Kalamaria

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Kalamaria (Greek Καλαμαριά ( f sg ) ) is a de facto district of Thessaloniki, but is de jure an independent municipality in the region of Central Macedonia. With approximately 91,000 inhabitants it is the second largest municipality of Macedonia.

Location

Kalamaria lies about 7 km south of the city center Thessaloníkis on a promontory (micro Emvolo or Karabounaki ) in Thermaikos Gulf and the northeastern foothills, the Gulf of Thessaloniki.

History

The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Here was the ancient Thermae, after the bay is named. The term Kalamaria found for the area south-east of Thessaloniki for the first time 1083rd beginning of the 13th century include the Byzantine administrative unit Katepanikion Kalamaria the same village and the western part of the Chalkidiki peninsula along the coast of the Thermaikos Gulf. The Katepanikion Kalamaria consisted mainly of land ownership of monasteries of Athos Peninsula.

The present city has its origins in a creation of the 1920s when it was built, like other suburbs Thessaloníkis, recording of Greek refugees from Turkey, mainly Greeks settled in Kalamaria of the Black Sea coast. Kalamaria was until 1943 part of the municipality of Thessaloniki and received only this year its administrative independence.

Recently Kalamaria recorded a significant population increase. Even in 1981, only 51 676 inhabitants lived here. The city consists of 10 city or suburbs.

Sports

Kalamaria is home of the football club Apollon.

Personalities

In Kalamaria lived or were born:

• Harry Klynn ( born 1940 ), comedian, former President of Apollon Kalamarias
• Anestis Soumelides ( born 1930 ), former athletes, coaches the water sports department of Apollon Kalamarias
• Christodoulos Ekonomidis, mayor of Kalamaria

Twin Cities

Kalamaria is twinned with

• Saranda, Albania
• Dimitrovgrad, Bulgaria
• Paphos, Cyprus
• Clearwater, Florida