Akovos
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| Akovos Άκοβος |
|
| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Prefecture: | Arcadia |
| Province: | Megalopoli |
| Municipality: | Falaisia |
| Municipal district: | Akovos |
| Location: Latitude: Longitude: |
37.1625 (37° 9' 45") N 22.1936 (22° 11' 28") E |
| Population: (2001) -Village -Municipal district -Percent of the municipal district -Percent of the municipality |
246 264 93.18% 7/12% |
| Altitude: -lowest: -centre: |
about 600 m (north) 881 m about 1,000 m (northwest) |
| Postal code: | GR-220 21 |
| Area/distance code: | 11-(00)30-27940 |
| Car designation: | TP |
Akovos (Greek: Άκοβος) is a Greek settlement in the southwest of the Arcadia prefecture located 22 km south of Leontari around 33 km southeast of Megalopoli, 30 km southeast from the nearest interchange with the GR-7/E65 (Kalamata - Megalopoli - Tripoli), about 37 km from Kalamata, about 62 km southwest of Tripoli and northwest of Sparta. Tourkoleka is in the municipality of Falaisia. Akovos is connected with the road connecting the Leontari-Dyrrachi roads with two accesses with it and the road to the neighbouring Messinia prefecture. Tourkoleka had a 2001 population of 301 for the settlement. The prefecture of Messinia is 2 km to the south.
Contents |
[edit] Subdivisions
- Goupata, north
[edit] Nearest places
[edit] Geography
Akovos is situated in a mountainous area and are made up of forests and grasslands. The mountains cover the area and are made up of rocks with grasslands and bushes along with a couple of forests and grasses and bushes around the areas. Farmlands are within the village area. The mountaintop elevating 1,273 m lies 3 km southwest. It offers panoramic views of the mountains to the north and the east including one elevating 1,197 m to the east. Its main production are olives, citrus, fruits, vegetables and other crops, several common crops are rarely common.
Its residential houses and buildings are within the main road and it is about 400 to 500 m long and 100 to 150 m wide. Much of the houses were stone built until the 1960s. Electricity arrived in the same year. Vehicles arrived in the 1970s, the pavement of the main road and television arrived in the 1980s and computer and internet are rarely known in the beginning of the 21st century and up to date technology are not seen.
[edit] Population
| Year | Population | Change | Percent of the municipal district |
Percent of the municipality |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 283 | - | - | - | - |
| 1991 | 293 | +10 or +3.53% | - | - | - |
| 2001 | 246 | -47 or -16.04% | 264 | 93.18% | 7.62% |
[edit] History
The village used to have a large population before the beginning of the 20th century. After World War II and the Greek Civil War, the population began to decline as residents moved to larger towns and cities and outside of Greece. Akobos has as many as 17 little churches around the village, and organizes a lot of religious festivals.
1)The festival of Saint George Westwards and opposite from the village in distance of 3 kilometers roughly, we meet the church of Ag. George, where is realized the big festival of village on 23 April or the second day of Easter. The old church was demolished and a imposing chapel of Byzantine rhythm was build. The Saint George is considered by the old years the protector of village and the homonym festival assembles crowd of world from the around region. In the big grounds of church has been manufactured shelter for the pilgrims. Also in the same space exists slaughterhouse where becomes the sacrifice of ox, the from Ottoman domination custom of "KOYRMPANI" as well as a bookshop where become the preparation and the distribution of meat to the foreigner visitors. hundred years old trees which grow around the church supplement the beautiful landscape and offer shadow to the pilgrims. The legend says that this old custom dates back to the 1600 century and that only foreigners are allowed to eat the meat of the sacrificed ox. Legend also reports the ill fate of those who have ignored the warning. This ritual is kept until this day.
2)The festival of Virgin Mary Under in the plain of village through big trees appears the church of Virgin Mary. Is a small chapel that celebrates the Death of Virgin Mary on 15 August. A lot of pilgrims assembled assemble each year in order to pray, not only from the Akovo village but also from Kalamata and from Athens. Is considered the second bigger festival ater that of Saint George.
3)The festival of the Trinity Church Near in the chapel of Virgin Mary exists the church of Saint Trinity which celebrates at Pentikosti (40 days after easter). In the old days in the same place existed a older chapel which was demolished and rebuilt to the beautiful and imposing chapel that we see today. Around the church is a square with Trees and in this space has been manufactured permanent shelter with tables and seats where each year in the feast is offered (boiled goat, village bread, cheese mizithra and wine). All these are realised every year through offers of religious patriots and personal work of members of Cultural Association of Akobos. Afterwards the dinner follows traditional dances with music.
4)The festival of Saint Paraskeyi At the peak of historical mountain of Drambala or trapezoraxi, is the church of Saint Friday. In the old days existed there a graphic chapel that at the duration of heroic battle of Drambala in 1826 against Ibrahim was used as off-hand hospital. The new chapel is a beautifully Byzantine church. In the memory of the Saint, on 26 July, roasted piglets is offered to all pilgrims.
[edit] Other
Akovos has a church, and a square (plateia), its nearest school and lyceum (middle school) and gymnasium (secondary school) are now in Megalopoli since 2005.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official Site of the Akobitian Association for Athens-Pireaus with loads of information and pictures.
- History and Information about Akovos
- Akovos GTP Travel Pages
- Map and Aerial Photos:
- Street Map Information: Mapquest, LiveLocal or Google orYahoo! Maps
- Satellite Images: Google or Microsoft Virtual Earth
- Coordinates:
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