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Areopolis Αρεόπολη
Community
Areopoli
Areopolis
Coordinates: 36°39.95′N 22°22.90′E / 36.66583°N 22.38167°E / 36.66583; 22.38167
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Peloponnese
Regional unit	Laconia
Municipality	East Mani
Municipal unit	Oitylo
Elevation	255 m (837 ft)
Population
• Community	927
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	230 62
Area code(s)	27330
Vehicle registration	ΑΚ
Website	www.dimosoitilou.gr/gr/dd/areopoli/ar.htm

Areopoli (Greek: Αρεόπολη; before 1912 Τσίμοβα, Tsimova) is a town on the Mani Peninsula, Laconia, Greece.

The word Areopoli, which means "city of Ares", the ancient Greek god of war, became the official name in 1912. It was the seat of Oitylo municipality. The Greek War of Independence was started at Areopoli on March 17, 1821 by Petros Pierrakos, also known as Petros Mavromichalis, the last bey of Mani. Now Areopoli has grown into a flourishing town. Its tower houses, constructed with field stones, are distinct from the traditional blue and white buildings that characterize many Greek villages.

Areopoli is situated near the west coast of the Mani Peninsula, 1.5 km from its port Limeni. It is 20 km southwest of Gytheio. There is lively open air market in the main square each Saturday, with a lot of local producers present.

History

On 17 March 1821, the first flag of the Greek War of Independence was raised in Taxiarchon Square. In June 1826, Ibrahim Pasha landed near Areopoli but was repulsed after a battle at Dyros. By 1829, Areopoli was home to 290 families. Throughout the 19th century and into the mid-20th century, the population of Areopoli fluctuated between 1,100 and 2,000 inhabitants. The settlement expanded eastward, along the main road where a market was established. Following the war, both population and commercial activity declined, yet Areopoli remained the largest settlement in the Mani Peninsula.

Historical population

Notable people

• Koulis Alepis (1903-1986), poet
• Dimitrios Kalapothakis, journalist
• Stylianos Pierrakos (Stylianos Mavromichalis) (1902–1981), former Prime Minister of Greece
• Georgios Polymenakos, military officer
• Gregorios Skalkeas (1926-2018), Chancellor of the University of Central Greece

See also

• List of settlements in Laconia

References

1. "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.
2. EETAA local government changes
3. ^ Σαΐτας, Γιάννης (1992). Μάνη. Αθήνα: Μέλισσα. p. 108.
4. Σαΐτας, Γιάννης (1992). Μάνη. Αθήνα: Μέλισσα. p. 110.

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