Igoumenitsa

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Igoumenitsa (Ηγουμενίτσα)

Coordinates	39°29′ N 20°16′ E
Country	Greece
Periphery	Epirus
Prefecture	Thesprotia
Population	14,710 source (2001)
Area	80.8 km²
Population density	182 /km²
Elevation	±10 m
Postal code	461 00
Area code	26650
Licence plate code	ΗΝ
Mayor	Thomas Pitoulis
Website	Official website

Igoumenitsa (Greek: Ηγουμενίτσα) (Albanian: Gumenicë) is a coastal city in northwestern Greece. It is the capital of the prefecture Thesprotia. Its original ancient name used to be Titani.

Igoumenitsa is a picturesque small town with lots of green (the dominating forest can be easily seen in the picture), beaches with crystal clear blue waters, and green mountains surrounding the town. The new 670 km Egnatia Highway, which serves Northern Greece, terminates at Igoumenitsa.

1 Subdivisions
2 Municipal districts
3 Historical population
4 Ancient times
5 Climate
6 Other
7 External links
8 See also

[edit] Subdivisions

Ethiniki Antistasi
Igoumenitsa
Lakka
Liofyta
Pestaniotika

[edit] Municipal districts

Agia Marina
- Myloi
- Vasilikos
Agios Vlassios
Graikochori
- Drosia
- Filothei
Kastri
Kryovrysi
Ladochori
Mavroudi
- Pigadi
Nea Selefkia
- Ampelia

[edit] Historical population

Year	Population	Change	Municipal population	Change	Density
1981	6,389	-	-	-	-/km²
1991	6,807	+418/+6.54%	11,608	-	143.7/km²
2001	9,104	+2,297/+33.74%	14,710	+3,102/+26.72%	182/km²

[edit] Ancient times

The town of Igoumenitsa

In ancient times Igoumenitsa was known as Titani, (Gitani, Gitana, Goumani) and was one of the most important towns of the kingdom of Thesprotis during the 4th century BC, covering 28 hectares. The circumference of its walls was 2,400 metres. The walls had four gates. Internal walls, in the shape of a sickle, divided the city in half. Its most noteworthy tower, located at the top of the hill, was round, and is thought to have been a religious sanctuary. Excavations have revealed a theatre which seats 2,500 and ruins of two temples.

The city was a meeting place of the Epirote League (Livy 42.38.1). A spur near Philiates between the Kalamas River, the acropolis had a fine semicircular tower. A small theater, towers, and gateways which are still visible. The Kalamas may have been navigable to this point. The city was destroyed by the Romans in 167 BC and later on it was annexed into the Roman Empire.

[edit] Climate

The climate except for temperatures are almost as the same as Bergen, Norway (2,250 mm, 2 of the 3 rainy days). The average rainfall in Igoumenitsa is around 1,100 mm while in Athens it is only 380 mm; in Crete, the famous tourist resort and southern port of Europe, it is 640 mm, and in Ioannina 1,300 mm.

The temperature table are dated as of 2005.

Igoumenitsa in 1969

Month	Inland temperature	Sea temperature
January	12°C	16°C
February	9°C	15°C
March	14°C	16°C
April	16°C	17°C
May	22°C	19°C
June	25°C	22°C
July	28°C	24°C
August	27°C	25°C
September	25°C	24°C
October	20°C	23°C
November	18°C	20°C
December	13°C	17°C

The water is safe for swimming between the months of May to November, that's only half a year.

In 2005, the town had 65 rainy days, the summer had 4 rainy days with 10 hours of mix of sun and clouds each day. The last 25 years, the lowest temperature was -9°C and the highest was 43°C.

[edit] Other

Igoumenitsa has schools, lyceums or middle schools, gymnasia or secondary schools, churches, a post office, banks, restaurants, a port, supermarkets and squares (plateies).