Aigialeia
Αιγιάλεια
Municipality
Aigialeia is located in Greece
Aigialeia
Aigialeia
Location within the region
Coordinates: 38°15′N 22°5′E / 38.250°N 22.083°E / 38.250; 22.083
CountryGreece
Administrative regionWest Greece
Regional unitAchaea
Area
 • Municipality723.1 km2 (279.2 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Municipality46,990
 • Density65/km2 (170/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
25x xx
Area code(s)269xx
Vehicle registrationΑΧ
Websitewww.aigialeia.gov.gr

Aigialeia (Greek: Αιγιάλεια, pronounced [eˈʝalia]) is a municipality and a former province (επαρχία) in the eastern part of the Achaea regional unit, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Aigio.[2] The municipality has an area of 723.063 km2.[3] The main towns are Aigio, Akrata and Diakopto. The municipality Aigialeia stretches from the south coast of the Gulf of Corinth to the mountainous interior of the Peloponnese peninsula. The main rivers of the municipality are the Selinountas and the Vouraikos.

Municipality

The municipality Aigialeia was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 6 former municipalities, that became municipal units:[2]

Province

The province of Aigialeia (Greek: Επαρχία Αιγιαλείας) was one of the three provinces of Achaea. Its territory corresponded with that of the current municipality, except the municipal unit Erineos.[4] It was abolished in 2006.

History

Further information: Achaea

Present Aigialeia was the territory of the ancient Achaeans. Several towns of the Achaean League were located here: Rhypes, Aegium, Ceryneia, Boura, Helice, Aegae and Aigeira. Helice was submerged as a result an earthquake, which also destroyed Boura. In Roman times, the most important towns were Aegium and Aigeira.[5] In the Middle Ages, the area was ruled by the Byzantines, Slavs, Franks, Venetians, and from the 16th century the Ottoman Turks. Aigialeia was liberated in the first stage of the Greek War of Independence, in 1821. Aigio was struck by an earthquake in 1995, damaging several buildings. The 2007 Greek forest fires cause great damage in the mountains of Aigialeia.

Transport

Roads

The main highways in Aigialeia are:

Railways

The Piraeus, Athens and Peloponnese Railways line Athens – Corinth – Aigio – Patras – Pyrgos – Kyparissia runs through Aigialeia. The Diakofto–Kalavryta Railway is a rack railway, offering passenger service as well.

Media

Newspapers, fanzines and others

Radio

Television

Sporting clubs

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. ^ a b "ΦΕΚ A 87/2010, Kallikratis reform law text" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
  3. ^ "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-21.
  4. ^ "Detailed census results 1991" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. (39 MB) (in Greek and French)
  5. ^ Pausanias, Description of Greece, 7.6.1, 7.24, 7.25
  6. ^ Συγχωνεύονται Ακράτα και Θύελλα Αιγείρας!. Pelop.gr (in Greek).
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