Parorio
Encyclopedia
Paroreio is a small village located about 15 kilometres north of Florina
, the capital of the peripheral unit of Florina in northwestern Greece
. Today, Paroreio is inhabited by only a small number of full-time residents. At its peak in the 1930s, the village reached about 600-700 inhabitants, mostly families looking for a piece of fertile land to cultivate and farm in the nearby valley.
. It was inhabited by Bulgarians
and was called Bitusha (Битуша, Bitousa in Greek). It was annexed to Greece
in 1913 and many inhabitants moved northeast, some of the refugees from Eastern Thrace and Asia Minor
.
The region saw a military presence during World War I and World War II, with French and other ally troops establishing small bases in the area. Border towns like Parorio were at risk of invading parties from the Balkans
to the North, who were looking for any point of entry into Greece and access to its important sea routes. The area also saw a brutal conflict when the Greek Civil War
emerged following World War II. Many were forced out of their homes and much hardship and tragedy took place at this time.
Following the Civil War, the region saw a mass exodus of people migrating to North America, Australia, and even parts of Africa, where opportunity and a better way of life existed.
Today, the area is sparsely inhabited, but is experiencing a slight rejuvenation in the agriculture industry, as part of a plan funded by the European Union. Some of Greece's most fertile land lies in the area that surrounds the region.
Florina
Florina is a town and municipality in mountainous northwestern Macedonia, Greece. Its motto is, 'Where Greece begins'. It is also the Metropolitan seat for the region. It lies in the central part of Florina peripheral unit, of which it is the capital. Florina belongs to the periphery of West...
, the capital of the peripheral unit of Florina in northwestern Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Today, Paroreio is inhabited by only a small number of full-time residents. At its peak in the 1930s, the village reached about 600-700 inhabitants, mostly families looking for a piece of fertile land to cultivate and farm in the nearby valley.
Nearest places
- Polyplatanos, northeast
- Kato KleinesKato KleinesKato Kleines is a village and a former municipality in Florina peripheral unit, West Macedonia, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Florina, of which it is a municipal unit. It is 7 km north of the city of Florina...
, east - Kladorrachi, south
- Ethniko, west
- Agia Paraskevi, west
History
Little of history was known between the Medieval and the Balkan WarsBalkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
. It was inhabited by Bulgarians
Bulgarians
The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:...
and was called Bitusha (Битуша, Bitousa in Greek). It was annexed to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in 1913 and many inhabitants moved northeast, some of the refugees from Eastern Thrace and Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
.
The region saw a military presence during World War I and World War II, with French and other ally troops establishing small bases in the area. Border towns like Parorio were at risk of invading parties from the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
to the North, who were looking for any point of entry into Greece and access to its important sea routes. The area also saw a brutal conflict when 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...
emerged following World War II. Many were forced out of their homes and much hardship and tragedy took place at this time.
Following the Civil War, the region saw a mass exodus of people migrating to North America, Australia, and even parts of Africa, where opportunity and a better way of life existed.
Today, the area is sparsely inhabited, but is experiencing a slight rejuvenation in the agriculture industry, as part of a plan funded by the European Union. Some of Greece's most fertile land lies in the area that surrounds the region.