Sigri

Sigri ( Greek Σίγρι ( n. Sg. ), Turkish Sığrı ) is a port on the west coast of the Greek island of Lesbos with the largest natural port on the island. The village emerged after the Sigri fortress was built in the second half of the 18th century. Together with the offshore island Megalonisi , Sigri forms a local community (Τοπική Κοινότητα) in the municipality of Eresos-Andissa of the municipality of Dytiki Lesvos .

location

Sigri

Sigri is located in the north of the Bay of Sigri (Όρμος του Σιγρίου) on a small peninsula in the far west of Lesbos. The uninhabited island of Megalonisi in the west protects the Bay of Sigri from the often strong winds. West of the village is the Sigri Fortress (Φρούριο Σιγριού Frourio Sigriou ), the ferry port is directly adjacent. The small fishing port is on the north side of the peninsula. The nearest larger towns are Andissa 11 km northwest and Eresos 8.5 km southwest.

history

Systematic archaeological excavations have not been undertaken in Sigri so far, and few surface finds prove a late Bronze Age settlement.

Due to its geographical location, Sigri developed into an important port for merchanting during the 18th and 19th centuries. The main product of western Lesvos was acorns for tannery in the markets of England and Italy. In order to protect the area from pirate incursions and to ensure a smooth movement of goods, the Ottoman admiral Suleiman Pasha let at the end of the rule of Osman III. build a fortress in Sigri in 1757. In a later period the construction of mosques, schools, baths of an aqueduct and some fountains followed. In 1789 the fortress had a crew of 100 and 200 cannons.

Former Turkish inmates from Sigri were the first residents to settle with their families near the fortress. Repressions against the local population prevented the establishment of a Christian community. By the end of the 19th century, a settlement developed around the fortress, in which until 1912 mainly members of the military units lived. The first Greeks settled in Sigri from the early 20th century. After the fortress was handed over on December 17, 1912 as a result of the First Balkan War , the Entente built a supply base during the First World War in the summer of 1915. Through the population exchange agreed in the Treaty of Lausanne , refugees from Tenedos and various places in Asia Minor, especially from Tuzla , settled.

The image of the settlement has changed significantly today due to the systematic demolition of traditional houses and new buildings. The mosque, rebuilt at the end of the 19th century, has been used as a church since 1928. The bathroom is in a bad state of preservation. Due to dilapidation, the Sigri Fortress had to be closed to visitors in April 2011.

Population development of Sigri

year	1920	1928	1940	1951	1961	1971	1981	1991	2001	2011
Sigri	636	735	662	698	566	359	399	368	402	333
Moni Ypsilou	25th	17th
Megalonisi			4th	4th	7th	5	2	-	0	0
total	661	752	666	702	573	364	401	368	402	333

Attractions

Sigri Fortress
Natural History Museum of the Petrified Forest of Lesbos
Petrified Forest Geopark
Ypsilou Monastery

Individual evidence

↑ National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΣΥΕ) according to 2001 census , p. 115 (PDF, 793 kB)
↑ ^a ^b Results of the 2011 census, Greek Statistical Office (ΕΛ.ΣΤΑΤ) ( Memento from June 27, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) (Excel document, 2.6 MB)
↑ Ourania Kouka: Settlement organization in the North and East Aegean during the Early Bronze Age (3rd millennium BC) . In: International Archeology . tape 58 . Marie Leidorf Verlag, Rahden 2002, ISBN 978-3-89646-330-2 , p. 141 (Dissertation: University of Heidelberg, 1996).
↑ ^a ^b Φρούριο Σιγριού, Greek Ministry of Culture and Tourism (Greek)
↑ Population of Sigri 1920–2001, Greek Statistical Office ELSTAT, Digital Library (Greek)
↑ Natural History Museum of the Petrified Forest on Lesbos
↑ Petrified Forest Parks
↑ Monastery of Ypsilou, Greek Ministry of Culture and Tourism (English)

[ESYE2001-1] National Statistical Service of Greece (ΕΣΥΕ) according to 2001 census , p. 115 (PDF, 793 kB)

[VZ2011-2] Results of the 2011 census, Greek Statistical Office (ΕΛ.ΣΤΑΤ) ( Memento from June 27, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) (Excel document, 2.6 MB)

[3] Ourania Kouka: Settlement organization in the North and East Aegean during the Early Bronze Age (3rd millennium BC) . In: International Archeology . tape 58 . Marie Leidorf Verlag, Rahden 2002, ISBN 978-3-89646-330-2 , p. 141 (Dissertation: University of Heidelberg, 1996).

[Frurio-4] Φρούριο Σιγριού, Greek Ministry of Culture and Tourism (Greek)

[5] Population of Sigri 1920–2001, Greek Statistical Office ELSTAT, Digital Library (Greek)

[6] Natural History Museum of the Petrified Forest on Lesbos

[7] Petrified Forest Parks

[8] Monastery of Ypsilou, Greek Ministry of Culture and Tourism (English)