Avlonas, Attica

Avlonas (Greek: Αυλώνας,^[1] former Kakosalesi (Greek: Κακοσάλεσι), Latin and older form: Aulon/Avlon (Greek: Αυλών)) is a town and a former municipality in Attica, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Oropos, of which it is a municipal unit.^[2]

It is a suburb of Athens, located north of the city, in the northwestern part of East Attica. The settlement (pop. 5,056 in 2001) dates back to ancient times. Avlonas is on the Malakasa–Schimatari Road and has interchanges with GR-1/E75 and also has road links to Oropos and Nea Palatia and via a dirt road to Parnitha. Avlonas has farmlands to the north and mountainous terrain with grasslands and some forests to the south. To the west is the summit of Pyrgathi, elevation 502 m, since 1947 the boundary between Attica and Boeotia. The highest peak visible is Mount Parnitha, 1,413 m, to the southeast. Avlonas is located east of Thiva and south of Chalkida.

Avlonas' economy is based on businesses; it was formerly agricultural, until it was developed for housing in the 1970s and the 1980s.

The only other settlement in the municipal unit is Asprochóri (pop. 128).

Name

Avlonas (Greek: Αυλώνας) is often called Avlona (Αυλώνα), however the masculine Avlonas should be used rather than the feminine Avlona. The ancient Greek Avlon (Αυλών) is also masculine. It appears that the name Αvlon is connected with the worship of Dionysus according to an ancient slab, that found in the area, dedicated to Διονυσώι Αυλωνέι (Dionysos of Avlon).

Other

Avlonas has three pre-school facilities, one elementary school, one lyceum/middle school, one gymnasio/high school, churches, a railway station on the OSE line linking Athens and Thessaloniki, a post office and a few squares (plateies).

Historical population

References

External links

• Official website of Avlonas' Municipality
• GTP Travel Pages (Municipality)
• Avlona Bicycling Tour in 1994
• Schools in Avlona
• Zygomalas Museum