Konitsa
Encyclopedia
Konitsa is a town in Epirus
, Greece
, near the Albania
n border. It lies amphi-theatre shaped on a mountain slope of the Pindos mountain range, overlooking the valley where the river Aoos meets the river Voidomatis. The valley is used for farming. Konitsa is a regional centre for many small Pindos villages, and there are shops, schools and a hospital. It is a good starting point for tourists who want to explore the Pindos mountains, or who want to go rafting in the river Aoos or parapenting. Other places of interest nearby are:
tribe of the Molossians
.
In 15th century Konitsa came under Ottoman
rule and became part of the Sanjak of Ioannina
.
A Greek school was operating already from the end of the 18th century under Georgios Mostras, student of Balanos Vasilopoulos
. Greek education was flourishing and in 1906 the kaza of Konitsa had 31 schools and 1,036 pupils. The functioning of the school was interrupted during the turbulent times of Ali Pasha
's rule, however soon after it reopened following the initiative of Kosmas Thesprotos
, a student of Athanasios Psalidas
. During the 19th century until the early 20th century, the tekke
of Konitsa, similarly to other Albanian Bektashi
tekkes, was a covert center of culture, learning and tolerance, but also Albanian national activism against the Ottoman Empire
. On the other hand, the local Greek population displayed tolerance towards actions by the Albanians that didn't reveal chauvinist inclinations.
During the Greek Civil War
(1946–1949) the surrounding region became a major battleground, while in December 1947 communist guerrilla units unsuccessfully tried to capture the town. Almost all buildings inhabited by Muslim Albanians in Konitsa were destroyed during World War II warfare.
Epirus (region)
Epirus is a geographical and historical region in southeastern Europe, shared between Greece and Albania. It lies between the Pindus Mountains and the Ionian Sea, stretching from the Bay of Vlorë in the north to the Ambracian Gulf in the south...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, near the Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
n border. It lies amphi-theatre shaped on a mountain slope of the Pindos mountain range, overlooking the valley where the river Aoos meets the river Voidomatis. The valley is used for farming. Konitsa is a regional centre for many small Pindos villages, and there are shops, schools and a hospital. It is a good starting point for tourists who want to explore the Pindos mountains, or who want to go rafting in the river Aoos or parapenting. Other places of interest nearby are:
- The Vikos–Aoös National Park, including the Vikos GorgeVikos GorgeThe Vikos Gorge is a gorge in the Pindus Mountains of northern Greece. It lies on the southern slopes of Mount Tymfi, with a length of about 20 km, depth ranging from 450 m to 1600 m and width from 400 m to some meters at its narrowest part....
, the Aoos Gorge and the TymfiTymfiTymfi or Mt Tymphe, Timfi, also Tymphi is a mountain in the northern Pindus mountain range, northwestern Greece. It is part of the regional unit of Ioannina and lies in the region of Zagori, just a few meters south of the 40° parallel...
mountains. It is where Vikos spring water is collected; - Mount SmolikasSmolikasMount Smolikas , also with the o accented , at a height of 2,637 metres above sea level, is the second highest mountain in Greece, after Mount Olympus, and the highest of the Pindus Mountains. The mountain is formed in ophiolite rocks. During the Pleistocene the northern and eastern cirques and...
(2637 m), Greece's second highest mountain; - The sulfur baths of Kavasila;
- The two Dragonlakes (Tymfi's and Smolika's)
- ZagoriZagoriZagori , is a region and a municipality in the Pindus mountains in Epirus, in northwestern Greece. The seat of the municipality is the village Asprangeloi. It has an area of some 1,000 square kilometres and contains 45 villages known as Zagoria , and is in the shape of an upturned equilateral...
, a group of small mountain villages; - The nearest city is IoanninaIoanninaIoannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
History
In antiquity, the area of Konitsa was part of the territory of the GreekGreeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
tribe of the Molossians
Molossians
The Molossians were an ancient Greek tribe that inhabited the region of Epirus since the Mycenaean era. On their northeast frontier they had the Chaonians and to their southern frontier the kingdom of the Thesprotians, to their north were the Illyrians. The Molossians were part of the League of...
