Sparti (municipality)

Sparti (Greek: Σπάρτη) is a municipality of Laconia, Greece. It lies at the site of ancient Sparta. The population in 2001 was 38,079, of whom 15,828 lived in the town itself.

History

Until modern times, the site of Sparta was occupied by a relatively small village that lay in the shadow of Mystras, a more important medieval Greek settlement nearby. In 1834, after the Greek War of Independence, King Otto of Greece decreed that the village was to be rebuilt into a city on the site of ancient Sparta.

Main sights

In the center of the town there is the Archaeological Museum and in the North West end is the Tomb of Leonidas, also known as Leonidaion, whereas the town's Cathedral is at the South West end. North of the modern town start the ruins of the ancient Sparta. Entering by the South Gate of the Acropolis, known as Lakedaemonia, there is the Rotunda, the Theatre and the Temple of Athena Chalkioikos to the West and to the North is the 10th Century AC Monastic Church of Osios Nikonas. Exiting the Acropolis by the North Gate there are the remains of the earliest ancient walls, the Heroon and the Altar of Lycourgos, whereas to the East there is the Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia.

The Museum of the Olive and Greek Olive Oil in the South West end highlights the culture of the olive and the technology of olive production.

Modern city

The modern town of Sparti was designed with the intention of creating one of the most beautiful cities in Greece through the use of tree-lined boulevards and parklands. During the monarchy, the title of Duke of Sparta was used for the Greek crown prince, the διάδοχος (diádokhos).

At present, Sparti is the administrative capital of the prefecture of Laconia.

Sparti is the centre of an agricultural plain whose focus is the Eurotas valley. It is the local centre for the processing of goods such as citrus and olives.

Municipality

The municipality Sparti was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 7 former municipalities, that became municipal units:^[1]

• Faris
• Karyes
• Mystras
• Oinountas
• Pellana
• Sparti
• Therapnes

Politics

Living up to its ancient legacy of oligarchic government, Sparti is the most conservative town in Greece. It has never had a left-wing mayor, it was one of the few towns that voted in support of retaining the monarchy in 1974, and is a stronghold of the New Democracy Party.

Historical population

International relations

Sparti is twinned with:

• Byblos, Lebanon
• Catonsville, Maryland, United States
• Moreland, Victoria, Australia
• Niš, Serbia
• Sopron, Hungary
• Stamford, Connecticut, United States

References

External links

• Laconia.org