Samarina Σαμαρίνα | |
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.jpg) Panoramic view | |
 Location within the regional unit | |
  Samarina | |
| Coordinates:40°6′N21°4′E / 40.100°N 21.067°E /40.100; 21.067 | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Western Macedonia |
| Regional unit | Grevena |
| Municipality | Grevena |
| Area | |
| • Municipal unit | 97.245 km2 (37.547 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,450 m (4,760 ft) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
| • Municipal unit | 253 |
| • Municipal unit density | 2.60/km2 (6.74/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 511 00 |
| Area code | 24620 |
Samarina (Greek:Σαμαρίνα,Aromanian:Samarina, Xamarina, San Marina) is a village and a formermunicipality inGrevena regional unit,West Macedonia,Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipalityGrevena, of which it is a municipal unit.[2] Its population primarily consists ofAromanians (Vlachs).[3][4][5] The population was 253 people as of 2021.[1] It attracts many tourists due to its scenic location and beautiful pine and beech forests. The municipal unit has an area of 97.245 km2 (37½ sq. mi.).[6]
Samarina is located on an eastern spur of MountSmolikas, the highest of thePindus range and the second-highest mountain in all of Greece. At an altitude of 1,380–1,515 meters (4,528–4,970 ft), it is considered one of the highest villages in Greece and also one of the highest in theBalkans; its height puts it among soaring settlements such as:Aetomilitsa(Densko) andSeli(Selia).
Samarina has a warm-summerhumid continental climate (Köppen climate classification:Dfb) using the 0 °C (32 °F) isotherm, or a temperateoceanic climate (Köppen climate classification:Cfb) using the −3 °C (27 °F) isotherm for the coldest month. Samarina experiences cold winters with high precipitation and warm, drier summers.
| Climate data for Samarina | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 0.52 (32.94) | 3.03 (37.45) | 7.13 (44.83) | 11.08 (51.94) | 16.84 (62.31) | 21.14 (70.05) | 25.05 (77.09) | 25.10 (77.18) | 21.82 (71.28) | 15.16 (59.29) | 7.84 (46.11) | 2.81 (37.06) | 13.13 (55.63) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −2.66 (27.21) | −0.97 (30.25) | 2.11 (35.80) | 7.01 (44.62) | 12.07 (53.73) | 16.37 (61.47) | 19.51 (67.12) | 19.43 (66.97) | 14.62 (58.32) | 9.22 (48.60) | 3.24 (37.83) | 0.24 (32.43) | 8.35 (47.03) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −5.30 (22.46) | −3.30 (26.06) | −1.30 (29.66) | 1.99 (35.58) | 4.31 (39.76) | 8.29 (46.92) | 10.78 (51.40) | 10.52 (50.94) | 6.01 (42.82) | 2.12 (35.82) | −0.39 (31.30) | −3.31 (26.04) | 2.53 (36.56) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 267.55 (10.53) | 300.39 (11.83) | 217.18 (8.55) | 174.16 (6.86) | 123.98 (4.88) | 77.84 (3.06) | 69.90 (2.75) | 70.89 (2.79) | 77.1 (3.04) | 164.54 (6.48) | 283.58 (11.16) | 365.24 (14.38) | 2,192.35 (86.31) |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 99.19 | 125.85 | 141.21 | 164.69 | 212.79 | 275.24 | 288.62 | 252.93 | 189.78 | 150.20 | 101.84 | 78.98 | 2,081.32 |
| Source: Hellenic National Meteorological Service[7] | |||||||||||||
This village in the Pindos mountains with itsAromanian population enjoyed successful periods of exceptional economic growth and cultural development. On a map it was shown under the name Santa Marina. Its inhabitants tended sheep and goats and wove a woolen fabric calledflokati ('nflucati, velentza), which they sold at the region's trade fairs. The people of Samarina were also involved in trade, and as muleteers they pioneered long caravans that traveled all over the Balkans. The level of culture reached by this town (it had churches, schools and a library) is evident in the excellence of its religious painting. Samarina flourished at the end of the 18th century and during the 19th. The economic success was based on a group of activities, but mostly in the cattle-breeding, the small industries, the trade and the arts.
An important account of the life of the Aromanian population of Samarina at the beginning of the 20th century is provided in a study by A.J.B. Wace and M.S. Thompson entitledNomads of the Balkans: an account of life and customs among the Vlachs of Northern Pindus, London 1914.
The Greek folklore song "Children of Samarina" (Greek: Παιδιά απ'την Σαμαρίνα) is associated with it. It refers to local volunteers who fought and lost their lives during theGreek War of Independence against the Turks in 1821. In particular, it refers to theMessolonghi events and the heroic "Exodus of its Guards". During the exit from Messolonghi, the Macedonian Guard consisting of local volunteers from Samarina, was the vanguard of the besieged, resulting in the most casualties from the Ottomans. Samarina was also where the revolutionaryMakedonomachos Arkoudas came from.
Samarina was the birthplace ofAlcibiades Diamandi andNicolaos Matussis, leaders of theRoman Legion, who promoted a local autonomous Aromanian nationalist canton duringWorld War II called in some cases thePrincipality of Pindus (this name is mainly used forthe events of 1917 in Samarina).
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