, about 13 km NW of Vartholomio
Vartholomio
Vartholomio is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pineios, of which it is a municipal unit. Its population is around 3,182 . Elevation is 3 to 4 m above sea level. The Pineios River flows southeast...
and 6 km N of Kastro. The Ionian Sea
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
is further north.
Subdivisions
Ikaros (Ίκαρος) - A subdivision located about 3 km east of the centre of the community is founded in the east. The nearest settlement is Vytineika. Much of the hilly part are made up of mainly pine trees and some groves in the south with some in the north and within the road. Farmlands are within the soureline. There are about three to four hotels and resorts including Avocado. The old railway ling (Kyllini - Kavasila) ran in the middle of the shoreline and the highway. Gas stations (formerly Avin) are situated in the east near the boundary. Pine trees are situated in the south. The central part are made up of a military camp which has gridded streets and large houses made for refugees. It has two gates in the north which receives no entry to unauthorized vehicles of personnel. It is numbered 118. The water tower is in the east. The population was one of the slowest growing settlements in the prefecture.Kato Panagia has a two schools, a lyceum, a gymnasium, a church, a post office, a gas station located in the east, and a square (plateia
Plateia
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...
) which is located in the centre next to the communal hall. A few resorts are situated in the east. The streets downtown are gridded. Much of the land are hilly and a small portion of the land within the shoreline are about a range to 5 m above sea level. The panorama of the small islands including Oxeia during the clearest days can be seen. Not all areas can see Kefallinia. Mavros Oros and parts of Aetolia can also be seen. Farming which includes pastures, vegetables and groves are in the north and east with a few pine trees. The hills are in the south, southeast and west and are mainly covered with pine trees with a few groves. Most of the groves are in the west. Kato Panagia had no train station and the tracks are about 50 m from the road. The nearest station (Kyllini - Kavasila
Kavasila
Kavasila may refer to the following places in Greece:*Kavasila, Attica, a village in the Athens metropolitan area *Kavasila, Elis, a village in Elis*Kavasila, Imathia, a village in Imathia...
) was next to the port which is now abandoned or no longer in use. The communal boundary with Kyllini are situated 100 m to the west.
Kastro
Kastro (Greek: Modern: Κάστρο, Ancient/Katharevousa: -on) is a town located fifteen km west of the GR-9Greek National Road 9
Greek National Road 9 is the second-longest national highway of Greece. It runs through the western Peloponnese, from Patras to Pylos. Its length is around .This highway travels near:*Bypasses:*Patras and Area, since 2002*Vrachneika*Alissos*Kato Achaia...
between Lechaina
Lechaina
Lechaina is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andravida-Kyllini, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It is situated 39 km north of the city of Pyrgos, and 60 km southwest of Patras...
and Andravida
Andravida
Andravída is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andravida-Kyllini, of which it is a municipal unit. Its population is about 4,300. Distance from Patras is around 63 km SW and 33 km NW of...
. The distance from Patras
Patras
Patras , ) is Greece's third largest urban area and the regional capital of West Greece, located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers west of Athens...
is 76 km SW. Its neighboring communes are Kyllini
Kyllini
There are several places on the Peloponnesus peninsula in Greece named Kyllíni :* Mount Kyllini , the mythological birthplace of Hermes ....
and Kato Panagia to the north, Neochori and Machos
Machos
Machos is a community in western Elis in Greece. The population is around 200. Its dialing code is 26230...
to the east, and Lygia to the south. Its nearest beach is Melissa Beach to the west. The famous Kyllini Baths are two and a half km NE. The town of about 800 people lies close to the peak of a slightly forested hill. The town has a school, a church, a square (plateia) and a post office. Much of the community is covered with groves and forested with a hilly setting. Most of the arable land is mixed and lies to the east of the town.
Loutra Kyllinis
The Thermal Springs of Kyllini (Greek: Λούτρα Κυλλήνης, Loutra Kyllinis), also as Kyllini Springs or Kyllini Baths is a thermal spring area with hotels, restaurants, and a beach located on a southwestern tip of this peninsula. The setting is all forest covering the western half of the small mountain range. The length of the road is 1 km west of the junction of a road to Kastro, Neochori and PatrasPatras
Patras , ) is Greece's third largest urban area and the regional capital of West Greece, located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers west of Athens...
and to Gastouni and Pyrgos. Distances from other places are 2 km SW from Kastro, 75 km SW of Patras
Patras
Patras , ) is Greece's third largest urban area and the regional capital of West Greece, located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers west of Athens...
