Syvota Σύβοτα | |
|---|---|
 View of Syvota. | |
 Location within the regional unit | |
  Syvota | |
| Coordinates:39°24′N20°15′E / 39.400°N 20.250°E /39.400; 20.250 | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Epirus |
| Regional unit | Thesprotia |
| Municipality | Igoumenitsa |
| Area | |
| • Municipal unit | 72.4 km2 (28.0 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
| • Municipal unit | 2,693 |
| • Municipal unit density | 37.2/km2 (96.3/sq mi) |
| • Community | 1,089 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Vehicle registration | ΗΝ |
Syvota (Greek:Σύβοτα,pronounced[ˈsivota], before 1927: Βώλια -Volia,[2] 1927-1940: Μούρτος -Mourtos)[3] is a village and a former municipality inThesprotia,Epirus,Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipalityIgoumenitsa, of which it is a municipal unit.[4] The municipal unit has an area of 72.439 km2.[5] The population in 2021 was 1,089 for the village, and 2,693 for the municipal unit. The municipal unit has four main settlements: Syvota, Argyrotopos, Faskomilia, and Plataria. The seat of the municipality was inPlataria.
The earliest recorded inhabitants of the region are theThesprotians, aGreek tribe ofEpirus. Inantiquity, the location was calledSybota and was the site of theBattle of Sybota. During the Middle Ages, Syvota, like the rest of Epirus, was part of theByzantine Empire and theDespotate of Epirus, theRepublic of Venice and in the 15th century it became part of theOttoman Empire. The first local Muslims of Syvota are recorded in Arvenitsa and Nista as early as 1613.[6]
It became part ofGreece in 1913, following theBalkan Wars, and was previously used as an Ottoman naval base during theGreek War of Independence.[7]
Like all other MuslimCham Albanian communities, the population was affected by the annexation of the region by Greece and many left the area. In 1913, the population of Arvenitsa (Albanian:Arvenicë[8]) dropped from 439 to 389, Mourtos (Albanian:Murto orVola[8]) from 970 to 659 and Nista (Albanian:Nistë[8]) from 511 to 358.[9] The Chams of Plataria (Albanian:Pllatare[8]) were designated by Greece for expulsion to Turkey in 1925. Albania protested against the plan in theLeague of Nations.[10] A further wave of emigration towards Turkey is documented in Mourtos in 1932 and Arvenitsa (renamed toArgyrotopos in 1928[11]) in 1934.[12] Greece settled Greek Orthodox refugees from Turkey in Mourtos after 1922, following thePopulation exchange between Greece and Turkey. By 1926, there were 30 refugee families from Turkey in Arvenitsa, 90 in Nista, 5 in Plataria, 150 in Mourtos.[13] Albanian was taught again for Albanian children in the region in Nista (renamed toFaskomilia in 1928) as of 1936.[14]
The Chams of Syvota lived in the village until 1944, when they were expelled for collaborating with the Axis Powers.[15] During the short term Italian occupation in Syvota (early November 1940) the village was burnt by Cham Albanian bands and Italian troops.[16]
In Polyneri (Albanian:Kuç,[8] renamed toPolyneri in 1955), a tiny Muslim Cham community resides, and until recently, the last imam in Epirus lived in this village. The mosque was blown up by a Christian villager during theRegime of the Colonels.[17]
Today, Syvota town is a well-developed resort, owing largely to the numerous pristine beaches with clear waters located on several islets immediately offshore.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1895[18] | 1,066 | — |
| 1913[19] | 970 | −9.0% |
| 1928[20] | 679 | −30.0% |
| 1940[21] | 883 | +30.0% |
| 1951[20] | 241 | −72.7% |
| 1961[20] | 684 | +183.8% |
| 1971[20] | 560 | −18.1% |
| 1981[20] | 575 | +2.7% |
| 1991[22] | 756 | +31.5% |
| 2001[5] | 887 | +17.3% |
| 2011[23] | 875 | −1.4% |
| 2021[1] | 1,089 | +24.5% |
