Agios Nikolaos (Chalkidiki)
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Municipality of Agios Nikolaos Δημοτική Κοινότητα Αγίου Νικολάου (΄Αγιος Νικόλαος) |
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| Basic data | |||
| Country |
 Greece
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| region | Central Macedonia | ||
| Regional district | Chalkidiki | ||
| local community | Sithonia | ||
| Parish | Sithonia | ||
| Geographic coordinates | 40 ° 15 ′ N , 23 ° 42 ′ E | ||
| Height above d. M. |
0 m coast |
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| surface | 90.621 | ||
| Residents | 1895 (2011) | ||
| LAU-1 code no. | 13050102 | ||
| Local division | 15th | ||
Agios Nikolaos ( Greek ΄Αγιος Νικόλαος , ( m. Sg. )) Is a small Greek town about 120 kilometers southeast of Thessaloniki on the Chalkidiki peninsula in the Central Macedonia region . Agios Nikolaos, together with its entire area, forms a municipality in the municipality (Dimos) Sithonia , which was expanded in 2011 to include the neighboring municipality of Toroni .
geography
The location of Agios Nikolaos can best be described with the colloquial formulation: "middle finger ( Sithonia ), right approach." Agios Nikolaos is more precisely located on the northeastern approach area of the Sithonia peninsula at its narrowest east-west diameter (isthmus of Sithonia ).
The village of Agios Nikolaos has a minimal distance to the sea ( Singitischer Gulf , Pyrgos beach) of approx. 1.5 km. The territory of the village is quite extensive. In the northeast it borders on the village of Pyrgadikia at Salonikiou beach (approx. 8 km from Agios Nikolaos). In the north, Agios Nikolaos borders the neighborhood Metangitsi . The village of Nikiti is neighboring to the west . The southern extension of Agios Nikolaos extends to the ArmenistisIts beach, which is part of the village of Sarti (approx. 18-20 km from Agios Nikolaos). The coastline is approx. 30 km without taking the islands into account.
The landscape of Agios Nikolaos is remarkably diverse. In the plains in the south and south-west of the village, agriculture of small areas dominates, with olive trees being the dominant crop. Forests are missing. In the further course to the south and southeast, the mountain range of the Itamos (mountains) rises , which extends from north to south along the longitudinal axis of Sithonia. This mountain range is almost completely covered by forest. In the north-westerly direction (Salonikiou Beach), significant parts of the area are also covered by forest. Plains or low hills are used for agriculture in the entire village area. Since the 1980s, hotels, guesthouses and houses have been built, especially on the beaches and stretches of coast. The highest point of Agios Nikolaos is the mountain Karvounas (altitude 546 m) in the southwest in ( Vourvourvou ).
Some settlements belong to Agios Nikolaos or to the locality. These are:
- Vourvourou - 10 km southeast
- Salonikiou Beach - 8 km northeast
- Ormos Panagias - 4 km east-southeast, serves as the port of Agios Nikolaos
administration
Agios Nikolaos was an independent municipality (Kinotita) in the prefecture of Chalkidiki. As part of the local government reform Schedio Kapodistrias 1997, Agios Nikolaos was combined with the neighboring communities Nikiti , Neos Marmaras and Metangitsi to form the municipality (municipality, gr. Δημος) Sithonia , which in turn became a municipality of the expanded municipality of Sithonia in 2010.
population
Agios Nikolaos has about 1883 inhabitants (only the village itself). If you include the other settlements in the area of Agios Nikolaos (Vourvourou, Salonikiou Beach and Ormos Panagias) the population is 2048. Almost all of the inhabitants are Greek. During the rise of tourism, some non-Greeks also settled in Agios Nikolaos permanently, for example Germans, Austrians and Dutch. During the holiday season or holiday season, the number of inhabitants can rise to 10,000.
economy
Traditionally, the inhabitants of Agios Nikolaos had two economic pillars: agriculture and fishing . Agriculture dealt mainly with the cultivation and use of olive trees (and olive oil production ), grain cultivation and viticulture . The fishing was mainly limited to the surrounding waters of Singitikos Bay and the adjacent waters of the Aegean Sea .