, 10 km W of Vartholomio
Vartholomio
Vartholomio is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pineios, of which it is a municipal unit. Its population is around 3,182 . Elevation is 3 to 4 m above sea level. The Pineios River flows southeast...
, 16 km W of Gastouni
Gastouni
Gastouni is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pineios, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. Distance is south of Lechaina, from Kyllini Baths, from Pyrgos, NW of Amaliada and SW of...
and about 43 km NW of Pyrgos. The western and the eastern parts is the Ionian Sea
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
.
A view of Kastro and Chlemoutsi
Chlemoutsi
Chlemoutsi is a medieval castle in the northwest of the Ilia Prefecture, Greece 12 km west of Andravida, 13 km southwest of Lechaina and 6 km south of Kyllini. It was built by the Crusader rulers of the Principality of Achaea as their main stronghold, and is perhaps the finest...
fortress can be seen mostly over the hilly forests which also cover the east. Tourism was famously very popular in the 1980s and the 1990s. North of the springs has another campsite and Melissa Beach which bears its name. The most famous baths also offers inhalation therapy, said to assist in asthma and skin problems. It is situated next to the Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
ruins.
Castle Chlemoutsi
Principality of Achaea
The Principality of Achaea or of the Morea was one of the three vassal states of the Latin Empire which replaced the Byzantine Empire after the capture of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. It became a vassal of the Kingdom of Thessalonica, along with the Duchy of Athens, until Thessalonica...
in 1220-1223, who called it Clairmont (from which Chlemoutsi is a derivation ). After the decline of the Principality the castle gradually lost its importance. Today it is as a monument and is sometimes used for concerts.
Neochori
Neochori (GreekGreek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
: Modern: Νεοχώρι, before the abandonment of Katharevousa
Katharevousa
Katharevousa , is a form of the Greek language conceived in the early 19th century as a compromise between Ancient Greek and the Modern Greek of the time, with a vocabulary largely based on ancient forms, but a much-simplified grammar. Originally, it was widely used both for literary and official...
: Νεοχώριον Neohorion or Neochorion, 1970s-1990s: Neohori) is a village 6 km SE of Kyllini
Kyllini
There are several places on the Peloponnesus peninsula in Greece named Kyllíni :* Mount Kyllini , the mythological birthplace of Hermes ....
, 6 km NE of Kastro, NW of Dimitra
Dimitra
-People:*Dimitra Arliss, Greek American actress*Dimitra Asilian, female Greek water polo player*Dimitra Liani, Greece's former first lady-Places:*Dimitra, Arcadia, a village in the Arcadia prefecture, part of Kontovazaina...
, and 7 km west of Lechaina
Lechaina
Lechaina is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andravida-Kyllini, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It is situated 39 km north of the city of Pyrgos, and 60 km southwest of Patras...
, almost originally between the two communities. Its nearest communities and village are Vytineika (village) and Kyllini to the north, the Ionian Sea
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
to the north, Myrsini
Myrsini
Myrsini is a town in the Elis Prefecture in Greece, part of the municipal unit of Lechaina since 1997. As of 2001, it has a population of around 1,200.-Location:...
to the east, Dimitra
Dimitra
-People:*Dimitra Arliss, Greek American actress*Dimitra Asilian, female Greek water polo player*Dimitra Liani, Greece's former first lady-Places:*Dimitra, Arcadia, a village in the Arcadia prefecture, part of Kontovazaina...
to the southeast, and Machos
Machos
Machos is a community in western Elis in Greece. The population is around 200. Its dialing code is 26230...
(village) to the southwest.
The village has a train station which is no longer used, a school, a church in the centre, a square (plateia
Plateia
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...
), and 3 gas stations in the east. After 2001 or 2002, traffic between Kyllini and Lechaina is no longer used. It's now bypassed about 1 km north of the centre and away from Neochóri. South of the village, forests cover the southern half along with olive groves, north of Neochori, and are sporadically founded in the plain and some hills northwest. It's bounded by a military camp northwest along with its closest beaches. Agriculture used to dominate the market of Neochori until the late-20th century. The beaches in the north aren't usable because the surface is rocky between Avocado and slightly west of Myrsini Beach. The view of the castle of Chlemoutsi
Chlemoutsi
Chlemoutsi is a medieval castle in the northwest of the Ilia Prefecture, Greece 12 km west of Andravida, 13 km southwest of Lechaina and 6 km south of Kyllini. It was built by the Crusader rulers of the Principality of Achaea as their main stronghold, and is perhaps the finest...
can be seen at its closest, one of the closest. The village is 1 km east of the hills and sits in the westernmost part of the plain.