Messenia

Messinia Περιφερειακή ενότητα Μεσσηνίας
Regional unit
Municipalities (dimi) of Messinia, 2010: Kalamata Mani Messini Oichalia Pylos-Nestoras Trifylia
Messenia within Greece
Coordinates: 37°10′N 22°0′E / 37.167°N 22.000°ECoordinates: 37°10′N 22°0′E / 37.167°N 22.000°E
Country	Greece
Region	Peloponnese
Capital	Kalamata
Area
• Total	2,991 km^2 (1,155 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	159,954
• Density	53/km^2 (140/sq mi)
Postal codes	24x xx
Area codes	272x0, 276x0
ISO 3166 code	GR-17
Car plates	ΚΜ

Kalamata castle

Port of Kalamata

Messenia from Mt. Ithome

View of Pylos on the Bay of Navarino

Messenia (/məˈsiːniə, -ˈsiːnjə/; Greek: Μεσσηνία Messinia, pronounced [mesiˈnia]) is a regional unit (perifereiaki enotita) in the southwestern part of the Peloponnese, one of 13 regions into which Greece has been divided by the Kallikratis plan, implemented 1 January 2011.^[1] Before 2011 Messenia was a nomos (prefecture). The capital and the biggest city of Messenia in either case has been the city of Kalamata.

Geography

Physical

Messenia borders on Elis to the north, Arcadia to the northeast, and Laconia to the southeast. The Ionian Sea lies to the west, and the Gulf of Messenia to the south. The most important mountain ranges are the Taygetus in the east, the Kyparissia mountains in the northwest and the Lykodimo in the southwest. The main rivers are the Neda in the north and the Pamisos in central Messenia.

Off the south coast of the southwesternmost point of Messenia lie the Messenian Oinousses islands. The largest of these are Sapientza, Schiza and Venetiko. The small island Sphacteria closes off the bay of Pylos. All these islands are virtually uninhabited.

Climate may vary, in the lowlands, temperatures are a bit warmer than Athens. Snow is not common during winter months except for the mountains especially the Taygetus. Rain and clouds are common inland.

Political

Reorganization of Messenia

Before the 2010 reorganization, Messenia was a nomos (prefecture) containing 29 dimoi (municipalities) and 2 koinotites (communities). The total population, based on the 2001 census was 176,876.^[2] Since 2010, Messenia has been a perifereiake enoteta (regional unit) containing only 6 municipalities, but still with a population of 176,876;^[3] i.e., Messenia did not change area in the reorganization. Some 25 municipalities and communities were incorporated politically into the other 6 according to the table below.^[1]

New municipality	Old municipalities	Seat
Kalamata	Kalamata	Kalamata
	Aris
	Arfara
	Thouria
Messene (Messini)	Messene	Messene
	Aipeia
	Androusa
	Aristomenis
	Voufrades
	Ithomi
	Petalidi
	Trikorfo
Oichalia	Oichalia	Meligalas
	Andania
	Dorio
	Eira
	Meligalas
Pylos-Nestoras	Pylos	Pylos
	Koroni
	Methoni
	Nestoras
	Papaflessas
	Chiliochoria
Trifylia	Kyparissia	Kyparissia
	Aetos
	Avlonas
	Gargalianoi
	Filiatra
	Tripyla
West Mani (Dytiki Mani)	Avia	Kardamyli
	Lefktro

Population

Year	Population
1991	167,292
2001	172,875
2011	159,954

The main cities and towns of Messenia are (ranked by 2011 census population):

• Kalamata 54,567
• Filiatra 6,791
• Messini 6,287
• Kyparissia 5,784
• Gargalianoi 5,569
• Chora (Nestoras) 3,498
• Pylos 2,767

Economy

Voidokilia beach.

Glossa beach.

The economy of Messenia is primarily based on agricultural production although in recent years efforts are being made toward the development of activities in other sectors such as tourism.

Main agricultural products are olive oil, Kalamata table olives, figs, and black raisins (sultanas). The variety of agricultural products is complemented by a small amount of stockbreeding products (beef, milk, sfela cheese, honey) and fish from the Gulf of Messenia.