Since the 1980s, tourism has replaced fishing and agriculture as the main economic activity. The residents of Agios Nikolaos have built hotels, pensions and holiday apartments or sold land for the purpose of tourist use. As a result of these developments, the standard of living has increased significantly.
history
The history of the village dates back to the 16th century. Other sources (villagers) give the 14th century as the time when the village was founded. However, evidence for this in literature and / or written records is not generally available. According to tradition among the villagers, Agios Nikolaos was initially located directly on the sea, but was moved inland due to pirate attacks. There is no reliable historical evidence for this tradition, the remote location of many of the old villages of the Chalkidiki (cf. position of Sykia , Nikiti and their original village center, Ormylia , Kassandria , Stagira ) suggests such an event. A sign of the possible former position of the village are the remains of a probably Byzantine watchtower on Pyrgos beach (Greek Πύργος or Pyrgos = the tower).
The ancient city of Singos (which gave its name to the Singite Gulf) was located on the territory of Agios Nikolaos. The most likely location of the ancient city is on the Livari Peninsula in Vourvourou, where there is an ancient rampart with large unmolified stones (Megas Teichos). Individual reports also indicate the remains of ancient port facilities at this position. According to the ancient historian Michael Zahrnt , the most likely position of Singos is the Bay of Pyrgos or the section Livrochio to Pyrgos. However, there are no systematic archaeological studies that can confirm or refute this position through excavations. There are currently no significant remains of ancient buildings.
Infrastructure
Public facilities
Agios Nikolaos has the following public facilities:
- Police station
- Health center (gr. Κεντρο Υγειας ΕΣΥ); corresponds to a polyclinic or mini-hospital with 3 beds
- Pharmacies
- post Office
- ATM
- Gymnasium (Greek comprehensive secondary school)
- primary school
Agios Nikolaos does not have a bank . The nearest bank is in Nikiti (7 km).
traffic
Agios Nikolaos is located on the road that leads from Nikiti to Sarti on the east side of Sithonia, as well as on the road that circles the north coast of Singitikos Bay in a semicircle (to Pyrgadikia). All roads are paved.
There is no railway connection (Chalkidiki has no railway at all). The nearest train station is Thessaloniki Central Station.
Ormos Panagias serves as the port of Agios Nikolaos. For example, daily cruises are offered there along the west coast of Athos . Most of the village's fishing boats are also based in Ormos Panagias.
A connection to the air traffic takes place through the airport of Thessaloniki .
Bus connections (KTEL; gr. ΚΤΕΛ) are the main means of public transport in Agios Nikolaos, Chalkidiki and in Greece in general. Daily connections (at least 3 per day in summer) exist with the destinations Thessaloniki , Sarti , Polygyros and Nea Moudania . In winter the number of connections per day is lower.
architecture
Agios Nikolaos is predominantly a village with traditional stone houses with characteristic Macedonian-North Greek architecture. A large number of traditionally built houses have, however, been replaced by modern houses being converted or newly built. On the one hand, this is due to increased demands on the quality of life, on the other hand, more modern buildings offer significantly better protection against earthquakes .
Attractions
There are no ancient remains that are worth seeing.
- Byzantine watchtower on Pyrgos Beach (only ruins available)
- Antique wall "Mega Teichos" in Vourvourou (Livari Peninsula)
Agios Nikolaos has a large number of notable beaches (selection):
- Salonikiou beach
- Pyrgos booth
- Livrochio beach
- Latoura beach
- Lagonisi beach
- Livari beach
- Vourvourou beach
- Karidi beach
- Zografou beach
- Galana Nera, a strait between the islands of Diaporos and Agios Isidoros.
In addition to the beaches, there are nine islands in the bay of Vourvourou, which give the Vourvourou bay the characteristics of a lagoon landscape:
- Diaporos. This is the largest island. It is partially inhabited.
- Kalogria
- Kalomonisia. The smallest islands in the Bay of Vourvourou.
- Agios Isidoro. The easternmost island in Vourvourou Bay.
Web links
- Information page about Halkidiki
- Agios Nikolaos
- For friends and alumni who remember their home village from afar and want to participate in its development
swell
- Michael Zahrnt : Olynthos and the Chalkidians. Studies on the formation of states on the Chalcidian Peninsula in the 5th and 4th centuries BC Chr . Beck, Munich 1971, ISBN 3-406-03097-1 , p. 226-229 ( Vestigia , vol. 14).
Individual evidence
- ↑ Results of the 2011 census, Greek Statistical Office (ΕΛ.ΣΤΑΤ) ( Memento from June 27, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) (Excel document, 2.6 MB)
- ↑ all information according to the Greek Office for Statistics Online