Paxi
Encyclopedia
Paxi or Paxoi is the name given to the smallest group of the Ionian Islands
(the Heptanese). In Greek it is a plural form and it refers to a complex of islands, the largest of which are Paxos and Antipaxos
(a smaller nearby island famous for its wine, and two of the finest sandy beaches in the Ionian Sea). The main town of Paxoi, and the seat of the municipality, is Gaios
. In Greek mythology
, Poseidon
created the island by striking Corfu
with his trident
, so that he and wife Amphitrite
could have some peace and quiet.
The Romans
ruled the island from the 2nd century BC, and during the Byzantine
period and Middle Ages
it was constantly attacked by pirates. After various rulers and Crusaders had passed through, the island was taken by the Venetians
at the end of the 14th century.
During the Napoleonic wars
the Ionian Islands
were taken by the French
and the Russo-Turkish alliance. On 13 February 1814, the island of Paxos surrendered to the Royal Navy
frigate HMS Apollo
and 160 troops from the 2nd Greek Light Infantry from Cephalonia and the 35th Regiment of the Royal Corsican Rangers. Finally the British
established the Ionian Union in 1815. In 1864, together with the rest of the Heptanese, Paxos was ceded to the Greek state
.
. Much of the attractive landscape is still covered in olive groves. These stretch from Lakka
, the harbour community in the north, through Magazia
to Gaios
, the capital. Olive oil making, soap manufacture and fishing were supplanted by tourism as the main industry in the mid sixties, resulting in a construction boom, which has greatly altered the coastline around Gaios, the capital of the Paxiot demos (community). There are ferry and jetfoil connections daily with Kerkyra (Corfu) and with the mainland at Parga. Excursions to Albania (the resort of Saranda and the magnificent Greco-Roman settlement of Butrint) can also be arranged with the local jetfoil operators.
following the Greek Civil War
, Albert Finney
, the late actor Peter Bull
(author of 'It isn't all Greek to me') and actress Susannah York
. Some members of the Agnelli family (of FIAT
fame) have built a palatial holiday home—complete with faux medieval tower—on a small island (Kaltonisi) situated near the southernmost tip ('the heel') of Paxos, close to the popular beach of Mongonissi. The presence of such residents, and the development of the coastal area (mostly by Italian
nationals) explains why Paxos has now become one of the most expensive pieces of real estate in Greece. One of Loggos's landmarks, the so-called 'Manor House' was put on sale for 1.6M€ in 2006.
Paxos is part of a European network called Cultural Village of Europe. It hosts a yearly classical music festival (founded by John Gough, and now organised by the Guildhall
), which attracts some of Europe
's finest young performers. This festival usually takes place in late August/early September, however the 2010 festival is in doubt as sponsorship cannot be determined. Concerts are usually held in the now-disused school of Longos, Paxoi
.
port of Igoumenitsa
(1.5 hours), hydrofoil boats from Corfu
(1 hour) and from Bari
and Brindisi
(4 hours). There is no airport but there was a privately owned seaplane service (7 minutes from Corfu
town) operated by AirSea Lines
. As of late 2009, this service is no-longer operational.
for distributed voting, inventing a Greek society on the Aegean island Paxos as a whimsical illustration of an otherwise dry subject. He later admitted that the allegory was a dismal failure, in that it failed to pique readers' interest in the underlying material.
Ionian Islands
The Ionian Islands are a group of islands in Greece. They are traditionally called the Heptanese, i.e...
(the Heptanese). In Greek it is a plural form and it refers to a complex of islands, the largest of which are Paxos and Antipaxos
Antipaxos
Antipaxos or Andipaxos is a small island in Greece, about 3 kilometers to the south of Paxos. It reported a population of 64 inhabitants at the 2001 census, and is administratively part of the municipality of Paxoi in Corfu Prefecture in western Greece...
(a smaller nearby island famous for its wine, and two of the finest sandy beaches in the Ionian Sea). The main town of Paxoi, and the seat of the municipality, is Gaios
Gaios
Gaios is the main port on Paxi, the smallest of the seven principal Ionian Islands, in Greece. Gaios is situated on the east coast of the island. It is named after a homonymous pupil of Paul the Apostle, who brought Christianity to the island....
