Sparta (Greek: Σπάρτη, Spárti[ˈsparti]) is a city and municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece. It lies at the site of ancient Sparta within the Evrotas Valley. The municipality was merged with six nearby municipalities in 2011, for a total population (as of 2011) of 35,259, of whom 17,408 lived in the city.
Beginning in the 13th century, the political and cultural center of Laconia shifted to Mystras, some 4 km to the west. The settlement at ancient Sparta, named Lacedaemonia, continued to exist, although greatly depopulated, until modern times as a town of a few thousand people who lived among the ruins, in the shadow of Mystras.[1] The Palaiologos family (the last Byzantine Greek imperial dynasty) also lived in Mystras. The Despotate of the Morea was captured by the Ottomans under Mehmed II in 1460.
In 1834, after the Greek War of Independence, King Otto of Greece decreed the town should be expanded into a city. Modern-day Sparta, the capital of the prefecture of Lakonia, lies on the eastern foothills of Mount Taygetos in the Evrotas River valley. The city has been built upon the site of ancient Sparta, whose Acropolis lies north of the modern city.[2] To the southwest stands Mt. Taygetos. To the east of the city stands the Parnonas mountain range, which is forested predominantly with Greek fir trees and other conifers.
Modern Sparta's origins date back to October 20, 1834, when King Otto issued a decree on the construction of the new city. Bavarian city planners, headed by Fr. Stauffert, designed a city of 100,000 inhabitants based on the neo-classical architectural model.
Today Sparta maintains its good design, boasting large squares and wide streets lined with trees, while many of the older buildings remain in excellent condition. The city of Sparta is the economic, administrative and cultural center of Lakonia. A key factor in the advancement of the city's development is the operation of two departments of the University of Peloponnese and a department of the Technological Educational Institute.
The centrally located main square is dominated by the most imposing neo-classical building in Sparta, the City Hall. Built in 1909, City Hall bears the signature of the Greek architect G. Katsaros.[3] During the monarchy (which was abolished by referendum in 1973), the title of Duke of Sparta was used for the Greek crown prince, the διάδοχος (diádokhos).
Municipality
View of a streetSparta's Town Hall
The municipality of Sparta was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following seven former municipalities, that became municipal units:[4]
The municipality has an area of 1,181.780 km2, the municipal unit 84.453 km2.[5] The municipal unit consists of the local communities Sparta, Afisi, Amykles, Kalyvia Sochas and Kladas.[4]
Politics
Sparta is regarded as one of the most conservative cities in Greece; it has never had a left-wing mayor and it was one of the few cities that voted in 1974 to retain the monarchy. Laconia was the region with the highest proportion of "yes" votes (which was supported by the conservative party) in the 2015 bailout referendum.
Demographics
Year
Town
Municipal unit
Municipality
1961
10,412
—
—
1981
12,975
—
—
1991
13,011
16,322
—
2001
14,817
19,567
—
2011
17,408
19,854
35,259
Climate
The city of Sparta enjoys a sunny and warm Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa). January highs are around 14 °C (57 °F) while July and August highs are around 36 °C (97 °F) in the city proper. Sparta records the highest summer average maximum temperatures in Greece.[6] In July 2012 the city registered an average maximum temperature of 38.3 °C (100.9 °F), making it Greece's second highest monthly average maximum temperature to date after the 38.6 °C (101.5 °F) recorded in Stylida in July 2023.[7][8] The highest temperature ever recorded in Sparta is 45.7 °C (114.3 °F) in August 2021.[9] On average, Sparta records 5 days per year with temperatures of over 40.0 °C (104.0 °F).[10]
In the center of the city is the Archaeological Museum. Built by architect G. Katsaros,
in 1874–76 to house the collection of local archaeological finds by Panagiotis Stamatakis, it was the first Greek museum in a provincial city.
The city's cathedral is at the southwest end.
The ruins of ancient Sparta lie north of the city. Entering by the South Gate of the Acropolis, known as Lakedaemonia, there is the Rotunda, the Theatre and the Temple of Athena Chalkioikos to the West. Exiting the Acropolis by the North Gate there are the remains of the earliest ancient walls, the Heroon and the Altar of Lycourgos, whereas to the East there is the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia. To the North is the Monastic Church of Osios Nikonas (10th century).
The "Tomb of Leonidas", or Leonidaion (37°04′36″N22°25′31″E / 37.0767°N 22.4254°E / 37.0767; 22.4254), is a limestone structure of the late 5th century BC, likely a temple, but named for Leonidas I in the 19th century, being the only ancient monument indicated within the limits of the newly planned town in 1834.[16]
The Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil in the South West end highlights the culture of the olive and the technology of olive production, 129 Othonos–Amalias Street [1]
Archaeological Museum of Mystras, founded by Gabriel Lilianthal in the late 19th century
The Spartathlon has taken place every September since 1983. It is an ultramarathon starting in Athens and finishing in Sparta at the statue of Leonidas, with many international participants.
The local football club of Sparta, Laconia was Sparta F.C. The club dissolved in 2019.
^Sofia Voutsaki, Paul Cartledge, Ancient Monuments and Modern Identities: A Critical History of Archaeology in 19th and 20th Century Greece (2017), p. 50f.
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