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'''Aigani''' or Egani ({{lang-el|Αιγάνη}} ''{{IPA-el| |
'''Aigani''' or Egani ({{lang-el|Αιγάνη}} ''{{IPA-el|e.ˈɣa.ni|}}'') is a village and Local Community located on the northeastern border of the historical and Administrative Region of [[Thessaly]], [[Greece]]. Since the Greek local government reform of 2011<ref name=Kallikratis>[http://www.kedke.gr/uploads2010/FEKB129211082010_kallikratis.pdf Kallikratis law] Greece Ministry of Interior {{in lang|el}}</ref> the Local Community of Aigani has been located in the [[Kato Olympos|Kato Olympos Municipal Unit]] of the [[Tempi (municipality)|Tempi Municipality]] in the [[Larissa (regional unit)|Larissa Regional Unit]] of Thessaly. The Local Community of Aigani consists of five settlements and has a total population of 1,134 as of the 2011 census.<ref>[http://www.statistics.gr/documents/20181/1210503/resident_population_census2011rev.xls "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός"] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.</ref> The largest and eponymous settlement in the community is the mountain village of Aigani which has a population of 535. Below Aigani along the [[Motorway 1 (Greece)|national road]] are the two small settlements of [[Kato Aigani]] (lit. lower Aigani) and Papapouli which collectively have 101 inhabitants. The final two settlements in the Local Community are the seaside villages of [[Nea Mesangala]] and [[Kastri-Loutro]] which collectively have 498 inhabitants. |
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The village is located on the southeastern face of the foot-hills of [[Mt. Olympus|Mount Olympus]] at an altitude of approximately 290 meters and has likely been an active human settlement since at least the middle Byzantine period. Aigani overlooks the [[Pineios (Thessaly)|Pineios]] river delta and [[Thermaikos Gulf]] and is roughly 50 km from the cities of [[Larissa]] and [[Katerini]] and some 10 km from the seaside towns of [[Platamon]]a and [[Neoi Poroi]] as well as its beach communities of Kastri-Loutro and Nea Mesangala. |
The village is located on the southeastern face of the foot-hills of [[Mt. Olympus|Mount Olympus]] at an altitude of approximately 290 meters and has likely been an active human settlement since at least the middle Byzantine period. Aigani overlooks the [[Pineios (Thessaly)|Pineios]] river delta and [[Thermaikos Gulf]] and is roughly 50 km from the cities of [[Larissa]] and [[Katerini]] and some 10 km from the seaside towns of [[Platamon]]a and [[Neoi Poroi]] as well as its beach communities of Kastri-Loutro and Nea Mesangala. |
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Revision as of 01:19, 2 March 2020
Aigani
Αιγάνη | |
|---|---|
Settlement | |
 View of Aigani from the village theater. | |
  Aigani | |
| Coordinates: 39°57′10″N 22°37′40″E / 39.95278°N 22.62778°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Thessaly |
| Regional unit | Larissa |
| Municipality | Tempi |
| Municipal unit | Kato Olympos |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.3 km2 (0.1 sq mi) |
| • Community | 23 km2 (9 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 385 m (1,263 ft) |
| Lowest elevation | 250 m (820 ft) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Total | 535 |
| • Density | 1,800/km2 (4,600/sq mi) |
| • Community | 1,134 |
| • Community density | 49/km2 (130/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Vehicle registration | PI |
Aigani or Egani (Greek: Αιγάνη [e.ˈɣa.ni]) is a village and Local Community located on the northeastern border of the historical and Administrative Region of Thessaly, Greece. Since the Greek local government reform of 2011[2] the Local Community of Aigani has been located in the Kato Olympos Municipal Unit of the Tempi Municipality in the Larissa Regional Unit of Thessaly. The Local Community of Aigani consists of five settlements and has a total population of 1,134 as of the 2011 census.[3] The largest and eponymous settlement in the community is the mountain village of Aigani which has a population of 535. Below Aigani along the national road are the two small settlements of Kato Aigani (lit. lower Aigani) and Papapouli which collectively have 101 inhabitants. The final two settlements in the Local Community are the seaside villages of Nea Mesangala and Kastri-Loutro which collectively have 498 inhabitants.
The village is located on the southeastern face of the foot-hills of Mount Olympus at an altitude of approximately 290 meters and has likely been an active human settlement since at least the middle Byzantine period. Aigani overlooks the Pineios river delta and Thermaikos Gulf and is roughly 50 km from the cities of Larissa and Katerini and some 10 km from the seaside towns of Platamona and Neoi Poroi as well as its beach communities of Kastri-Loutro and Nea Mesangala.
The Local Community of Aigani has many natural attractions and combines the mountain with the sea. The beach communities of Aigani lie on the beaches formed by the Pineios river delta and are renowned in Greece for their wide, sandy dunes; their clean, shallow, and calm waters; and their numerous beach bars, taverns, and hotels.
As is typical for Greek villages, Aigani is centered on a town square or πλατεία (platía [pla.ˈti.a]) which has large sycamores and a fountain at its center. Surrounding the platia are houses, taverns, and shops. The platia is the location for many of Aigani's festivals and feasts throughout the year. Aigani has sports facilities in the form of basketball and tennis courts as well as a football pitch which is home to the village's local football club. An outdoor theater constructed in 2016[4] hosts concerts and plays throughout the summer and serves as a venue for many local and regional summer festivals.
Aigani takes its name from the ancient Greek root αἴξ (aíks [eks]) or αἶγα (aíga [ˈe.ɣa]) meaning goat. The name could be roughly translated as "the place of goats." Goat and sheep are raised by many in the village and their meat can be found in the village's taverns alongside traditionally made loukaniko, wine, and tsipouro for which the village is known.
Like most Greek villages, Aigani has several small and lovely churches the largest which is the church of the Birth of the Virgin Mary which was once a monastery. At the village's highest peak is found the church of the Prophet Elias with sweeping views of the valley below, the Olympian hills to the north, and Mount Kissavos to the south. One of the most historically important places in Aigani is the ancient church of Saint Athanasios which lies in a valley just north of the village. The church was built in the 14th century at the latest and is the oldest known church in all of Thessaly. Unfortunately the church is not well preserved and many of the ancient icons and paintings have disappeared or been damaged.
A small mountain road towards the top of Aigani leads south through the mountains towards a monastery devoted to Nicodemus the Agiorite and continues on to the nearby villages of Krania and Rapsani.
Until the end of the Balkan Wars in the year 1913 the northern border of Thessaly marked the end of free Greece. Aigani was therefore the final settlement before entering Ottoman occupied Greece and was known as a safe haven by those fleeing Ottoman persecution. A cement pillar marking this border can still be found on Aigani's highest hill of Prophet Elias.
See also
References
- ^ "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
- ^ Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (in Greek)
- ^ "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
- ^ "Eνα θέατρο στολίδι στην Αιγάνη - kosmoslarissa". www.kosmoslarissa.gr. Retrieved 2019-07-17.