Thesprotia Περιφερειακή ενότητα Θεσπρωτίας | |
|---|---|
 Municipalities of Thesprotia | |
 Thesprotia within Greece | |
  Thesprotia | |
| Coordinates:39°35′N20°20′E / 39.583°N 20.333°E /39.583; 20.333 | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Epirus |
| Seat | Igoumenitsa |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,515 km2 (585 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Total | 40,804 |
| • Density | 26.93/km2 (69.76/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 46x xx |
| Area code | 266x0 |
| Vehicle registration | ΗΝ |
| Website | www |
Thesprotia (/θɛsˈproʊʃə/;Greek:Θεσπρωτία,pronounced[θesproˈtia]) is one of theregional units of Greece. It is part of theEpirus region. Its capital and largest town isIgoumenitsa. Thesprotia is named after theThesprotians, an ancient Greek tribe that inhabited the region in antiquity.
Thesprotia was part of theproto-Greek region in thelate Bronze Age in which Greek archaic toponyms are densely found.[2][3]
In antiquity, the territory of modern Thesprotia was inhabited by the ancient Greek tribe ofThesprotians and was bordered by the neighboring regions of Molossia to the north and Chaonia to the east. Thesprotia is mentioned at theEpic Cycle as a place whereOdysseus sailed and married the local queenCallidice of Thesprotia.[4] Thesprotia became part of theEpirote League before it was annexed byRome where it became part of theRoman province of Epirus. After the fragmentation of the Roman Empire into East and West, it was part of theEastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire until the late Middle Ages, except for a period of Bulgarian rule in the 9th-11th centuries. In c. 1430 it fell to the Ottomans.
From the 8th-9th until the 15th century, the region was calledVagenetia, a name deriving from theSlavic tribe of theBaiounitai, who appear in the early 7th century during the Slavic invasions of the Balkans.[5][6] In the late Ottoman period, the area was known asChameria, and at 1910 most of the territory of the modern prefecture of Thesprotia was known asSancak of Resadiye orÇamlık Sancak orIgoumenitsa Sancak.[7][8]
Thesprotia remained under Ottoman rule until 1913, when it was ceded toGreece after the Ottoman defeat in theFirst Balkan War. As part of Greece the province ofMargariti became part ofPreveza prefecture and the provinces ofParamythia andFiliates were part ofIoannina prefecture.[9] The area above river Acheron continued to be referred to asTsamouria in official Greek government communication until 1937,[10] when the separate prefecture of Thesprotia was established.[11][12] In 1923, the population of Thesprotia was 60,705,[13] In 1920, there were 20,319 MuslimAlbanians in Thesprotia. After theirexpulsion on the orders ofNapoleon Zervas at the end ofWorld War II, Muslim Albanians numbered to only 77 individuals in the 1951 census.[14]
Thesprotia bordersAlbania to the north, the regional unit ofIoannina to the east andPreveza to the south. TheIonian Sea lies to the west. Much of the regional unit is mountainous. Most farmland is located in the valleys in the central, southern and the western part. Two of Thesprotia's rivers are legendary: theThyamis and theAcheron of Greek mythology, lined with reedbeds and plane trees.[15]
Thesprotia's coastal climate is Mediterranean. Cold winters of a semi-alpine climate dominate the eastern part and higher elevations.[15]
The regional unit Thesprotia is subdivided into three municipalities (numbered as in the map in the infobox):[16]
Thesprotia was established as aprefecture in 1937 (Greek:Νομός Θεσπρωτίας). As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the regional unit Thesprotia was created out of the former prefecture Thesprotia. The prefecture had the same territory as the present regional unit. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.[16]
| New municipality | Old municipalities | Seat |
|---|---|---|
| Filiates | Filiates | Filiates |
| Sagiada | ||
| Igoumenitsa | Igoumenitsa | Igoumenitsa |
| Margariti | ||
| Parapotamos | ||
| Perdika | ||
| Syvota | ||
| Souli | Souli | Paramythia |
| Acherontas | ||
| Paramythia |
Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status inGreece.
Thesprotia is traditionally one of the poorest and most remote regional units ofGreece. The main economic activities are agriculture and tourism, with agriculture as historically the main economic activity.[17]
The main tourist attractions of the region are its numerous beaches, particularly the resort ofSyvota. Other tourist attractions are the remains of ancient cities such asGitani.
In 1996, construction began on theA2 motorway, officially calledEgnatia Odos. The road, which links theIonian coast atIgoumenitsa toThessaloniki and further toAlexandroupoli the Greek Turkish borders, was opened to traffic in 2009. Other important roads in Thesprotia include theGreek National Road 6 (Igoumenitsa -Ioannina -Larissa) andGreek National Road 18 (Filiates -Paramythia -Preveza).
In 2009, construction began for a new highway that will connectIgoumenitsa andSaranda, passing bySagiada andKonispol.
The port of Igoumenitsa serves ferry routes to the islands of Corfu and Paxoi (includes Antipaxoi), as well as Italy.
Pre Greek area: ... are of Greek origin and they often show archaic Greek features - toponyms : Epeiros, Thesprotia, Kammania
Pre Greek area:.. Θεσπρώτια, the tribal name Θεσ-πρωτοί, and the anthroponym Θεσπρωτός are archaic compouncd words
In der osmanische Territorialverwaltung wurde das Wor vor dem 20. Jahrundert nicht verwendet", "In den europaischen Reiseberichten erscheint die Cameri sie dem Begin des 19. Jahrunderst im Zusammenhang mit dem Busuchen westlicher Gasandter bei Tepedelenli Ali Pasha
| Regional unit ofArta |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Regional unit ofIoannina | ||
| Regional unit ofPreveza | ||
| Regional unit ofThesprotia | ||
| ||