Styra, Greece

Styra or "Chorio" (Greek: Στύρα , Χωριό ) 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.[2] The municipal unit has an area of 188.583 km2.[3] 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 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. The town takes its name from the ancient town of Styra.

Styra
Στύρα
Styra is located in Greece
Styra
Styra
Location within the regional unit
Coordinates: 38°10′N 24°15′E
CountryGreece
Administrative regionCentral Greece
Regional unitEuboea
MunicipalityKarystos
  Municipal unit188.583 km2 (72.812 sq mi)
Elevation
10 m (30 ft)
Population
 (2011)[1]
  Municipal unit
2,716
  Municipal unit density14/km2 (37/sq mi)
Community
  Population660 (2011)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
340 15
Area code(s)22240
Vehicle registrationΧΑ

History

YearCommunity populationMunicipal unit population
19913943,161
20018173,346
20118173,346

Actually there are two towns, Nea Styra or ( Beach "Paralia") (New) and Styra or "Chorio" (Old). The Nea Styra or "Paralia" 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 Styra or "Chorio". In between Nea Styra and Styra is the ancient city of Styra, a city mentioned by Homer's Iliad (Rhapsody B). Ships left from the ancient city state of Styra to aid in the rescue of Helen of Troy.

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 (monoliths). 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. Styra is a Arvanitika speaking community.[4]

References

  1. "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
  2. "ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
  3. "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
  4. Pantelidis, Nikos; Liosis, Nikos (2019). "Dialectical Modern Greek Influences on Arvanitika". Modern Greek Dialects and Linguistics Theory. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens: 223.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.