Volakas, Elis
Encyclopedia
Volakas is a former municipality
in Elis, West Greece, Greece
. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pyrgos
, of which it is a municipal unit. Its seat of administration was in the town of Epitalio. Epitalio is accessed by GR-9
to the north and south which until the 1980s ran through the town. The Alpheus
river flows to the north.
, W of Tripoli
, NW of Krestena
and Andritsaina
, NW of Kalamata
and NNW of Kyparissia
. The name and the settlement dates back to the ancient times. The ancient ruins lie to the north. From the Medieval Times to the late-2nd millennium
, the village was known as Agoulinitsa.
forests to the north and east and to the southeast. Olive groves are slightly north, southeast and to the northwest. The plain which is mainly filled with pastures, fruits and vegetables are to the southwest which stretches for two and three kilometres. The area was once a wetland and a lagoon. Some forests also cover the west. Residential area covers the west and east of the bypass. The pine forests are along the southern part of the Alpheus valley. The view of several mountains are to the southeast near Krestena. The beaches lie to the west. The small airport of Epitalto (ICAO: LGEP) is near Epitalio. The runway is unpaved and is 1 km long.
left himself tired, recrossing the Alpheus and he was careful to leave a garrison in Epitalium near the Alpheus.
Epitalio was ruled by the Ottoman
Turks
, it became a part of Greece
after the Greek War of Independence
. It adopted its current name in the early 20th century. After World War II
and the Greek Civil War
, its buildings were rebuilt. Epitalio became connected with asphalt in the 1960s. More pavement was accessed in the late 20th century. Electricity, radio and automobiles were introduced in the mid-20th century, television in the late-20th century and computer and internet at the turn of the millennium. Epitalio escaped the furies of the a tremendous fire
on Sunday August 26, 2007.
, a high school, a church, banks, and a post office, a train station (Pyrgos - Kyparissia - Oichalia), a water tower, and a square (plateia
). Its nearest hospital is in Pyrgos and its university is the University of Patras
in Rio
.
Communities and Municipalities of Greece
For the new municipalities of Greece see the Kallikratis ProgrammeThe municipalities and communities of Greece are one of several levels of government within the organizational structure of that country. Thirteen regions called peripheries form the largest unit of government beneath the State. ...
in Elis, West Greece, 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 Pyrgos
Pyrgos, Elis
Pyrgos is the capital of the Elis peripheral unit in Greece. It is named after a local tower. The city is located in the western part of the Peloponnese, in the middle of a plain near the Ionian Sea. It is 96 km away from Patras via Greek National Road 9, 320 km from Athens, and...
, of which it is a municipal unit. Its seat of administration was in the town of Epitalio. Epitalio is accessed by GR-9
Greek National Road 9
Greek National Road 9 is the second-longest national highway of Greece. It runs through the western Peloponnese, from Patras to Pylos. Its length is around .This highway travels near:*Bypasses:*Patras and Area, since 2002*Vrachneika*Alissos*Kato Achaia...
to the north and south which until the 1980s ran through the town. The Alpheus
Alfeios River
Alfeiós is the longest river in the Peloponnese, in Greece. The river is 110 km long, flowing through the prefectures of Arcadia and Ilia. Its source is near Megalopoli in the highlands of Arcadia. The river begins near Davia in central Arcadia, then flows between Leontari and Megalopoli through a...
river flows to the north.
Location
The location is SE of Pyrgos and the bypass, WSW of OlympiaOlympia, Greece
Olympia , a sanctuary of ancient Greece in Elis, is known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, comparable in importance to the Pythian Games held in Delphi. Both games were held every Olympiad , the Olympic Games dating back possibly further than 776 BC...
, W of Tripoli
Tripoli, Greece
Tripoli is a city of about 25,000 inhabitants in the central part of the Peloponnese, in Greece. It is the capital of the prefecture of Arcadia and the centre of the municipality of Tripolis, pop...
, NW of Krestena
Krestena
Krestena is a town in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andritsaina-Krestena, of which it is the seat of administration....
and Andritsaina
Andritsaina
Andritsaina is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andritsaina-Krestena, of which it is a municipal unit...
, NW 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...
and NNW of Kyparissia
Kyparissia
Kyparissia is a town and a former municipality in Messenia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Trifylia, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. The town proper has around 5,708 inhabitants. The town is located on Greek National Road 9,...
