Metaxata
Encyclopedia
Metaxata is a village in the southern part of the island of Kefalonia
. It has a population of 493. It is part of the municipal unit of Leivathos
.
, the island capital and east to Keramies and the southeastern villages of Livathos and another linking north to Travliatata and the Argostoli-Poros Road and another way to Kourkoumelata and the airport.
Markantonio Metaxa which came from an area then known as Fratzata (Φρατζάτα) after the fall of Constantinople
in 1453. From the village produced some revolutionists Andreas and Konstantinos Metaxas which had the power of Kefalonia and participated in the Greek War of Independence
in the Peloponnese
in the 1820s. In the village Lord Byron live for a while and wrote some poems about the area. Metaxata did not join Greece
as well as the rest of the Ionian Islands
until the 1860s. Metaxata was struck by an earthquake (see August 1953 earthquake) that occurred on August 1953 that destroyed every stone-built house in Metaxata that it took until the late-1950s to rebuilt. Metaxata was never the same later as the population was emigrated to other parts of the world and later, electricity, communications and running water was added to its houses and in the 1970s, became linked with asphalt. Today in the central square, the village has its statue
s after them.
Kefalonia
The island of Cephalonia, also known as Kefalonia, Cephallenia, Cephallonia, Kefallinia, or Kefallonia , is the largest of the Ionian Islands in western Greece, with an area of . It is also a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region, and the only municipality of the regional unit...
. It has a population of 493. It is part of the municipal unit of Leivathos
Leivathos
Leivathos is a former municipality on the island of Kefalonia, Ionian Islands, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kefalonia, of which it is a municipal unit. It lies south of Argostoli, on the central south coast of the island, and has a land area of...
.
Subdivision
The municipal district has one settlement, the other subdivisions even though they are not listed since they have no offices are:- Kaligata
- Kourkoumelata
Nearest places
The nearest places are ordered clockwise- Travliatata, northeast
- Keramies, east
- Kourkoumelata, south
- Svoronata, west-southwest
- Lakithra, west
Geography
The area around Metaxata are surrounded by farmlands that are mainly pastures, fruits, vegetables, groves and some others as well as some forests. The hills dominate the west and the east. Metaxata forms a junction with two roads, one linking west to Lakithra and ArgostoliArgostoli
Argostoli is a town and a former municipality on the island of Kefalonia, Ionian Islands, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Kefalonia, of which it is a municipal unit...
, the island capital and east to Keramies and the southeastern villages of Livathos and another linking north to Travliatata and the Argostoli-Poros Road and another way to Kourkoumelata and the airport.
Information
Metaxata was founded by the ByzantineByzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
Markantonio Metaxa which came from an area then known as Fratzata (Φρατζάτα) after the fall of Constantinople
Fall of Constantinople
The Fall of Constantinople was the capture of the capital of the Byzantine Empire, which occurred after a siege by the Ottoman Empire, under the command of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II, against the defending army commanded by Byzantine Emperor Constantine XI...
in 1453. From the village produced some revolutionists Andreas and Konstantinos Metaxas which had the power of Kefalonia and participated in 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...
in the 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 the 1820s. In the village Lord Byron live for a while and wrote some poems about the area. Metaxata did not join Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
as well as the rest of the Ionian Islands
Ionian Islands
The Ionian Islands are a group of islands in Greece. They are traditionally called the Heptanese, i.e...
until the 1860s. Metaxata was struck by an earthquake (see August 1953 earthquake) that occurred on August 1953 that destroyed every stone-built house in Metaxata that it took until the late-1950s to rebuilt. Metaxata was never the same later as the population was emigrated to other parts of the world and later, electricity, communications and running water was added to its houses and in the 1970s, became linked with asphalt. Today in the central square, the village has its statue
Statue
A statue is a sculpture in the round representing a person or persons, an animal, an idea or an event, normally full-length, as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size, or larger...
s after them.
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1981 | 367 |
| 1991 | 357 |
| 2001 | 493 |
External links
- Metaxata on GTP Travel Pages (in English and Greek)