Petalidi

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Petalidi (Greek Πεταλίδι, (n. sg. ) ) Is a small town on the Messenian peninsula, the westernmost, finger 'of the Peloponnese and since 2011 a district of the municipality Messini. Petalidi was from 1997 until the end of 2010 the administrative seat of the homonymous municipality.

Location

Petalidi is located on the west coast of the Messinian gulf on the road that connects the further south Koroni with Kalamata, south of the National Road 82 Pylos - Kalamata.

Petalidi bordered to the south by Epia, on the west by Chiliochora, Pylos and Voufrades, on the north by Aristomenis, on the northeast by Messini and to the east by the sea.

The landscape is mostly dominated by rocky mountainous terrain with little bushes; to Petalidi around there is agriculture, and also some pine forests.

The bay north of the village is called Petalidi Petalidi Bay.

History

In the area of Karpofora at Nichoria, on a planted with olives and figs Hill, 1970, during excavations not only architectural remains from the Mittelhelladikum (ca. 2000-1600 BC), but also leftover from earlier eras as well as building the late and submykenischer time found. In the area of the ancient city Petalidi Korone was ( during the current Koroni in the field of ancient Asine is ). The ancient Korone was 365 BC repopulated by Boeotians after Messinian was liberated by Epaminondas from the dominion of Sparta. From 184 BC it belonged to the Achaean League, in the 2nd century AD, from time to time to Sparta. In the Middle Ages Korone was a bishopric, but the residents later migrated to the south, which is also the Ortsnam transferred to the current Koroni. In the Greek War of Independence ended in 1828 with a French general Maison Force in Petalidi; he managed to expel the Turks under Ibrahim pasha of the Peloponnese. Only in the 19th century, today's Petalidi was populated by immigrants from the Mani peninsula again; because the Maniots retained their customs (blood revenge, hospitality ) and their dialect, Petalidi remained for generations a branch of the Mani.

Church of Agios Nikolaos in Petalidi

Villages and settlements

The municipality was formed in 1997 from Petalidi 12 previously independent municipalities who choose now as places local agencies in the community Messini:

• Achladochori, 344 inhabitants,
• Daras, 286 inhabitants,
• Drosia, 74 residents
• Kalochori, 131 inhabitants,
• Karpofora, 174 inhabitants. In the area at Niochoria is an excavation site, and also the Byzantine churches Zoodohos Pigis and Agios Nikolaos.
• Kastania, 43 residents
• Kokkino, 82 residents
• Lykissa, 68 residents
• Mathia, 62 inhabitants, a small village at the foot of the mountain Lykodimos. At the time of Ottoman rule, it is mentioned under the name Dranka. The pirates under Chaireddin Barbarossa destroyed the former settlement. At the entrance, a monument to the Greek struggle for freedom, during which there was fighting here.
• Neromylos, 310 inhabitants,
• Paniperi, 389 inhabitants, with the ruins of a Venetian Kastro,
• Petalidi, 1224 inhabitants, seat of the municipality.

Economy and infrastructure

With long sandy beaches, several fish taverns and other catering establishments, hotels, a campsite called Petalidi Beach, car and bicycle hire, the municipality has a good tourist infrastructure.

Not far from the town center lies a monastery.