. The name and the settlement dates back to the ancient times. The ancient ruins lie to the north. From the Medieval Times to the late-2nd millennium
2nd millennium
File:2nd millennium montage.png|From left, clockwise: In 1492, Christopher Columbus; The American Revolution; The French Revolution; The Atomic Bomb from World War II; An alternate source of light, the Light Bulb; For the first time, a human being sets foot on the moon in 1969 during the Apollo 11...
, the village was known as Agoulinitsa.
Subdivisions
The municipal unit Volakas is subdivided into the following communities (constituent villages in brackets):- Epitalio (Epitalio, Paralia, total pop: 2,059)
- Agridi (pop: 50)
- Alfeiousa (pop: 1,061)
- Anemochori (pop: 382)
Geography
The geography of Epitalio includes hills with several hilltops, streams and valleys to the east and pinePine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
forests to the north and east and to the southeast. Olive groves are slightly north, southeast and to the northwest. The plain which is mainly filled with pastures, fruits and vegetables are to the southwest which stretches for two and three kilometres. The area was once a wetland and a lagoon. Some forests also cover the west. Residential area covers the west and east of the bypass. The pine forests are along the southern part of the Alpheus valley. The view of several mountains are to the southeast near Krestena. The beaches lie to the west. The small airport of Epitalto (ICAO: LGEP) is near Epitalio. The runway is unpaved and is 1 km long.
Historical population
| Year | Epitalio (municipal district) | Volakas (municipality) |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 1,869 | - |
| 1991 | 1,752 | 3,438 |
| 2001 | 2,069 | 3,552 |
History
In ancient times, AegisAegis
An aegis is a large collar or cape worn in ancient times to display the protection provided by a high religious authority or the holder of a protective shield signifying the same, such as a bag-like garment that contained a shield. Sometimes the garment and the shield are merged, with a small...
left himself tired, recrossing the Alpheus and he was careful to leave a garrison in Epitalium near the Alpheus.
Epitalio was ruled by the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
Turks
Turkish people
Turkish people, also known as the "Turks" , are an ethnic group primarily living in Turkey and in the former lands of the Ottoman Empire where Turkish minorities had been established in Bulgaria, Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Romania...
, it became a part of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
after 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...
. It adopted its current name in the early 20th century. 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...
, its buildings were rebuilt. Epitalio became connected with asphalt in the 1960s. More pavement was accessed in the late 20th century. Electricity, radio and automobiles were introduced in the mid-20th century, television in the late-20th century and computer and internet at the turn of the millennium. Epitalio escaped the furies of the a tremendous fire
2007 Greek forest fires
The 2007 Greek forest fires were a series of massive forest fires that broke out in several areas across Greece throughout the summer of 2007. The most destructive and lethal infernos broke out on August 23, expanded rapidly and raged out of control until August 27, until they were put out in early...
on Sunday August 26, 2007.
Other
Epitalio has a school, a lyceumLyceum
The lyceum is a category of educational institution defined within the education system of many countries, mainly in Europe. The definition varies between countries; usually it is a type of secondary school.-History:...
, a high school, a church, banks, and a post office, a train station (Pyrgos - Kyparissia - Oichalia), a water tower, and a square (plateia
Plateia
Plateia or platia is the Greek word for town square. Most Greek and Cypriot cities have several town squares which are a point of reference in travelling and guiding...
). Its nearest hospital is in Pyrgos and its university is the University of Patras
University of Patras
University of Patras is a university established in 1964 in Patras, Greece. Initially housed in the city centre, the university's campus is now located in the adjacent municipality of Rio...
in Rio
Rio, Greece
Rio is a town and a former municipality in Achaea, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Patras, of which it is a municipal unit. The former municipality had a population of around 13,000.- Geography :...
.
External links
| North: Pyrgos | |||
| West: Ionian Sea | Volakas | East: Olympia Olympia, Greece Olympia , a sanctuary of ancient Greece in Elis, is known for having been the site of the Olympic Games in classical times, comparable in importance to the Pythian Games held in Delphi. Both games were held every Olympiad , the Olympic Games dating back possibly further than 776 BC... | |
| South: Krestena Krestena Krestena is a town in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andritsaina-Krestena, of which it is the seat of administration.... | Southeast: Krestena |