Sparta (modern)

Sparta
Σπάρτη

The centre of the city
Sparta

Coordinates: 37°4′N 22°26′E / 37.067°N 22.433°E / 37.067; 22.433Coordinates: 37°4′N 22°26′E / 37.067°N 22.433°E / 37.067; 22.433
Country Greece
Administrative region Peloponnese
Regional unit Laconia
Government
 • Mayor Evangelos Valiotis (as of 2014)
Area
 • Municipality 1,181.8 km2 (456.3 sq mi)
 • Municipal unit 84.5 km2 (32.6 sq mi)
Lowest elevation 200 m (700 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Municipality 35,259
 • Municipality density 30/km2 (77/sq mi)
 • Municipal unit 19,854
 • Municipal unit density 230/km2 (610/sq mi)
Community[1]
 • Population 17,408 (2011)
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code 231 00
Area code(s) 27310
Vehicle registration ΑΚ
Website www.sparti.gr

Sparta (Greek: Σπάρτη, Spárti), is a town and municipality in Laconia, Greece. Established close to the site of ancient Sparta in 1834, the municipality was merged with six nearby municipalities in 2011, for a total population (as of 2011) of 35,259, of whom 17,408 lived in the city.

History

Eurotas (river) outside the city of Sparta.

Beginning in the 13th century, the political and cultural center of Laconia shifted to Mystras, some 4 km to the west. The settlement at ancient Sparta, named Lacedaemonia, continued to exist, although greatly depopulated.[2] The Despotate of the Morea was captured by the Ottomans under Mehmed II in 1460.

In 1834, after the Greek War of Independence, King Otto of Greece decreed the town should be expanded into a city. Modern day Sparta, capital of the prefecture of Lakonia, lies on the eastern foothills of Mount Taygetos in the Evrotas River valley. The city has been built upon the site of ancient Sparta. To the southwest stands Mt. Taygetos. To the east of the city stands the Parnonas mountain range, which is forested predominantly with Greek fir trees and other pines.

Modern Sparta's origins date back to October 20, 1834, when King Otto issued a decree on the construction of the new city. Bavarian city planners, headed by Fr. Stauffert, designed a city of 100,000 inhabitants based on the neo-classical architectural model.

Today Sparta maintains its good design, boasting large squares and wide streets lined with trees, while many of the older buildings remain in excellent condition. The city of Sparta is the economic, administrative and cultural center of Lakonia. A key factor in the advancement of the city’s development is the operation of two departments of the University of Peloponnese and a department of the Technological Educational Institute.

The centrally located main square is dominated by the most imposing neo-classical building in Sparta, the City Hall. Built in 1909, City Hall bears the signature of the Greek architect, G. Katsaros.[3] During the monarchy (which was abolished by referendum in 1973), the title of Duke of Sparta was used for the Greek crown prince, the διάδοχος (diádokhos).

Municipality

The municipality of Sparta was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following seven former municipalities, that became municipal units:[4]

The municipality has an area of 1,181.780 km2, the municipal unit 84.453 km2.[5]

Politics

Sparta is the most conservative city in Greece. It has never had a left-wing mayor and it was one of the few cities that voted in 1974 to retain the monarchy. Laconia was the region with the highest proportion of "yes" votes (which was supported by the conservative party) in the 2015 bailout referendum.

As of 2012, the mayor of Sparta is Stavros Argeitakos.[6]

Demographics

Year Town Municipal unit Municipality
1961 10,412 — —
1981 12,975 — —
1991 13,011 16,322 —
2001 14,817 19,567 —
2011 17,408 19,854 35,259

Climate

The city of Sparta enjoys a sunny and warm Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa). Winters are mild and cool, while summers tend to be particularly hot. January mean maximum temperatures are around 14 °C (57 °F) or 15 °C (59 °F) while July and August mean maximum temperatures are around 36 °C (97 °F).[7] Sparta is notorious for its scorching summer heat; during July 2012 the city registered an average maximum temperature of 38.3 °C (100.9 °F), making it Greece's highest monthly average maximum temperature to date.[8]

Climate data for Sparta Airport (HNMS ,1974–2004)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 14.4
(57.9)		 15.1
(59.2)		 17.7
(63.9)		 21.3
(70.3)		 27
(81)		 32.2
(90)		 34.8
(94.6)		 34.3
(93.7)		 30.5
(86.9)		 25.7
(78.3)		 19.4
(66.9)		 15.2
(59.4)		 24
(75)
Daily mean °C (°F) 9.6
(49.3)		 10.2
(50.4)		 12.4
(54.3)		 15.8
(60.4)		 21.2
(70.2)		 26.2
(79.2)		 28.5
(83.3)		 27.8
(82)		 24.2
(75.6)		 19.6
(67.3)		 14.2
(57.6)		 10.8
(51.4)		 18.4
(65.1)
Average low °C (°F) 3.5
(38.3)		 3.8
(38.8)		 5.5
(41.9)		 7.6
(45.7)		 11.8
(53.2)		 15.9
(60.6)		 18.7
(65.7)		 18.0
(64.4)		 15.3
(59.5)		 12.3
(54.1)		 8.2
(46.8)		 5.1
(41.2)		 10.5
(50.9)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 90.7
(3.571)		 84.6
(3.331)		 73.3
(2.886)		 66.0
(2.598)		 47.4
(1.866)		 14.6
(0.575)		 18.8
(0.74)		 26.4
(1.039)		 30.8
(1.213)		 54.6
(2.15)		 90.0
(3.543)		 107.9
(4.248)		 705.2
(27.764)
Source: Meteoclub.gr[9]

Tourism

Main sites

The theater of ancient Sparta with Taygetus in the background.

In the center of the city is the Archaeological Museum. Built by architect G. Katsaros, in 1874–76 to house the collection of local archaeological finds by Panagiotis Stamatakis, it was the first Greek museum in a provincial city.

The city's cathedral is at the southwest end.

The ruins of ancient Sparta lie north of the city. 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. 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. To the North is the Monastic Church of Osios Nikonas (10th century).

The "Tomb of Leonidas", or Leonidaion (37°04′36″N 22°25′31″E / 37.0767°N 22.4254°E / 37.0767; 22.4254), is a limestone structure of the late 5th century BC, likely a temple, but named for Leonidas I in the 19th century, being the only ancient monument indicated within the limits of the newly-planned town in 1834.[10]

Museums

Sports

Spartathlon takes place every September since 1983. It is an ultramarathon starting in Athens and finishing in Sparta at the statue of Leonidas, with many international participants.

The local football club is Sparta F.C.

Twin towns

Sparta is twinned with:

References

  1. 1 2 "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
  2. ↑ Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition
  3. ↑ "Modern day Sparta". Retrieved 2014-09-06.
  4. ↑ Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (in Greek)
  5. ↑ "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
  6. ↑ "Welcome to Sparta". City of Sparta. Retrieved 2014-09-08.
  7. ↑ "Meteoclub.gr". Retrieved 2014-09-05.
  8. ↑ "N.O.A July 2012 bulletin" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-01-20.
  9. ↑ Σπάρτη : H υπερδύναμη της καλοκαιρινής ζέστης στην Ελλάδα (in Greek). Meteoclub. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  10. ↑ Sofia Voutsaki, Paul Cartledge, Ancient Monuments and Modern Identities: A Critical History of Archaeology in 19th and 20th Century Greece (2017), p. 50f.
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