Amfilochia

Amfilochia (Greek: Αμφιλοχία) is a town and a municipality in the northwestern part of Aetolia-Acarnania in Greece, on the site of ancient Amfilochia. Under the Ottoman Empire, it was known as Karvasaras (Καρβασαράς; from caravanserai).

Amfilochia
Αμφιλοχία
Amfilochia is located in Greece
Amfilochia
Amfilochia
Location within the region
Coordinates: 38°51′N 21°10′E
CountryGreece
Administrative regionWest Greece
Regional unitAetolia-Acarnania
Area
 • Municipality1,091.0 km2 (421.2 sq mi)
 • Municipal unit397.9 km2 (153.6 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Municipality
17,056
 • Municipality density16/km2 (40/sq mi)
 • Municipal unit
10,264
 • Municipal unit density26/km2 (67/sq mi)
Community
[1]
 • Population4,325 (2011)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
305 00
Area code(s)26420

Amfilochia is situated by the Ambracian Gulf and features an amphitheatre. Amfilochia dates back to the ancient times and also features the ancient cities of Amphilochian Argos and Limnaia (or Limnaea).

History

According to Pausanias, it is named after king Amphilochos, son of Amphiaraus. After the fall of Troy, Amphilochos settled in the area, which consequently was called Amphilochoi until the time of Pausanias.[2]

Under the Ottoman Empire, Ali Pasha of Ioannina, forcibly relocated residents of another village to the current location of the town and established a motel (serai in Turkish) to serve passing caravans. This was how the name Karvasaras came up.[3]

In July 1944 a battle took place in the town between ELAS of the Greek Resistance against the occupation forces and their local collaborators, that resulted in victory for the Resistance.[4]

Municipality

The municipality Amfilochia was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 3 former municipalities, that became municipal units:[5]

The municipality has an area of 1090.991 km2, the municipal unit 397.879 km2.[6]

Subdivisions

The municipal unit of Amfilochia is divided into the following communities:[5]

  • Amfilochia (Amfilochia, Boukka, Limnaia and Platos)
  • Ampelaki (Ampelaki, Amfilochiko Argos, Ariada, Kampos and Keramidi)
  • Anoixiatiko (Anoixiatiko, Agia Triada, Katafourko, Mavrorachi, Moni Retha, Xirolivado, Petralona, Profitis Ilia, Ptelea, Skreiko, Triantafylloula, Tsoukka, Psila Alonia)
  • Kechrinia (Kechrinia, Agioi Theodoroi, Kanalos, Kompothekla, Makrychoria, Falangias)
  • Loutro (Loutro, Krikellos, Xirakia)
  • Megas Kampos
  • Sardinia (Sardinia, Kalyvia)
  • Sparto (Sparto, Pigadaki, Tria Alonia)
  • Stanos
  • Varetada

Population
YearTownCommunityMunicipal unitMunicipality
1981-6,637--
19914,392-13,711-
20014,1194,68112,834-
20113,8274,32510,26417,056

Transportation
Amfilochia port at night

Amfilochia has a port which is sometimes used for the import of grain. It is linked with the GR-5 (E55 and E951, Antirrio - Messolonghi - Ioannina) and is also traversed by the GR-42 that serves Vonitsa, Preveza and the island of Lefkada. Amfilochia is linked with the Ionia Odos, a toll road that bypasses the town itself. Amfilochia is not linked with a railway.

Notable people

See also

A part of this article is translated from the German Wikipedia

References
  1. "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
  2. Παυσανιασ. Κορινθιακα. Ι. Ζαχαρόπουλος. pp. 114–115.
  3. "Ηλεκτρονική Πλοήγηση Μνημείων Αιτωλοακαρνανίας και Αχαϊας - Χώροι". 2019-11-19. Archived from the original on 2019-11-19. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  4. "«Φυσέκι στους φασίστες». H μάχη της Αμφιλοχίας όπου οι αντάρτες εξολόθρευσαν τους Γερμανούς. Διέφυγαν στήνοντας οδοφράγματα από πτώματα γερμανών στρατιωτών". ΜΗΧΑΝΗ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΟΝΟΥ (in Greek). 2022-07-11. Retrieved 2022-10-20.
  5. "ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
  6. "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-21.


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