Skoutari, Laconia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Coordinates: 50) 36°40′N, 22°30′W

Skoutari (Σκουτάρι)

Map of Greece, position of Skoutari highlighted

Coordinates

50) 36°40′ N 22°30′ W

Around 50

Around 50 m

232 00

27330

ΑΚ

Skoutari (Greek: Σκουτάρι), Skoutario, Skoutarion or Asine is a village in Laconia, Greece, part of the municipality Gytheio. According to legend it was founded by refugees from the Fall of Constantinople in 1453. Skoutari was built on a hill around 50 metres above the sea level. Skoutari is linked by a road linking Cape Tenaro and Gythio encircling the eastern half of the peninsula. Farmlands are in the valleys, the mountains dominate most of the area and forests covers the valley areas especially around the village, the rest of the land are made up of rocks, bushes and grasslands. The Skoutari Bay lies directly to the east and are surrounded by bluffs, rocks and treacherous landscapes.

1 History
2 Nearest places
3 Geography
4 Historical population
5 Other
6 External links
7 See also

[edit] History

In Mycenaean period of Greece, there was thought to be a town called Vorthona which is now submerged. In Ancient Greece, the town used to be called Asine. The town was under Spartan control. In 218 BC, the inhabtitants of Asine defeated the army of Philip V of Macedon who was besieging the town. During the Roman period it belong to Sparta ever though most of the other towns in the area were part of the Union of Free Laconians.

The modern town of Skoutari was founded in 1453 AD by refugees from the Skoutari district of Constantinople who fled from the Ottomans during the Fall of Constantinople. While the rest of Greece fell to the Ottoman Turks, Mani remained free. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Skoutari became a haven for pirates which rivalled Oitylo. The Ottomans tried to conquer Mani in 1780 and they laid siege to the tower of the Grigorakis clan which was one of the most powerful in Mani and whose base was Skoutari and they blew it up with gun powder after a three day siege. The Ottoman army was later defeated in the Battle of Vromopigada in the plain outside Skoutari and repelled from Mani. The Ottomans tried to capture Skoutari again in 1815 but they were defeated and driven back. In 1832, Greece was recognized as an independent state and Skoutari became part of it. During World War II, Greece was invaded by the Germans and Italians who captured Skoutari. Now Skoutari is a peaceful sea town with around 150 residents during su,,er.

[edit] Nearest places

Kotronas, south
Kalyvia, east

[edit] Geography

Location:
- Longitude: 22.50667 (22°30'4") E
- Latitude: 36.676 (36°40'37") N
Postal code: 233 00
Elevation:
- Centre: about 90 m
Dialing code: 030-27330

[edit] Historical population

Year	Population	Change
1830	700-1,000	-
1910	700-1,000	-
1981	218	about -4,782/about -95%
1991	148	-70/-32.11%
2001	172	-

[edit] Other

Skoutari formerly had a small school but it closed down due to a small population and was poorer than Gytheio that time. Skoutari never had a lyceum (middle school), the nearest is in Kotronas as well as its secondary school. Skoutari also has a small square (plateia). Skoutari is well known in the region because of it's churches. Skoutari has fifeteen churches and a graveyard built by the Velahoutakos family. Only one church is used regularly. Skoutari has three beaches and on one of those beaches there is a church built around 300 AD which had an oak tree growing from it roof until it fell.