Megali Mantineia
Encyclopedia
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. Many of its residents only stay there during the summer months.
) is 3 km to the west. Megali Mantineia 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.
The village joined the municipality of Avia in 1836. From the mid 19th century, a part of the population began to shift into the seaside areas including Palaiochora (now Avia), Archontiko and Akrogiali. As Meg. Madinia began to accept important stability in population. 413 in 1851, 469 in 1879 and 424 in 1907. In 1914, it became an area of the community of Megali Mantineia which included the new settlement. The area became a part of the beachside Avia in 1924 and renamed to Avia in 1926 as well as its community.
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. In Meg. Madinia relocated several inhabitants from the mountainous villages of Taygetos mostly Altomira
, Pigadia and Gaitses, those cover the present day population. After 1980, several Europeans, mostly the English and the German bought properties around the old tower houses.
In the village runs a cultural council. It has a small tourist destinations, rented rooms and village taverns.
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 180 for the village and the municipal district and sits at 200 m above sea level. Many of its residents only stay there during the summer months.
Nearest places
- Sotiranika, northeast
- Touba, east
- Kampos AviasKampos AviasKampos is a village in the Mani Peninsula, in Messenia in Southern Greece. It was the seat of the municipality of Avia. Kampos had 550 inhabitants in 2001. It is located at height of 350m, on the provincial road Kalamata-Areopoli, 22 km. away from Kalamata. In Kampos, there is a primary...
, southeast - Kato Doloi, south
- Akrogiali, southwest
- AviaAvia, MesseniaAvia is a village and a former municipality in Messenia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality West Mani, of which it is a municipal unit. Its 2001 population was 236 for the village, 605 for the community and 3,089 for the municipal unit. The...
, west - Mikri MantineiaMikri MantineiaMikri Mantineia is a seaside village in the municipality of Kalamata, Messinia prefecture, Greece. As of 2001, it had a population of 688 and it sits at 20 m above sea level. Many of its residents live during the summer months. The boundary with the municipality of Avia is to the south...
, northwest
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1851 | 413 |
| 1879 | 469 |
| 1907 | 424 |
| 1991 | 164 |
| 2001 | 155 |
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 3 km to the west. Megali Mantineia 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.
Geography and history
Ano Madinia or Ano Chora was first mentioned in 1463, in a contradiction with the older Madinies beach. In the mid 18th century, it had an important settlement in the area of Zarnata (Ζαρνάτα). It had 59 family (around 277 people) in 1704. In the late 18th century, it ran a nearby area as a small settlement named Mikri Madinia, with sources with the older Ano Mantineia which was renamed to Megali Mantineia.The village joined the municipality of Avia in 1836. From the mid 19th century, a part of the population began to shift into the seaside areas including Palaiochora (now Avia), Archontiko and Akrogiali. As Meg. Madinia began to accept important stability in population. 413 in 1851, 469 in 1879 and 424 in 1907. In 1914, it became an area of the community of Megali Mantineia which included the new settlement. The area became a part of the beachside Avia in 1924 and renamed to Avia in 1926 as well as its community.
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 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. In Meg. Madinia relocated several inhabitants from the mountainous villages of Taygetos mostly Altomira
Altomira
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...
, Pigadia and Gaitses, those cover the present day population. After 1980, several Europeans, mostly the English and the German bought properties around the old tower houses.
In the village runs a cultural council. It has a small tourist destinations, rented rooms and village taverns.
Points of interests
- Koskaras/Sandava cave
- Katafygi, an inaccessible cave
- The deserted settlement Koka
- The old school, built in 1743-53
Sources
- Theodoros Belitsos Ta Altomira tis Exo Manis (Τα Αλτομιρά της Έξω Μάνης (Ιστορία-Οικογένειες-Τοπωνύμια) = Altomira in Outer Mani (History-Family-Toponyms), 1999