| Andritsaina Ανδρίτσαινα |
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| Location | |
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Andritsaina
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| Coordinates | |
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Location within the regional unit
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| Government | |
| Country: | Greece |
| Region: | West Greece |
| Regional unit: | Elis |
| Municipality: | Andritsaina-Krestena |
| Population statistics (as of 2001) | |
| Municipal unit | |
| - Population: | 2,152 |
| - Area: | 131.2 km2 (51 sq mi) |
| - Density: | 16 /km2 (42 /sq mi) |
| Other | |
| Time zone: | EET/EEST (UTC+2/3) |
| Elevation (center): | 705 m (2,313 ft) |
| Postal: | 270 61 |
| Telephone: | 26260 |
| Auto: | ΗΑ |
Andritsaina (Greek: Ανδρίτσαινα) is a town and a former municipality in Elis, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Andritsaina-Krestena, of which it is a municipal unit.[1] The distance from Krestena is around 45 km SE and 62 km SE of Pyrgos, 47 km SE from GR-9/E55, about 25 km SW of Karytaina and about 280 km SW of Athens, 45 km NW of Megalopoli and the old GR-7/E55 and NE of Figaleia, the Temple of Epicurian Apollo and Vassai. Arcadia borders Andritsaina to the north and east. The area in ancient times used to be in Arcadia.
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Andritsaina is a village with a long history; it flourished mainly during the occupation of the Franks (12th-13th AD) and is mentioned in the chronicles of Moreas. The village played a crucial role during the Orlov Revolt and the Greek War of Independence. In 1826, Andritsaina was destroyed by Ibrahim's troops.
According to tradition, Andritsaina owes its name to the wife of a Cretan shepherd named Andritsos or Andrikos, who-chasing his runaway sheep-came to a spring on mount Lykaion. There he built a hostel that after his death was kept by his wife Andrikaina (meaning "the wife of Andrikos"). From her name and from the local pronunciation of "ke" as "tche", the small hotel was named "the hostel of Andritsaina". When houses were built in the surrounding area, the settlement was named "Andritsaina".
Today, the village impresses the visitor by its old mansions, its cobbled streets and its square (plateia), surrounded by tall trees and with a magnificent view of the nearby mountains. I Trani Vrysi (literally meaning "the Great Tap") is located on the opposite side of the plateia and is the Peloponnese's oldest tap, built in 1724. The famous library built in 1840 by the donations of a humanist living in Paris with roots from Andritsaina named Agathofron Nikolopoulos is located in Andritsaina. Its collection comprises rare 16th and 17th century manuscripts, rare Greek or foreign books, important documents from the period of the Greek War of Independence and rich folklore material. Today, the library has more than 40000 books.
The municipal unit Andritsaina is subdivided into the following communities (constituent villages in brackets):
| Year | Village | Municipal district | Municipality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 1,034 | - | - |
| 1991 | 660 | - | 2,511 |
| 2001 | 575 | 663 | 2,152 |
Andritsaina was ruled by the Venetians and the Ottomans. It became a part of Greece after the Greek War of Independence. Its economy grew steadily during those years. The Olympic flame which was for the 2004 Summer Olympics passed through the town along with the surrounding villages by the road or highway in April 2004 not long after the start of the route. The flame stopped for a night and moved on to the GR-7 and Messinia the next day.
The area around Andritsaina was struck by a dangerous fire in the summer of 2007 that destroyed the surrounding area. The fire came northwest from Alifeira and south from Vasses. The fire destroyed almost every part of the forest. However, the fire did not affect the villages Theisoa and Matesi in the northeastern parts, where no damages were reported. The fire broke out on Saturday August 25 and Sunday August 26, 2007 and continued for several hours. The rebuilding of the vicinity are in progress, portions will be replanted, but few of the houses will be rebuilt.
| North: Irea | ||
| West: Alifeira | Andritsaina | East: Karytaina |
| South: Sklirou Figaleia |
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