Markopoulo Mesogaias Μαρκόπουλο Μεσογαίας | |
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  Markopoulo Mesogaias | |
| Coordinates:37°53′N23°56′E / 37.883°N 23.933°E /37.883; 23.933 | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Attica |
| Regional unit | East Attica |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Kostas Allagiannis[1] (since 2019) |
| Area | |
• Municipality | 81.84 km2 (31.60 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 80 m (260 ft) |
| Population (2021)[2] | |
• Municipality | 21,722 |
| • Density | 265.4/km2 (687.4/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 190 03 |
| Area code | 22990 |
| Vehicle registration | Z |
| Patron saints | Saint Constantine andSaint Helena (21 May) |
| Website | www.markopoulo.gr |
Markopoulo Mesogaias (Greek:Μαρκόπουλο Μεσογαίας) is a town and a municipality inEast Attica, Greece. The municipality has an area of 81.844 km2 (31.600 sq mi).[3]
The municipality Markopoulo Mesogaias is situated in theMesogaia plain, in the eastern part of theAttica peninsula, and touches theAegean Sea coast in the east, where the port townPorto Rafti is located. The town Markopoulo is in the western part of the municipality, at about 80 m (260 ft) elevation. It is 5 km (3.1 mi) north ofKalyvia Thorikou, 6 km (3.7 mi) east ofKoropi and 21 km (13 mi) southeast ofAthens city centre.Greek National Road 89 (Gerakas - Koropi - Lavrio - Sounio) passes through Markopoulo.Athens International Airport is 4 km (2.5 mi) north of the town. Markopoulo had a railway station on theAthens–Lavrion Railway, which closed for passenger traffic in 1957.
Markopoulo along with Malakasa, Kakosalesi and Spata is one of the earliest villages formed byAlbanian settlers in medieval Attica and it had already appeared by 1456.[4] As such, Markopoulo has historically been anArvanite settlement.[5]
Markopoulo was the home to two venues of the2004 Summer Olympics: theMarkopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre and theMarkopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre.
Markopoulo's womenvolleyball team plays in theA1 Ethniki Women's Volleyball, the highest level national competition.
| Sport clubs based in Markopoulo | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Founded | Sports | Achievements |
| Marko F.C. | 1927 | Football | Presence inSuperleague 2 |
| Markopoulo Athletic Club - AOM | 1988 | Volleyball | Presence in A1 Ethniki women volleyball |
Historically, the economy of the region has been largely agricultural, with grapes and wine being the major components of the local economy until today. The Merenda quarry also allowed for a major economic expansion during the 1990s, however operations have ceased since 2014. Today, tourism is a major driver as is a very popular tourist destination in Attica thanks to the port settlement ofPorto Rafti .
Multiple companies, includingSkyGreece Airlines have had their corporate headquarters in Markopoulo Mesogaias due to the easy access to Athens International Airport.
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1981 | 9,388 |
| 1991 | 14,499 |
| 2001 | 15,608 |
| 2011 | 20,040 |
| 2021 | 21,722 |
Therefore a few years before the Ottomans captured Athens (1456) several Albanian villages had already spread across Attica (villages such as Kakosalesi, Markopoulo, Malakasa fall under this category).
Places adjacent to Markopoulo Mesogaias | ||||||||||||||||
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Administrative divisions of theAttica Region | ||
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| Regional unit ofCentral Athens |  | |
| Regional unit ofNorth Athens | ||
| Regional unit ofWest Athens | ||
| Regional unit ofSouth Athens | ||
| Regional unit ofPiraeus | ||
| Regional unit ofEast Attica | ||
| Regional unit ofWest Attica | ||
| Regional unit ofIslands | ||
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