Nea Smyrni (Greek: Νέα Σμύρνη, Néa Smýrni, "New Smyrna") is a municipality and a town in South Athens, Greece. At the 2021 census, it had 72,853 inhabitants.[2] It was named after the former Greek city Smyrna (today's İzmir in Turkey), whence many refugees arrived and settled in the Nea Smyrni area following the 1922 catastrophe of Asia Minor and the Burning of Smyrna which left big parts of the city's christian population massacred by Turkish mobs and military, during the Greco-Turkish war.
Nea Smyrni
Νέα Σμύρνη | |
|---|---|
 The Nea Smyrni Estia Hall | |
  Nea Smyrni Location within the region  | |
| Coordinates: 37°57′N 23°43′E / 37.950°N 23.717°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Attica |
| Regional unit | South Athens |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Georgios Koutelakis[1] (since 2023) |
| Area | |
| • Municipality | 3.524 km2 (1.361 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 50 m (160 ft) |
| Population (2021)[2] | |
| • Municipality | 72,853 |
| • Density | 21,000/km2 (54,000/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 171 xx |
| Area code(s) | 210 |
| Vehicle registration | Z |
| Website | http://www.neasmyrni.gr/ |
History
editAlthough there are few details about the ancient history of the area, in 2012, during works, ancient graves were unearthed on the side of Agias Sofias Street. The specific manner of burial is known as 'burial by the roadside'. These ancient findings have already been unveiled by public authorities and are able to be visited.
Nea Smyrni began to be inhabited at the beginning of the 20th century. Up until that point, it had not been inhabited in a systematic manner. At the time, it was intersected by an avenue which connected Athens and Phalerum, the ancient port of the city.
After the Asia Minor Disaster, the government decided to construct a settlement in the area for the refugees from Smyrna. Construction of this settlement began in 1926. In 1928, the population was just 210. By 1933, the area had become a true town with a population of 6,500. By 1940, there were 15,000 inhabitants. In 1944, with the end of the war, Nea Smyrni became a municipality.
Nea Smyrni was the site of multiple clashes between British Army forces and ELAS resistance forces during the so-called Dekemvriana of 1944.
After the civil war, Nea Smyrni was incorporated into Athens.
Geography
editNea Smyrni is located about 4 km (2 mi) southwest of central Athens. The municipality has an area of 3.524 km2.[3] Its built-up area is continuous with those of central Athens and the neighboring suburbs. It is the second-most densely populated municipality in Greece, following Kallithea, and one of the most densely populated cities in the world. The main thoroughfare is Andrea Syngrou Avenue, which forms the northwestern border of the municipality and connects it with central Athens and the coast.
Alsos Neas Smyrnis
editAlsos Neas Smyrnis (Alsos meaning 'grove' or 'small wood') has an area of fifty acres and is bounded by Eleftheriou Venizelou, Ephesou, Kordeliou and Patriarchou Ioakeim III Avenues. The Alsos consists mainly (20%) of woodland trees (Aleppo pine, stone pine, cypress etc.) and ornamental trees (20%). In addition, most of this green space is covered in shrubs (cranberry, velvetleaf, myoporum and pyracantha). Today, conifers make up about 60% of the plant capacity. The plant material of the Alsos consists mainly of monoculture and introduced plants planted in very high density. Two fountains complete the architectural makeup of the area. The whole park is surrounded by iron railings.[4]
Climate
editNea Smyrni, owing to the proximity to the Athens Riviera, has a hot semi-arid climate. It has mild winters and hot summers, with particularly warm summer nights. The driest months are July and August while the rainiest period is during the fall. Nea Smyrni falls in 10b hardiness zone. [5]
| Climate data for Nea Smyrni 51 m a.s.l. | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 22.7 (72.9) |
