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Skoutari Σκουτάρι
Community
Skoutari
Coordinates: 36°40.1′N 22°30′E / 36.6683°N 22.500°E / 36.6683; 22.500
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Peloponnese
Regional unit	Laconia
Municipality	East Mani
Municipal unit	Gytheio
Area
• Community	11.667 km (4.505 sq mi)
Elevation	98 m (322 ft)
Population
• Community	327
• Density	28/km (73/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	232 00
Area code(s)	+30-2733
Vehicle registration	ΑΚ

Skoutari (Greek: Σκουτάρι) is a village and a community of the municipality of East Mani. Before the 2011 local government reform it was a part of the municipality of Gytheio, of which it was a municipal district. The community of Skoutari covers an area of 11.667 km. According to local tradition it was founded by refugees from the Fall of Constantinople in 1453.

History

Ancient Town

In the Mycenaean period of Greece, there was thought to be a town called Vorthona which is now submerged. In Ancient Greece, the town used to be called Asine. The town was under Spartan control. In 218 BC, the inhabitants of Asine defeated the army of Philip V of Macedon who was besieging the town. During the Roman period it belong to Sparta ever though most of the other towns in the area were part of the Union of Free Laconians.

Modern Town

The modern town of Skoutari was founded in 1453 AD by refugees from the namesake district of Constantinople who fled from the Ottomans during the Fall of Constantinople. While the rest of Greece fell to the Ottoman Turks, Mani remained free. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Skoutari became a haven for pirates which rivalled Oitylo. The Ottomans tried to conquer Mani in 1770 and they laid siege to the tower of the Grigorakis clan which was one of the most powerful in Mani and whose base was Skoutari and they blew it up with gunpowder after a three-day siege. The Ottoman army was later defeated in the Battle of Vromopigada in the plain outside Skoutari and repelled from Mani. The Ottomans tried to capture Skoutari again in 1815 but they were defeated and driven back. In 1832, Greece was recognized as an independent state and Skoutari became part of it. During World War II, Greece was invaded by the Germans and Italians who captured Skoutari.

Recent history

Now Skoutari is a peaceful sea town with around 150 residents during summer. Skoutari was struck by forest fire in July 2007.

Geography

Skoutari was built on a hill around 50 metres above the sea level. Skoutari is linked by a road linking Cape Tenaro and Gythio encircling the eastern half of the peninsula. Farmlands are in the valleys, the mountains dominate most of the area and forests covers the valley areas especially around the village, the rest of the land are made up of rocks, bushes and grasslands. The Skoutari Bay lies directly to the east and are surrounded by bluffs, rocks and treacherous landscapes.

Nearest places

• Kotronas, south
• Kalyvia, east

Administrative division

The community of Skoutari consists of two separate settlements:

• Parasyros (population 83 as of 2021)
• Skoutari (population 244)

Historical population

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. ^ "ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
3. "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
4. ^ "Απογραφές πληθυσμού 1991, 2001, 2011 σύμφωνα με την κωδικοποίηση της Απογραφής 2011" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. Retrieved 17 April 2024.

• Populated places in Laconia
• East Mani
• Populated places in the Mani Peninsula
• 1453 establishments in Europe
• Populated places established in the 1450s