 | This article includes a list ofgeneral references, butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations. Please help toimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(June 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Messenia Περιφερειακή ενότητα Μεσσηνίας | |
|---|---|
 Municipalities of Messenia | |
 Messenia within Greece | |
  Messenia | |
| Coordinates:37°10′N22°0′E / 37.167°N 22.000°E /37.167; 22.000 | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Peloponnese |
| Seat | Kalamata |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,991 km2 (1,155 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Total | 146,080 |
| • Density | 48.84/km2 (126.5/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 24x xx |
| Area code | 272x0, 276x0 |
| Vehicle registration | ΚΜ |
Messenia orMessinia (/məˈsiːniə/mə-SEE-nee-ə;Greek:Μεσσηνία[mesiˈni.a]) is aregional unit (perifereiaki enotita) in the southwestern part of thePeloponneseregion, inGreece. Until the implementation of theKallikratis plan on 1 January 2011,[2] Messenia was aprefecture (nomos) covering the same territory. The capital and largest city of Messenia isKalamata.
Messenia borders onElis to the north,Arcadia to the northeast, andLaconia to the southeast. TheIonian Sea lies to the west, and theGulf of Messinia to the south. The most important mountain ranges are theTaygetus in the east, theKyparissia mountains in the northwest and theLykodimo in the southwest. The main rivers are theNeda in the north and thePamisos in central Messenia.
Off the south coast of the southwesternmost point of Messenia lie theMessinian Oinousses islands. The largest of these areSapientza,Schiza andVenetiko. The small islandSphacteria closes off the bay ofPylos. All these islands are virtually uninhabited.
Climate may vary, in the lowlands, temperatures are a bit warmer thanAthens. Snow is not common during winter months except for the mountains, especially the Taygetus. Rain and clouds are common inland.
Before the 2010 reorganization, Messenia was anomos (prefecture) containing 29dimoi (municipalities) and 2koinotites (communities). Since 2010, Messenia has been aperifereiake enoteta (regional unit) containing only 6 municipalities, but with the same population, as it did not change area in the reorganization. Some 25 municipalities and communities were incorporated politically into the other 6 according to the table below, becoming municipal units.[2]
| Municipality | Municipal unit | 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 |
The prefecture of Messenia was previously subdivided into fourprovinces (Greek:επαρχίες, "eparchies") :
Like all provinces of Greece, they were abolished after the2006 local elections, in line with Law 2539/1997, as part of the "Kapodistrias reform". Some of the enlargedmunicipalities (demoi) created in 2011 have a territory similar to the former provinces.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1991[3] | 160,736 | — |
| 2001[3] | 166,566 | +3.6% |
| 2011[3] | 159,954 | −4.0% |
| 2021[1] | 146,080 | −8.7% |
The main cities and towns of Messenia are (ranked by 2021 census population):[1]
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 thePalace of Nestor, AncientMessene, and theVenetian castles ofPylos,Koroni,Methoni andKalamata, as well as to the beauty of the landscape. Another key factor for Messenia's economy isCosta Navarino a location on the border betweenPylos andTrifylia, 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 towood processing, furniture manufacturing, and metal construction. The Karelia tobacco company is based in Kalamata.
The main airport in Messenia isKalamata International Airport (KLX).
The main highways in Messenia are:
The main railways in Messenia (meter gauge) are:
While the name Messenia is not mentioned in the oldest work of European literature, theIliad, several of the towns present there are, as the 7 cities offered by Agamemnon to Achilles to persuade him to return to battle. 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 ashelots byancient Sparta.
In theMiddle 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. Koroni), Modon (Methoni) and Pylos. Messenia was a part of theByzantine Empire until 1205, and of thePrincipality of Achaea thereafter, while the ports of Coron and Modon came underVenetian control. Apart from Coron and Modon, the rest of Messenia was captured by the ByzantineDespotate of the Morea in 1430.
Much of Messenia fell into the hands of theOttoman Empire in 1460, a part of the area remained with theVenetian Republic until theSecond Ottoman–Venetian War (1499–1503). In 1534 a group of families, known as the 'Coroni', settled inPiana degli Albanesi in Sicily. They wereArvanites and Greeks fromKoroni.
During the 1680s, the whole of Messenia was regained by the Venetian Republic in theMorean War, and formed part of the "Kingdom of the Morea" untilrecovered by the Ottomans in 1715. TheMani Peninsula, a part of modern Messenia, remained autonomous from Turkish rule.
Messenia became part of independent Greece as a result of theGreek War of Independence (1821-1832). The famous navalBattle of Navarino took place near present Pylos in 1827, and was a decisive victory for Greece and its allies.
During theWorld War II several battles of theGreek Resistance against theNazi occupation forces and the collaborationistsecurity battalions took place in Messenia, includingBattle of Meligalas,Battle of Kalamata,Battle of Chora - Agorelitsa.
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 the2007 Greek forest fires.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Messinia".Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Media related toMessenia at Wikimedia Commons| Regional unit ofArcadia |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Regional unit ofArgolis | ||
| Regional unit ofCorinthia | ||
| Regional unit ofLaconia | ||
| Regional unit ofMessenia | ||
| ||