Stagira

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Stagira is a Greek village lying on a picturesque plateau on the Chalcidice peninsula, and standing at the foot of the Argirolofos hill. The village is chiefly known for being the birthplace of Aristotle, and a beautiful statue of him stands in the village. However, Aristotle was actually born a few kilometers north from the village, in the ancient city of Stageira (near the city now called Olympias). In Byzantine times, Stagira was called Siderokafsia (which means blast furnace). The sultan's mint was located here in the 16th century and many ruins of furnaces can be found close to the village. The present-day village has approximately 500 inhabitants, but including the neighbouring village of Stratoniki, with which Stagira virtually merges, the population increases to around 1500. The central church was built in 1814.