.
In 15th century Konitsa came under 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...
rule and became part of the Sanjak of Ioannina
Sanjak of Ioannina
The Sanjak of Ioannina or Sanjak of Jannina, Sanjak of Janina, Sanjak of Yanina, was one of the sanjaks of the Ottoman Empire which county town was Ioannina in Epirus.- Administration :...
.
A Greek school was operating already from the end of the 18th century under Georgios Mostras, student of Balanos Vasilopoulos
Balanos Vasilopoulos
Balanos Vasilopoulos was a Greek scholar, cleric and author. He made a significant contribution in the growth of Greek Enlightenment during the Ottoman occupation of the Greek world.-Life:...
. Greek education was flourishing and in 1906 the kaza of Konitsa had 31 schools and 1,036 pupils. The functioning of the school was interrupted during the turbulent times of Ali Pasha
Ali Pasha
Ali Pasha of Tepelena or of Yannina, surnamed Aslan, "the Lion", or the "Lion of Yannina", Ali Pashë Tepelena was an Ottoman Albanian ruler of the western part of Rumelia, the Ottoman Empire's European territory which was also called Pashalik of Yanina. His court was in Ioannina...
's rule, however soon after it reopened following the initiative of Kosmas Thesprotos
Kosmas Thesprotos
Kosmas Thesprotos or Kosmas o Thesprotos was a Greek scholar and theologian.- Life :Kosmas was born in the village of Jergucat, Dropull region in modern southern Albania, then Ottoman Empire. In 1805 he became a priest...
, a student of Athanasios Psalidas
Athanasios Psalidas
Athanasios Psalidas , was a Greek author, scholar and one of the most renowned figures of the modern Greek Enlightenment.-Early years and diaspora:...
. During the 19th century until the early 20th century, the tekke
Zawiyya
The word zawiyya can refer to a sufi brotherhood or the shrine of a saint. Zawiyyas used to be very common in especially North Africa and Iran.-References:...
of Konitsa, similarly to other Albanian Bektashi
Bektashi
Bektashi Order or Bektashism is an Islamic Sufi order founded in the 13th century by the Persian saint Haji Bektash Veli. In addition to the spiritual teachings of Haji Bektash Veli the order was significantly influenced during its formative period by both the Hurufis as well as the...
tekkes, was a covert center of culture, learning and tolerance, but also Albanian national activism against the Ottoman Empire
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...
. On the other hand, the local Greek population displayed tolerance towards actions by the Albanians that didn't reveal chauvinist inclinations.
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...
(1946–1949) the surrounding region became a major battleground, while in December 1947 communist guerrilla units unsuccessfully tried to capture the town. Almost all buildings inhabited by Muslim Albanians in Konitsa were destroyed during World War II warfare.
Municipality
The present municipality Konitsa was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 5 former municipalities, that became municipal units (constituent communities in brackets):- Konitsa (Aetopetra, Agia Paraskevi, Agia Varvara, Aidonochori, Amarantos, Armata, Elefthero, Exochi, Gannadio, Iliorrachi, Kallithea, Kavasila, Kleidonia, Konitsa, Mazi, Melissopetra, MolistaMolistaMolista is a settlement in the Ioannina Prefecture in Epirus, Greece, situated in to slopes of Smolikas. It is in the municipality of Konitsa. Its 2001 population was 67 for the village. The GR-20 , the old road is approximately 5 km west. The village was known as Messaria and is rarely...
, Molyvdoskepastos, MonastiriMonastiri, IoanninaMonastiri is a settlement in the Ioannina Prefecture in Epirus, Greece, situated in to slopes of Smolikas. It is in the municipality of Konitsa. Its 2001 population was 53...
, Nikanoras, Pades, Palaioselli, Pigi, Pournia, Pyrgos) - AetomilitsaAetomilitsaAetomilitsa is a village and a former community in the Ioannina peripheral unit, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Konitsa, of which it is a municipal unit. It lies on the Gramos mountain. In the past it was known as Denisko or Densko...
