Styra
Encyclopedia
Styra is a village and a former municipality on the island Euboea
, Greece
. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Karystos
, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located in the southern part of Euboea
, facing the eastern shore of Attica
across the South Euboean Gulf. Nowadays it can be reached by ferryboat from the tiny harbor of Agia Marina, as well as by bridge from Chalcis
.
Above the port there is a hill where the church of Saints Kostantine and Helen is situated with a breath-taking panoramic view of the coast and Stouronisi (Styra Island).
Styra is a very popular destination for Athenians during the summer period.
After the collapse of the Iron Curtain
, Albanians
migrated into the area.
Actually there are two cities, Nea Styra (New) and Palaia Styra (Old). The Nea Styra is a more modern tourist area with beautiful views, beaches, hotels, cafes, bookstores, nightclubs, shops, and bars There are two doctors in Styra that share time between Nea Styra and Palaia Styra. In between Nea Styra and Palaia Styra is the ancient city of Styra, a city mentioned by Homer
's Iliad
(Rhapsody B). Additionally near Styra there are ancient structures standing which are 4,500 years old and are constructed using Megalithic Architecture. They are called Drakospita (i.e. Dragon Houses) and have been built using huge one piece stones (monolith
s). The size of each of these stones is 4.0m length x 2.5m width x 1.5m height, similar to those found in the Philippines
and at Stonehenge
.
Ships left from the ancient city state of Styra to aid in the rescue of Helen of Troy
.
Euboea
Euboea is the second largest Greek island in area and population, after Crete. The narrow Euripus Strait separates it from Boeotia in mainland Greece. In general outline it is a long and narrow, seahorse-shaped island; it is about long, and varies in breadth from to...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Karystos
Karystos
Karystos is a small coastal town on the Greek island of Euboea. It has about 7,000 inhabitants. It lies 129 km south of Chalkis. From Athens it is accessible by ferry via Marmari from the Rafina port...
, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located in the southern part of Euboea
Euboea
Euboea is the second largest Greek island in area and population, after Crete. The narrow Euripus Strait separates it from Boeotia in mainland Greece. In general outline it is a long and narrow, seahorse-shaped island; it is about long, and varies in breadth from to...
, facing the eastern shore of Attica
Attica
Attica is a historical region of Greece, containing Athens, the current capital of Greece. The historical region is centered on the Attic peninsula, which projects into the Aegean Sea...
across the South Euboean Gulf. Nowadays it can be reached by ferryboat from the tiny harbor of Agia Marina, as well as by bridge from Chalcis
Chalcis
Chalcis or Chalkida , the chief town of the island of Euboea in Greece, is situated on the strait of the Evripos at its narrowest point. The name is preserved from antiquity and is derived from the Greek χαλκός , though there is no trace of any mines in the area...
.
Above the port there is a hill where the church of Saints Kostantine and Helen is situated with a breath-taking panoramic view of the coast and Stouronisi (Styra Island).
Styra is a very popular destination for Athenians during the summer period.
After the collapse of the Iron Curtain
Iron Curtain
The concept of the Iron Curtain symbolized the ideological fighting and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1989...
, Albanians
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
migrated into the area.
History
| Year | Municipal district population | Municipality population |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 394 | 3,161 |
| 2001 | 817 | 3,346 |
Actually there are two cities, Nea Styra (New) and Palaia Styra (Old). The Nea Styra is a more modern tourist area with beautiful views, beaches, hotels, cafes, bookstores, nightclubs, shops, and bars There are two doctors in Styra that share time between Nea Styra and Palaia Styra. In between Nea Styra and Palaia Styra is the ancient city of Styra, a city mentioned by Homer
Homer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
's Iliad
Iliad
The Iliad is an epic poem in dactylic hexameters, traditionally attributed to Homer. Set during the Trojan War, the ten-year siege of the city of Troy by a coalition of Greek states, it tells of the battles and events during the weeks of a quarrel between King Agamemnon and the warrior Achilles...
(Rhapsody B). Additionally near Styra there are ancient structures standing which are 4,500 years old and are constructed using Megalithic Architecture. They are called Drakospita (i.e. Dragon Houses) and have been built using huge one piece stones (monolith
Monolith
A monolith is a geological feature such as a mountain, consisting of a single massive stone or rock, or a single piece of rock placed as, or within, a monument...
s). The size of each of these stones is 4.0m length x 2.5m width x 1.5m height, similar to those found in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and at Stonehenge
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stones set within earthworks...
.
Ships left from the ancient city state of Styra to aid in the rescue of Helen of Troy
Troy
Troy was a city, both factual and legendary, located in northwest Anatolia in what is now Turkey, southeast of the Dardanelles and beside Mount Ida...
.