Karpenisi

Karpenisi (Greek: Καρπενήσι, Greek pronunciation: [karpeˈnisi]) is a town in central Greece. It is the capital of the regional unit of Evrytania. Karpenisi is situated in the valley of the river Karpenisiotis (Καρπενησιώτης), a tributary of the Megdovas, in the southern part of the Pindus Mountains. Mount Tymfristos (2,315 m elevation) lies directly to the north of the town, and the foothills of mount Kaliakouda are in the south. Karpenisi has a ski resort and is a popular destination, especially during winter. It is called Switzerland of Greece for the resemblance with the mountainous country and its beauty, atypical for a Mediterranean place.[2]

Karpenisi Καρπενήσι
Part of the town
Karpenisi Location within the region
Coordinates: 38°55′N 21°47′E
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Central Greece
Regional unit	Evrytania
Government
• Mayor	Nikos Souliotis(New Democracy)
Area
• Municipality	948.6 km^2 (366.3 sq mi)
• Municipal unit	250.9 km^2 (96.9 sq mi)
Elevation	960 m (3,150 ft)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Municipality	13,105
• Municipality density	14/km^2 (36/sq mi)
• Municipal unit	8,575
• Municipal unit density	34/km^2 (89/sq mi)
Community [1]
• Population	7,348 (2011)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	361 00
Area code(s)	22370
Vehicle registration	ΚΗ
Website	www.karpenissi.gr

Etymology

The name Karpenisi derives from the Aromanian word kárpinu[3] (Carpinus betulus) + the ending -iş. The Greek spelling "Καρπενήσι" is influenced by folk etymology, the second combining form appearing to be "νησί" (island, pronounced [niˈsi]).

Municipality

A view

The high school

The municipality Karpenisi was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 6 former municipalities, that became municipal units:[4]

• Domnista (Ampliani, Domnista, Krikello, Mesokomi, Psiana, Roska, Stavloi)
• Fourna (Fourna, Kleisto, Vracha)
• Karpenisi (Agia Vlacherna, Agios Andreas, Agios Nikolaos, Fidakia, Kalesmeno, Karpenisi, Koryschades, Myriki, Papparousi, Pavlopoulo, Sella, Stefani, Stenoma, Voutyro)
• Ktimenia (Agia Triada, Agios Charalampos, Chochlia, Domianoi, Petralona)
• Potamia (Aniada, Chelidonas, Dermati, Karitsa, Klafsi, Megalo Chorio, Mikro Chorio, Mouzilo, Nostimo, Sygkrellos)
• Prousos (Alestia, Aspropyrgos, Esochoria, Kastania, Katavothra, Prodromos, Prousos, Sarkini, Stavrochori, Tornos, Velota)

The municipality has an area of 948.570 km², the municipal unit 250.887 km².[5]

Mayor of Karpenisi

• Kostas Bakoyannis, 1 January 2011 – 31 August 2014
• Nikos Souliotis, since 1 September 2014

Historical population

Year	Municipal unit	Municipality
1981	5,230	–
1991	8,185	–
2001	9,390	–
2011	8,575	13,105

Sister cities

• Asheville, US[6]

Notable people

• Zacharias Papantoniou (1877–1940), writer
• Ioannis Theodoropoulos, bronze medal in the pole vault 1896 Summer Olympics
• Georgios Kondylis (1878–1936), General of the Greek army and Prime Minister of Greece
• Charalambos Katsimitros (1886–1962), General of the Greek army who distinguished himself during the Greco-Italian War
• Pavlos Bakoyannis (1935–1989), Greek politician and journalist

Facts in Karpenisi

• Battle of Karpenisi (8 August 1823) during the Greek War of Independence

References

1. "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
2. Dana Facaros; Linda Theodorou (2003). Greece. New Holland Publishers. p. 382. ISBN 978-1-86011-898-2.
3. Oikonomou Konstantinos, Zagori toponym, Doctoral thesis, Ioannina 1986, p. 752-753.
4. Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (in Greek)
5. "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 September 2015.
6. "Karpenisi, Greece". Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2010.

External links

• GTP Travel Pages (Municipality) (in English and Greek)
• Tourist Guide of Karpenisi