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| Dwellings: | --> |
| Population: (2001) | 7871 |
| Communes: | 13 |
| Elevation: -lowest: -centre: -highest: |
sea level 15 m(centre) |
| Postal code: | 250 53 |
| Area/distance code: | 11-30-27340 (030-27340) |
| Municipal code: | 3203 |
| Car designation: | AK |
| Website: | www.vatika2000.com (in Greek) |
Geography
There is a single mountain range that runs through the center of the municipality dividing it into two parts, both an east and west section.
Adjacent to the west coast of the region lies the island of Elafonisos which is administratively, politically and geographically part of the Vatika. The island contains some of the oldest evidence of human inhabitance in the whole of the Peloponnese.
History
The name of the region derives from the initial name of the town of Neapoli, Voiai (Greek: Βοιαι pronounced "Vi - e"), which is thought to have been founded in the second century BC. The ancient writer, Pausanias wrote that Voiai was founded "by Voios, one of the children of Heracles, who is supposed to have gathered the people from three cities: Etis, Aphrodisias and Side". Voios was a Heracleidae.
Division of the municipality
Neapoli
Villages:
Velanidia
Faraklo (Φάρακλο)
Lachi (Λάχι) - Site of the Ancient city named Itis.
Mesochori (Μεσοχώρι) - A village with Byzantine origins.
Agios Nikolaos (Άγιος Νικόλαος) - The Agricultural center for the Municipality. The original name of the village dating back in 17th Century was "Panagia" from an homonymous temple of Virgin Mary. Most of the inhabitants trace their ancestry from the Western parts of Crete that was occupied by the Ottomans in 1669 resulting to a wide refugee influx in the Vatica area. Moreover people from the island of Kythera started populating the village from early 19th Century and onwards. Known families include "Nychas" family presumably indigenous since 17th Century, "Pavlakis" Cretan ancestry and "Michaletos" Venetian ancestry coming from Crete as well. The village has a strong diaspora concentrated in Australia and Pretoria -South Africa.
Paradisi (Παραδέισι)
Ano Kastania (Ανό Καστανία) - The location of many Byzantine Churches and Monasteries.
Kato Kastania (Κάτο Καστανία)
Viglafia (Βιγκλάφια)
Elafonissos - A small island just 500 m of the coast of Vatika near Viglafia.
Links
See also:
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Ancient Greece |
Medieval Greece / Byzantine Empire |
Modern Greece |
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Science, Technology , Medicine , Warfare |
Science, Technology, Arts |
Cities, Islands, Regions, Fauna/Flora , |
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