Alimos

Alimos Άλιμος
Alimos municipality
Alimos
Location within the region
Coordinates: 37°55′N 23°43′E / 37.917°N 23.717°ECoordinates: 37°55′N 23°43′E / 37.917°N 23.717°E
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Attica
Regional unit	South Athens
Districts	Anapiron, Upper Kalamaki (or Euonymeia or Trachones), Lower Kalamaki (or Kalamaki), Ampelakia, Panas's Hill, Kefallinon, Eforiakon, Agios Panteleimon, Ekteloniston, Kithirion
Government
• Mayor	Andreas Kondylis (Independent; since May 27, 2014)
Area
• Municipality	5.909 km^2 (2.281 sq mi)
Highest elevation	10 m (30 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
• Municipality	41,720
• Municipality density	7,100/km^2 (18,000/sq mi)
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code	174 xx
Area code(s)	210
Vehicle registration	Z
Website	www.alimos.gr

Alimos (Greek: Άλιμος) is a municipality in the South Athens, Greece. It was formed in 1968 comprising two settlements, the suburban seaside town of Kalamaki (Greek: Καλαμάκι), and the inland community of Trachones (Greek: Τράχωνες). Alimos had 41,720 inhabitants in the 2011 census.

Geography

Alimos is situated on the Saronic Gulf coast, 8 km south of Athens city centre. The municipality has an area of 5.909 km².^[2] The Hellinikon Olympic Complex, built on the grounds of the former Ellinikon International Airport for the 2004 Summer Olympics, lies south of Alimos. The built-up area of Alimos is continuous with those of the neighbouring suburbs Palaio Faliro, Agios Dimitrios, Ilioupoli, Argyroupoli and Elliniko. Alimos has a large marina and several beaches.

The main roads of Alimos are Poseidonos Avenue along the coast, Kalamakiou Avenue and Alimou Avenue. The nearest subway station is at Alimos metro station, in the eastern part of the municipality. The western, coastal part of the municipality is connected with Athens city centre by the Athens Tram.

History

The first settlements uncovered by archeologists in Alimos date back to the Neolithic period, and the excavation site can be found in the region of Euonymeia (Ano Kalamaki), immediately by the Vouliagmenis Avenue.

In classical antiquity, Halimous (Ancient Greek: Ἁλιμοῦς; also Alimous,^[3] Ἀλιμοῦς^[4]) was a fishing town on the outskirts of the city-state of Athens and constituted one of the demes of Attica. The area of Ano Kalamaki, known as Euonymeia, constituted a distinct settlement, which in classical antiquity became the urban (Asty) Deme of Euonymos. Testament to its development during this period are the ruins of the amphitheater of Euonymos, quite unusual in the ancient world in its rectangular design. The site can be found on Archaiou Theatrou Street in Ano Kalamaki (just a few blocks away from the Neolithic site).

The most significant historical affiliation of Alimos is that with Thucydides. Thucydides was born in Halimous, and is often referred to as "Thucydides the Halimousian" (Greek: Θουκυδίδης ο Αλιμούσιος). The bust of Thucydides is the emblem of Alimos, which is commonly used between schools in the area. Furthermore, the First High School of Alimos is called Thoukydidio (Greek: Θουκυδίδειο), after him.

Kalamaki was part of the community of Brachami until 1927, when it became a separate community.^[5] The community Kalamaki was abolished in 1968, when the municipality Alimos was founded.^[6]

Culture

Education

Alimos has public and private schools of grades, apart from higher education, in several places throughout the city. The city has 12 public kindergartens, 8 public elementary schools, 6 public Junior High Schools (including a Music School ^[7]) and 5 High Schools (including one Technical High School). Furthermore, there are several private schools, where tuition fees are needed.

Sports

Alimos has two clubs with presence in panhellenic championships, the water polo club N.O. Kalamaki with presence in A1 Ethniki^[8] and the football club Trachones F.C. with presence in Gamma Ethniki. In Alimos is located the Byzantine Sport Center that is used by the two sport clubs come from Constantinople, A.O. Tataula and A.S. Pera. These clubs settled in Alimos in 1973 and have many honours in Greek Table Tennis Championship.^[9]

Sport clubs based in Alimos
Club	Founded	Sports	Achievements
N.O. Kalamaki	1947	Water Polo	presence in A1 Ethniki water polo
Trachones F.C.	1957	Football	Presence in Beta Ethniki
A.L.F.A. B.C.	1985	Basketball	presence in A2
A.O. Kalamaki	1948	Football
Niki Alimou	1926	Football
Enosi Trachonon - Dia Alimou	2004	Basketball

Commercial activity

The commercial activity in Kalamaki or Alimos is concentrated in the major avenues that cross the city regional (Amfitheas-Poseidonos-Alimou) and the streets that are inside the city links (Thukididou-Kalamakiou-Theomitoros-Ionias-Dodekanisou).

Historical population

Year	Population
1981	27,036
1991	32,024
2001	38,047
2011	41,720

Many people here are the descendants of refugees from Kalkan Turkey, arriving in the Greek Genocide

International relations

Alimos is twinned with:

• Niš, Serbia

References

1. "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
2. "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
3. Edward Dodwell, A Classical and Topographical Tour Through Greece During the Years 1801, 1805 and 1806 Vol. 1, Rodwell and Martin, 1819, p. 557.
4. Etymologicum Magnum, Leipzig: Johann August Gottlieb Weigel, p. 58.
5. EETAA local government changes
6. EETAA local government changes
7. Music School of Alimos
8. "Nautical Club Kalamaki". Nautical Club Kalamaki. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
9. "titles" (PDF). Hellenic Table Tennis Federation. Retrieved 14 April 2015.

External links

• City of Alimos official website (Greek)
• The Music School of Alimos (Greek)