. In Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, Poseidon
Poseidon
Poseidon was the god of the sea, and, as "Earth-Shaker," of the earthquakes in Greek mythology. The name of the sea-god Nethuns in Etruscan was adopted in Latin for Neptune in Roman mythology: both were sea gods analogous to Poseidon...
created the island by striking Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
with his trident
Trident
A trident , also called a trishul or leister or gig, is a three-pronged spear. It is used for spear fishing and was also a military weapon. Tridents are featured widely in mythical, historical and modern culture. The major Hindu god, Shiva the Destroyer and the sea god Poseidon or Neptune are...
, so that he and wife Amphitrite
Amphitrite
In ancient Greek mythology, Amphitrite was a sea-goddess and wife of Poseidon. Under the influence of the Olympian pantheon, she became merely the consort of Poseidon, and was further diminished by poets to a symbolic representation of the sea...
could have some peace and quiet.
History
Although it was possibly inhabited from prehistoric times, the Phoenicians are traditionally held to have been the first settlers on Paxos. The name is believed to be derived from Pax, which meant trapezoidal in their language.The Romans
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....
ruled the island from the 2nd century BC, and during the Byzantine
Byzantine 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...
period and Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
it was constantly attacked by pirates. After various rulers and Crusaders had passed through, the island was taken by the Venetians
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
at the end of the 14th century.
During the Napoleonic wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
the Ionian Islands
Ionian Islands
The Ionian Islands are a group of islands in Greece. They are traditionally called the Heptanese, i.e...
were taken by the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the Russo-Turkish alliance. On 13 February 1814, the island of Paxos surrendered to the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
frigate HMS Apollo
HMS Apollo (1805)
HMS Apollo, the fifth ship of the Royal Navy to be named for the Greek god Apollo, was a fifth-rate frigate of the Lively class, carrying 38 guns, launched in 1805 and broken up in 1856.-Napoleonic Wars:...
and 160 troops from the 2nd Greek Light Infantry from Cephalonia and the 35th Regiment of the Royal Corsican Rangers. Finally the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
established the Ionian Union in 1815. In 1864, together with the rest of the Heptanese, Paxos was ceded to the Greek state
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
Geography
The island is approximately eight miles in length and tipped up towards the west. The west coast is dominated by steep white, chalky cliffs that are greatly eroded at sea level, and harbour many 'blue caves', which can be explored on launches departing from GaiosGaios
Gaios is the main port on Paxi, the smallest of the seven principal Ionian Islands, in Greece. Gaios is situated on the east coast of the island. It is named after a homonymous pupil of Paul the Apostle, who brought Christianity to the island....
. Much of the attractive landscape is still covered in olive groves. These stretch from Lakka
Lakka, Greece
Lakka is a village situated on Paxi, a Greek Island in the Dahbian Bay of the Ionian Sea approximately nine miles south of Corfu. Lakka is the second largest village in size on the northern end of Paxos and is flanked by silver green olive groves and cypress trees...
, the harbour community in the north, through Magazia
Magazia
Magazia may refer to several villages in Romania:* Magazia, a village in Răchitoasa Commune, Bacău County* Magazia, a village in Crăcăoani Commune, Neamţ CountyMagazia may also refer to a village in Paxi, Greece....
to Gaios
Gaios
Gaios is the main port on Paxi, the smallest of the seven principal Ionian Islands, in Greece. Gaios is situated on the east coast of the island. It is named after a homonymous pupil of Paul the Apostle, who brought Christianity to the island....
, the capital. Olive oil making, soap manufacture and fishing were supplanted by tourism as the main industry in the mid sixties, resulting in a construction boom, which has greatly altered the coastline around Gaios, the capital of the Paxiot demos (community). There are ferry and jetfoil connections daily with Kerkyra (Corfu) and with the mainland at Parga. Excursions to Albania (the resort of Saranda and the magnificent Greco-Roman settlement of Butrint) can also be arranged with the local jetfoil operators.
Foreign Residents
Among well known semi-permanent British inhabitants were Audrey Good, former commander of the UN refugee bases in EpirusEpirus (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...
following 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...
, Albert Finney
Albert Finney
Albert Finney is an English actor. He achieved prominence in films in the early 1960s, and has maintained a successful career in theatre, film and television....
, the late actor Peter Bull
Peter Bull
Peter Cecil Bull, DSC was a British character actor.- Biography :He was the fourth and youngest son of Hammersmith MP Sir William James Bull, 1st Bt..Bull was educated at Winchester College...
(author of 'It isn't all Greek to me') and actress Susannah York
Susannah York
Susannah York was a British film, stage and television actress. She was awarded a BAFTA as Best Supporting Actress for They Shoot Horses, Don't They? and was nominated for an Oscar and Golden Globe for the same film. She won best actress for Images at the 1972 Cannes Film Festival...
