Kranidi

Kranidi (Greek: Κρανίδι, Katharevousa: Κρανίδιον) is a town and a former municipality in Argolis, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Ermionida, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit.[2] The municipal unit has an area of 252.938 km2 (97.660 sq mi).[3] Some say the name is derived from the word Koronida, while others claim it is from the word Kranaos, which means "rocky trough". It is situated in the eastern part of Argolis, on the easternmost "finger" of the Peloponnese peninsula. It is 8 km (5.0 mi) west of Ermioni, 28 km (17 mi) south of Epidaurus and 38 km (24 mi) southeast of Nafplio.

Kranidi
Κρανίδι
Kranidi is located in Greece
Kranidi
Kranidi
Location within the regional unit
Coordinates: 37.380°N 23.159°E / 37.380; 23.159
CountryGreece
Administrative regionPeloponnese
Regional unitArgolis
MunicipalityErmionida
  Municipal unit252.9 km2 (97.6 sq mi)
Elevation
92 m (302 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
  Municipal unit
9,452
  Municipal unit density37/km2 (97/sq mi)
Community
  Population4,441 (2011)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
213 00
Area code(s)27540
Vehicle registrationAP

Kranidi is known for being the location of second homes of several prominent celebrities, including Sean Connery and the Dutch head of state King Willem-Alexander and his wife Queen Máxima.

Geography

Hotel in Kranidi.
Doroufi beach.

The area around Kranidi consists of low hills, covered with olive groves and small forests. The town itself is about 4 km (2.5 mi) from the coast. Several villages of the municipal unit Kranidi are on the Aegean Sea coast, including Koilada, Portocheli and the small beach settlement Doroufi.

History

Inside the church of Agios Prodromos.

The place of Kranidi has been inhabited for thousands of years. Very close to town is located the Phrancthi Cave that was the dwelling of prehistoric man. During the Homeric era, in this place there were two cities, Hermion (in place of modern Ermioni) and Masis (in place of the modern village of Koilada). In the classical era, a few kilometres south, the city of Halieis was built, in place of modern Porto Heli. Kranidi is first mentioned in the 16th century after the Turkish name Kato Nahagie, which means low province.[4] Kranidi was one of the centers of the Greek uprising of 1777. After the failure of the rebellion, however, many locals abandoned the area in order to avoid persecution by the Muslim Ottomans. Many of them sought refuge away from the Peloponnese, in Europe and Russia. Many also migrated to Cyprus. The modern name derives either from ancient the Greek name Kranaos or from the name of the nearby islet of Koronida.[4] This name was corrupted to Kranida and later Kranidi. The residents of Kranidi took part in the Greek War of Independence. One local guerrilla was the priest Arsenios Krestas. In 1823, before the outbreak of the first Greek Civil War, Kranidi became the seat of the legislature part of Greek government.[5] After independence, Kranidi was appointed the seat of Ermionida province. Today, Kranidi is a flourishing small town with a rich nautical tradition and developed tourism services.

In Kranidi and the surrounding villages, Arvanitika was spoken, with heavy Greek influence. The language has largely been abandoned, with today only elders speaking it, whereas young people only understand it.[6]

Historical population

YearCommunityMunicipal unit
19813,949-
19913,9598,973
20014,91210,347
20114,4419,452

References

  1. "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
  2. "Αποφάσεις" [Decisions]. Government Gazette (in Greek). Vol. 2, no. 1292. 2010-08-11. Archived from the original on 2022-03-20. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
  3. "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού — Κατοικιών (μόνιμος πληθυσμός)" [Population & housing census (usual resident population)] (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. 2001-03-18. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-09-21.
  4. "Κρανίδι" [Kranidi]. Argolikos Archival Library of History and Culture (in Greek). 2009-04-07. Archived from the original on 2021-04-15. Retrieved 2014-09-28.
  5. "Κυβέρνηση στο Κρανίδι (1823)" [Government in Kranidi (1823)]. Argolikos Archival Library of History and Culture (in Greek). 2010-03-01. Archived from the original on 2021-05-17. Retrieved 2014-09-28.
  6. "Κρανίδι – Kranidi". argolikivivliothiki.gr. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
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