Magnesia (regional unit)
Magnesia
Περιφερειακή ενότητα Μαγνησίας | |
---|---|
EEST) | |
Postal codes | 37x xx, 38x xx |
Area codes | 242x0 |
ISO 3166 code | GR-43 |
Car plates | ΒΟx, BBx |
Website | www |
Magnesia (
. About 70% of the population of Magnesia live in the Greater Volos area, which is the second-largest city in Thessaly and the third busiest commercial port in Greece.According to the most recent census (2011), the population stands at 190,010. The regional unit hosts 2,000,000 tourists annually.
Geography
A prominent geographic feature of Magnesia is the Pagasetic Gulf, a bay of the Aegean Sea. The Pelion mountain range closes off the Gulf on the east and south side, leaving only a narrow channel near Trikeri. The highest peak of the wooded Pelion is Pourianos Stavros or Xeforti, (altitude 1,624 metres or 5,328 feet). On the south edge of Magnesia peninsula Tisaio mountain is found.
Mt. Maurovouni (1,054 metres or 3,458 feet) is the northeasternmost mountain of the regional unit and extends to the neighboring regional unit of Larissa. The southwest border of Magnesia is formed by the Othrys, with its highest peak Gerakovouni (1,726 metres or 5,663 feet). The interior of Magnesia has two plains. The plains southwest of the Pagasetic Gulf are called the Almyros plains, while the plains northwest of the Gulf are called the Volos-Velestino plain. The hydrological network of Magnesia is not particularly rich and is characterized by the absence of big rivers. The waters coming from Pelion shape the rivers Anavros, Platanorema, and Xirias.
In the North section of Magnesia,
Climate
The average
Administration
The regional unit Magnesia is subdivided into 5 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):[2]
- Almyros (2)
- Rigas Feraios (6)
- South Pelion (Notio Pilio, 5)
- Volos (1)
- Zagora-Mouresi (4)
Prefecture
Magnesia was created as a prefecture. In addition to the territory of the present regional unit of Magnesia, the Magnesia Prefecture included the Northern Sporades group of islands (Skiathos, Skopelos and Alonnisos). As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the prefecture was split into the Magnesia and Sporades regional units. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.[2]
New municipality | Old municipalities | Seat |
---|---|---|
Almyros | Almyros | Almyros |
Anavra | ||
Pteleos | ||
Sourpi | ||
Rigas Feraios | Feres | Velestino |
Karla | ||
Keramidi | ||
South Pelion (Notio Pilio) |
Argalasti | Argalasti |
Afetes | ||
Milies | ||
Sipiada | ||
Trikeri | ||
Volos | Volos | Volos |
Agria | ||
Aisonia | ||
Artemida | ||
Iolkos
| ||
Makrinitsa | ||
Nea Anchialos | ||
Nea Ionia | ||
Portaria | ||
Zagora-Mouresi | Zagora | Zagora |
Mouresi |
Provinces
- Province of Volos – Volos
- Province of Almyros – Almyros
- Province of Skopelos and Sporades – Skopelos
Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status in Greece.
History
Antiquity
Founding
According to
The Magnetes contributed to the
Nomenclature
The word magnet comes from the Greek magnetes lithos (μαγνήτης λίθος), which means 'stone of Magnesia'. The names for the elements magnesium and manganese are also derived from either this region or its colony Magnesia ad Sipylum,[4] which in addition to the magnetic magnetite (an iron ore), produces certain ores of magnesium and manganese that were known to alchemists.
Common era
Written accounts and remains from the 5th century CE document the appearance of Christianity in Magnesia. The minutes of the 3rd Ecumenical Conference are co-signed by the Bishop of Dimitriada Cleonikos. Five basilicas have been revealed in Nea Anhialos, showing that the area was undergoing a spiritual growth in that era. Magnesias has churches, monasteries and chapels, many of which are architectural masterpieces in the style that is called "Pelioritica".
In the area of Pelion are the monasteries of Saint Gerasimos in Makrinitsa, The Holy Archangels in Agios Georgios Nilias, Osios Lavredios in Agios Lavrendis, Saint John the Baptist in Siki and Saint Spiridon in Promiri. The most famous is the Flamouriou Monastery, built in the 16th century by Osios Simeon, the so-called "barefoot and loin-clothed", located near Veneto.
In the Almyros area and on the mountain of Othris two other monasteries were built, one inhabited by
Archaeological sites
Media
Transport
The prefecture was linked to the National railway (ΟΣΕ) in the late 19th century. In 1964, the GR-1 North-South superhighway was opened to traffic. The
The prefecture's roads include:
- Greek National Road 1/E75, SW, W, NW
- Greek National Road 6, Cen., NW
- Greek National Road 30, W, Cen.
Notable residents
- Giorgio de Chirico, (1888–1978)
- Greek actor
- Rigas Feraios, the first Greek revolutionary and poet, national hero
- Anthimos Gazis, (died 1828)
- Phaidon Gizikis(June 13, 1917 – July 17, 1999 in Athens), Greek politician
- Theophilos Hatzimihail, artist, (1871–1934)
- Lavrentis Machairitsas, composer, musician
- Alexandros Papadiamantis, (1851–1911)
- Vangelis Papathanassiou, composer, (1943-2022)
- Paraskevi Tsiamita, Gold Medalist in triple jump, 1999 World Championships in Athletics
- Olga Vasdeki, Bronze Medalist in triple jump, 1999 World Championships in Athletics
- Sofia Vembo, (1910–1978), musician, artist
See also
- List of traditional Greek place names
- List of settlements in the Magnesia regional unit
References
- ^ ANEM Tourist authority of Magnesia.
- ^ a b "ΦΕΚ A 87/2010, Kallikratis reform law text" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
- ^ Hesiod (probably), "Eoiae" (Greek: Ηοίαι) or "Catalogue of Women", c.650 BC.
- ^ languagehat (May 28, 2005). "MAGNET". languagehat.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
External links
- Nea Anchialos Municipality
- History of Magnesia
- Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. .