| Kastellia Καστέλλια |
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Kastellia
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| Coordinates | |
| Government | |
| Country: | Greece |
| Region: | Central Greece |
| Regional unit: | Phocis |
| Municipality: | Delphi |
| Municipal unit: | Gravia |
| Population statistics (as of 2001) | |
| Village | |
| - Population: | 549 |
| Other | |
| Time zone: | EET/EEST (UTC+2/3) |
| Elevation (center): | 450 m (1,476 ft) |
| Postal: | 330 57 |
| Telephone: | 22650 |
| Auto: | ΑΜ |
| Website | |
| kastellia.org.gr | |
Kastellia (Greek: Καστέλλια) is a town in Greece, in the municipal unit of Gravia, Phocis. It lies on the Lamia-Amfissa-Nafpaktos road, 40 km from the city of Lamia and 35 km from Amfissa. The town is in the foothills of the Giona and Oeta Mountains, southwest of the Boiotikos basin.
Kastellia is served by the Bralos railway station, and is 2 hours by train from Athens. The old Athens-Thessaloniki highway leads to Kastellia. From there, a new by-pass road leads to the mountainous villages of the Municipality of Sklithros followed by the Municipality of Kallieon.
Kastellia has an area of app. 37,468 acres (151,630 m²) and an average altitude of 450m. The ground is semi-highland consisting of: (1) 8,914 acres of cultivated land, (2) 11,368 acres of partial-forestry land, (3) 13,925 acres of forestry quality land. The remainder is allocated for housing and roads.
The population has been steadily decreasing. The 1928 census found 1,066 inhabitants. By 1961 it had fallen to 827. The year 1991 saw it drop to 779 and the latest census, in 2001, counted only 549.
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The area of Kastellia was known during the ancient times, the Dorians first inhabited the area a few thousands ago after the Trojan War. Many of its local inhabitants fought in the Greek War of Independence in 1821, it included 700 people from the village and from Chlomos. In the first years of Greece, it became a part of the municipality of Erineos named after an ancient place and it served as the capital on April 20, 1835 and created the Newspaper of the Government as part of the province of Parnassida. The population at the time contained 2,253 persons. On July 3, 1872, the municipality was dissolved and reverted to the newly created municipality of Parnassida with no links with the older municipality. Later with the archeologist P. Evstratitis, as an emblem of three new dancer which circled the words Municipality Of Dorida. After the municipal changes in, the municipality was dissolved on August 29, 1912 (under Law 4057/1912) and became a community after the settlement of Chlomos. After World War II and the Greek Civil War, many of the buildings were rebuilt. The village was linked with pavement in the 1950s. Houses were stone-built until the 1950s and did not surpass modern-style homes until the 1980s. After December 20, 1978, the name changed from Kastelli to Kastellia. In 1997 under the Capodistrian Plan, it united the older communities into the municipality of Gravia and includes Apostolias, Gravia (seat), Kaloskopi, Kastellia, Mariolata, Oinochori, Sklithro and Vargiani. Its economy today are mainly in agriculture.
The town has a modern Community Hall where the ground floor serves as the offices of the town council and the upper floor has been converted to a six room hostel to host students and tourists. A community clinic has been constructed at a site donated in 1972 by K.I.Drosopoulos. It provides low-cost health care to local residents and also serves as the doctor’s residence. The nearest lyceum (middle school) and gymnasium (secondary school) are in Gravia.
Because of the limited agricultural activity, an Agricultural and Fiduciary Association is presently being housed in a large stone building which is also used as a repository. Originally, in 1910, it operated as the Mutual Association, a co-op which insured against crop and livestock loss. In Chlomos it ran the Rural and Cattle Association for the same purpose. Livestock farming is limited to flocks of sheep, goats and cattle. East of town there is a modern pig farm.
There are many professional craftsmen, such as carpenters, steelworkers, electricians and plumbers. Commercial facilities include supply yards of building materials and earthmoving machinery as well as a modern unit for processing timber. For entertainment purposes there are coffee houses, cafeterias and taverns.
A large number of Kastellians live in Athens, Piraeus, Lamia, Thessaloniki, Amfissa, and Larissa, as well as abroad (mainly in America and Australia). Despite the fact that the population is shrinking, a large number of new houses are being built and many older homes are being refurbished.
The Progressive Association "Kastellia" which is based in Athens, was founded in 1950 and is a pioneer brotherhood. It's Membership is composed of Kastellians who live outside the area. The Association publishes a newspaper "The Kastelliotika Nea" with news and events related to the town and those who have left. In each of the last 15 years the Association has organized a ceremony where the young people from Kastellia who succeed in the Pan-Hellenic Examinations receive a commemorative diploma and a monetary reward. The Association was founded by Ioannis Moscholios.
By a decision of the Amfissa Court (#297/87), the founding statute of the "Kastellia Cultural Association" was approved. Its main aims are: (1) The study and protection of the natural environment of Kastellia. (2) The rediscovery and promotion of the town's cultural heritage. (3) Improving the cultural level of the population. The Cultural Association organizes many cultural events in Kastellia.
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