. Some members of the Agnelli family (of FIAT
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
fame) have built a palatial holiday home—complete with faux medieval tower—on a small island (Kaltonisi) situated near the southernmost tip ('the heel') of Paxos, close to the popular beach of Mongonissi. The presence of such residents, and the development of the coastal area (mostly by Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
nationals) explains why Paxos has now become one of the most expensive pieces of real estate in Greece. One of Loggos's landmarks, the so-called 'Manor House' was put on sale for 1.6M€ in 2006.
Paxos is part of a European network called Cultural Village of Europe. It hosts a yearly classical music festival (founded by John Gough, and now organised by the Guildhall
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
), which attracts some of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
's finest young performers. This festival usually takes place in late August/early September, however the 2010 festival is in doubt as sponsorship cannot be determined. Concerts are usually held in the now-disused school of Longos, Paxoi
Longos, Paxoi
Longos is the smallest of the island ports on Paxoi, one of the Ionian Islands of Greece. Its 2001 population was 65 for the village and 279 for the municipal district.-Settlements:*Anemogiannatika*Dendiatika*Kagkatika*Kontogiannatika...
.
Communities and settlements
- AntipaxosAntipaxosAntipaxos or Andipaxos is a small island in Greece, about 3 kilometers to the south of Paxos. It reported a population of 64 inhabitants at the 2001 census, and is administratively part of the municipality of Paxoi in Corfu Prefecture in western Greece...
(nearby island) - Mogonisi (nearby island)
- NisakiNisakiNisaki is a small sea-side village in north-east Corfu, which once had a tiny islet in its small bay. During the 20th century, probably with the advent of mass tourism, several tavernas were built on this islet and a jetty was constructed, linking it permanently to the mainland...
or Panagia (nearby island) - Katsonisi (nearby island)
- Apergatika
- Argyratika
- Aronatika
- Dalietatika
- GaiosGaiosGaios is the main port on Paxi, the smallest of the seven principal Ionian Islands, in Greece. Gaios is situated on the east coast of the island. It is named after a homonymous pupil of Paul the Apostle, who brought Christianity to the island....
(seat) - Gramatikeika
- LakkaLakka, GreeceLakka is a village situated on Paxi, a Greek Island in the Dahbian Bay of the Ionian Sea approximately nine miles south of Corfu. Lakka is the second largest village in size on the northern end of Paxos and is flanked by silver green olive groves and cypress trees...
(second biggest settlement) - Longos (third biggest settlement)(also called Loggos)
- Magazia
- Makratika
- Ozias
- Platanos (or Fontana / Fountana)
- Porto Longos
- Velianitatika (or Veliantatika)
- Vlachopoulatika
- Zenebissatika
Transportation
The island is serviced by hydrofoils and ferry boats from the mainland GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
port of Igoumenitsa
Igoumenitsa
Igoumenitsa , is a coastal city in northwestern Greece. It is the capital of the regional unit Thesprotia. Its original ancient name used to be Titani....
(1.5 hours), hydrofoil boats from Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
(1 hour) and from Bari
Bari
Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas...
and Brindisi
Brindisi
Brindisi is a city in the Apulia region of Italy, the capital of the province of Brindisi, off the coast of the Adriatic Sea.Historically, the city has played an important role in commerce and culture, due to its position on the Italian Peninsula and its natural port on the Adriatic Sea. The city...
(4 hours). There is no airport but there was a privately owned seaplane service (7 minutes from Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
town) operated by AirSea Lines
AirSea Lines
AirSea Lines was an airline based in Gouvia, Corfu, Greece. It was the first scheduled services seaplane operator in Greece in recent years. Its main base was Gouvia Marina The airline ceased operations in 2008, citing bureaucratic and infrastructure hurdles...
. As of late 2009, this service is no-longer operational.
Dialect
A dialect is spoken resembling that of Corfu and having a similar prosody. It is heavily influenced by Italian. There is a glossary of Paxiot expressions.Trivia
In his scientific article The Part-Time Parliament, Leslie Lamport created his Paxos algorithmPaxos algorithm
Paxos is a family of protocols for solving consensus in a network of unreliable processors.Consensus is the process of agreeing on one result among a group of participants...
for distributed voting, inventing a Greek society on the Aegean island Paxos as a whimsical illustration of an otherwise dry subject. He later admitted that the allegory was a dismal failure, in that it failed to pique readers' interest in the underlying material.