24.1 (75.4) |
25.7 (78.3) |
31.3 (88.3) |
37.4 (99.3) |
40.8 (105.4) |
42.2 (108.0) |
42.9 (109.2) |
37.1 (98.8) |
32.4 (90.3) |
27.9 (82.2) |
22.9 (73.2) |
42.9 (109.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 14.7 (58.5) |
16.1 (61.0) |
18.1 (64.6) |
22.2 (72.0) |
26.4 (79.5) |
31.2 (88.2) |
34.0 (93.2) |
33.9 (93.0) |
29.6 (85.3) |
24.6 (76.3) |
20.4 (68.7) |
16.2 (61.2) |
24.0 (75.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 11.8 (53.2) |
13.0 (55.4) |
14.7 (58.5) |
18.4 (65.1) |
22.5 (72.5) |
27.1 (80.8) |
30.2 (86.4) |
30.1 (86.2) |
26.0 (78.8) |
21.3 (70.3) |
17.3 (63.1) |
13.3 (55.9) |
20.5 (68.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 8.9 (48.0) |
9.9 (49.8) |
11.4 (52.5) |
14.6 (58.3) |
18.6 (65.5) |
23.1 (73.6) |
26.3 (79.3) |
26.3 (79.3) |
22.4 (72.3) |
17.9 (64.2) |
14.3 (57.7) |
10.5 (50.9) |
17.0 (62.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −0.4 (31.3) |
0.2 (32.4) |
2.0 (35.6) |
5.8 (42.4) |
12.9 (55.2) |
16.0 (60.8) |
19.8 (67.6) |
19.8 (67.6) |
15.8 (60.4) |
12.4 (54.3) |
7.2 (45.0) |
1.4 (34.5) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 54.0 (2.13) |
38.2 (1.50) |
29.4 (1.16) |
18.5 (0.73) |
14.5 (0.57) |
24.0 (0.94) |
7.0 (0.28) |
6.1 (0.24) |
26.0 (1.02) |
34.5 (1.36) |
64.3 (2.53) |
65.4 (2.57) |
381.9 (15.03) |
| Source 1: National Observatory of Athens Monthly Bulletins (Feb 2012 - Aug 2024) [6] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Nea Smyrni N.O.A station [7] and World Meteorological Organization[8] | |||||||||||||
Sporting teams
editThe sport clubs based in Nea Smyrni are Panionios G.S.S., multisport club founded in Smyrna, in 1890 and AONS Milon, multisport club founded in 1928.
| Sport clubs based in Nea Smyrni | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Founded | Sports | Achievements |
| Panionios | 1890 | Football, Basketball, Water Polo, Track and Field and other sports | Panhellenic titles in football, basketball, basketball women and other honours. |
| AONS Milon | 1928 | Basketball, Volleyball and other sports | Panhellenic titles in volleyball, earlier presence in A1 Ethniki basketball |
Sites of interest
edit- Nea Smyrni Stadium, built in 1939, renovated in 1988. Panionios FC plays in the stadium.
- Nea Smyrni Indoor Hall, holds up to 1,832 persons.
- Nea Smyrni Square (Greek: Πλατεία Νέας Σμύρνης Platía Néas Smýrnis).
- Nea Smyrni Park, a 5-hectare centrally located park with about 40% trees.[9]
- Estia Nea Smyrni, a cultural association.
Neighbourhoods
edit- Faros
- Agia Fotini
- Alsos
- Kendro (Center)
- Chrisaki
- Agia Paraskevi
- Mitilineika
- Loutra
- Ano Nea Smyrni (Upper Nea Smyrni)
Churches
edit
- Agia Fotini
- Agia Paraskevi
- Agioi Anargiroi
- Agios Charalambos
- Agios Andreas
- Agioi Theodoroi (Greek Old Calendarists)
- Taxiarches (cemetery church)
Nea Smyrni is the seat of a similarly-titled metropolitan diocese. The current Metropolitan bishop of Nea Smyrni is Simeon Koutsas.
Notable people
edit- Polina, singer
- Constantine Psachos, musician
- Makis Angelopoulos, businessman
Twin towns – sister cities
edit
Historical population
edit| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1928 | 210 |
| 1933 | 6,500 |
| 1940 | 15,114 |
| 1951 | 22,074 |
| 1961 | 32,865 |
| 1971 | 42,512 |
| 1981 | 67,408 |
| 1991 | 69,749 |
| 2001 | 73,986 |
| 2011 | 73,076 |
| 2021 | 72,853 |
See also
editReferences
edit
- ^ Municipality of Nea Smyrni, Municipal elections – October 2023, Ministry of Interior
- ^ a b "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
- ^ "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
- ^ "Attiko-Prasino - SLOTXO และเกมสล็อต". Retrieved 25 April 2023.
- ^ "Meteo.gr - Προγνώσεις καιρού για όλη την Ελλάδα".
- ^ "Meteo.gr - Προγνώσεις καιρού για όλη την Ελλάδα".
- ^ "Latest Conditions in Nea Smyrni, Athens".
- ^ "World Meteorological Organization". Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "ΑΤΤΙΚΟ ΠΡΑΣΙΝΟ > Χώροι Πρασίνου > Νέα Σμύρνη > Άλσος Νέας Σμύρνης > Γενική Παρουσίαση". attiko-prasino.gr.