The tourist development observed is mainly attributable to the promotion of important archaeological sites, such as the Palace of Nestor, Ancient Messene, and the Venetian castles of Pylos, Koroni, Methoni and Kalamata, as well as to the beauty of the landscape. Another key factor for Messenia's economy is Costa Navarino, comprising several eco-friendly luxury resorts and golf courses, which is Greece’s biggest tourist development. ^[4]

There are many small- and medium-size firms involved in the processing and standardization of agricultural products as well as a number of enterprises devoted to wood processing, furniture manufacturing, and metal construction. The Karelia tobacco company is based in Kalamata.

Transport

The main airport in Messenia is Kalamata International Airport (KLX).

The main highways in Messenia are:

• Greek National Road 7 (Corinth - Tripoli - Kalamata)
• Greek National Road 9 (Patras - Pyrgos - Kyparissia - Pylos)
• Greek National Road 82 (Pylos - Kalamata - Sparti)

The main railways in Messenia are:

• Corinth - Argos - Tripoli - Zevgolateio - Kalamata
• Patras - Pyrgos - Kalo Nero - Kyparissia
• Kalo Nero - Zevgolateio

Communications

Television

• Notia Elliniki Teleorasi, (Southern Greece Television)
• Best TV,
• Mesogeios TV

History

Ancient period

Ancient Theater in Messene.

Messenia is mentioned in the oldest work of European literature, the Iliad. The name undoubtedly goes back to at least the Bronze Age, but its origins are lost in the world of mythology. The region was one of the largest that was conquered and enslaved as helots by ancient Sparta.

Medieval period

In the Middle Ages, Messenia shared the fortunes of the rest of the Peloponnese. Striking reminders of these conflicts are afforded by the extant ruins of the medieval strongholds of Kalamata, Coron (anc. Asine, mod. Korone), Modon (Methone) and Pylos. Messenia was a part of the Byzantine Empire.

Ottoman and Venetian period

Much of Messenia fell into the hands of the Ottoman Turks, a part of the area remained with the Venetian Republic. In 1534 a group of families, known as the 'Coroni', settled in Piana degli Albanesi in Sicily. They were Arvanites and Greeks from Koroni.

During the 1680s, the whole of Messenia was regained by the Venetian Republic in the Morean War, and formed part of the "Kingdom of the Morea" until recovered by the Ottomans in 1715. The Mani Peninsula, a part of modern Messenia, was autonomous from Turkish rule due to the fact that it had no harbors.

Modern period

Messenia became part of independent Greece as a result of the Greek War of Independence (1821-1832). The famous naval Battle of Navarino took place near present Pylos in 1827, and was a decisive victory for Greece and its allies. The population in the area of Kalamata and Messene increased from 30,000 before World War II up to nearly 80,000 in the present day. Messenia suffered damage from the 2007 Greek forest fires.

See also

• List of settlements in Messenia
• Messenia (constituency)

Notes

1. η Βουλή 2010, p. 17435
2. Hellenic Interior Ministry 2001, Lines 6652-7027.
3. η Βουλή 2010, p. 17434.
4. Bloomberg webpage

Bibliography

• Hellenic Interior Ministry (18 March 2001). Δείτε τη Διοικητική Διαίρεση (in Greek). Hellenic Interior Ministry.. The previous Kapodistrias organization of all the communities in Greece. The populations are from the Census of 2001.
• η Βουλή (11 August 2010), "ΤΕΥΧΟΣ ΔΕΥΤΕΡΟ", NOMOΣ ΥΠ’ΑΡΙΘ. 3852: Νέα Αρχιτεκτονική της Αυτοδιοίκησης και της Αποκεντρωμένης Διοίκησης − Πρόγραμμα Καλλικράτης (PDF) (in Greek), ΕΦΗΜΕΡΙΣ ΤΗΣ ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΣΕΩΣ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗΣ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑΣ. Part 2 of the Kallicratis Plan law, No. 3852, by the Hellenic Parliament (Βουλή), publishing a table of all the official communities of Greece arranged in hierarchical order. The lowest-level populations are from the Census of 2001. All higher-level populations are the sums of the appropriate lower-level populations.
• Kontogiannis, N.D. "Settlements and countryside of Messenia during the late Middle Ages: the testimony of the fortifications," Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, 34,1 (2010), 3-29.
•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Messenia". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

External links

• Media related to Messinia at Wikimedia Commons