- DistratoDistratoDistrato is a village and a former community in the Ioannina peripheral unit, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Konitsa, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 487 ....
- FourkaFourkaFourka is a village and a former community in the Ioannina peripheral unit, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Konitsa, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 206 ....
- MastorochoriaMastorochoriaMastorochoria is a former municipality in the Ioannina peripheral unit, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Konitsa, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 2,072...
(Asimochori, Vourmpiani, Gorgopotamos, Drosopigi, Kallithea, KastaniaKastania, IoanninaKastania or Kastanea is a village in the Ioannina Prefecture in northern Greece, near Konitsa. It is in the municipal unit of Mastorochoria. Its 2001 population was 370. The GR-20 , the old road is approximately 2 km northwest...
, Kefalochori, Kleidonia, Lagkada, Oxya, Plagia, Plikati, PyrsogianniPyrsogianniPyrsogianni is a village in the Ioannina Prefecture in northern Greece, near Konitsa. It is in the municipal unit of Mastorochoria, and it was the seat of the municipality Mastorochoria. Its 2001 population was 377...
, Chionades)
Historical Demographics
| Year | Town population | Municipality population |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 2,859 | - |
| 1991 | 2,858 | 6,572 |
| 2001 | 2,871 | 6,225 |
Notable people
- Konstantinos DovasKonstantinos DovasKonstantinos Dovas was a was a Greek general and interim Prime Minister.Dovas was born in Konitsa. In 1918, Dovas graduated from the Greek Military Academy. During the Greek Civil War between the government and the communist Democratic Army of Greece, he was commander of the Konitsa garrison and...
(1898–1973) - Saint John Vrachoritis (-1813), Greek Orthodox Saint
- Eleftherios OikonomouEleftherios OikonomouEleftherios Oikonomou is the current Chief of the Hellenic Police. He holds the rank of Police Lt General.He was born in 1956 in the small town of Konitsa, in Epirus...
, current Chief of the Greek PoliceGreek PoliceThe Hellenic Police is the national police force of Greece. It is a very large agency, its responsibilities ranging from road traffic control to counter-terrorism....
. - Faik KonicaFaik KonicaFaik Konica , born in Konitsa, was one of the greatest figures of Albanian culture in the early decades of the twentieth century. Prewar Albanian minister to Washington, his literary review, Albania, became the focal publication of Albanian writers living abroad...
, writer and ambassador of AlbaniaAlbaniaAlbania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
in Washington, DC - Mehmet KonicaMehmet KonicaMehmet Konica, was a twice Foreign Minister of Albania . He was the brother of the Albanian writer Faik Konica....
, twice Foreign Minister of Albania - Giannis Lyberopoulos, professor and author.
External links
| Northwest: Albania Albania Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea... | North: Mastorochoria Mastorochoria Mastorochoria is a former municipality in the Ioannina peripheral unit, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Konitsa, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 2,072... | Northeast: Fourka Fourka Fourka is a village and a former community in the Ioannina peripheral unit, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Konitsa, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 206 .... | |
| West: Ano Pogoni Ano Pogoni Ano Pogoni is a former municipality in the Ioannina peripheral unit, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pogoni, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 1,663... | Konitsa | East: Samarina Samarina Samarina is a village and a former municipality in Grevena peripheral unit, West Macedonia, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Grevena, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located on an eastern spur of Mount Smolikas, the highest of the Pindus range... | |
| Southwest: Kalpaki | South: Papingo, Tsepelovo Tsepelovo Tsepelovo , older form: -on is a village in the Zagori region . It stands at a height of 1,200 meters in a panoramic location on the mountain range of Tymfi. It is the biggest of the 45 villages of Zagori and it was the seat of Tymfi municipality... | Southeast: Distrato Distrato Distrato is a village and a former community in the Ioannina peripheral unit, Epirus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Konitsa, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 487 .... |