Chrysovitsi ( el, Χρυσοβίτσι) is a mountain village and a community in the municipal unit of
Falanthos
Falanthos ( el, Φάλανθος) is a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Tripoli, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an area of 208.545& ...
,
Arcadia
Arcadia may refer to:
Places Australia
* Arcadia, New South Wales, a suburb of Sydney
* Arcadia, Queensland
* Arcadia, Victoria
Greece
* Arcadia (region), a region in the central Peloponnese
* Arcadia (regional unit), a modern administrative un ...
,
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
. At the 2011 census its population was 33 for the village and 58 for the community, which includes the village Mantaiika, 5 km southeast of Chrysovitsi. Built on the slopes of
Mainalo
Mainalo ( el, Μαίναλο, grc, Μαίναλος or Μαίναλον, Mainalos or Mainalon; la, Maenalus) is the tallest mountain in the Menalon highlands of the Peloponnese, and is located in Arcadia, Greece. In antiquity, the mountain wa ...
at 1,100 m, Chrysovitsi is one of the highest villages in the Peloponnese. It is a
traditional settlement since November 23, 1998 (Law 908D) and its code number is 12317201. Chrysovitsi is 4 km southwest of
Piana, 7 km northeast of
Lykochia, 11 km east of
Stemnitsa
Stemnitsa ( el, Στεμνίτσα) is a mountain village in the municipal unit of Trikolonoi, Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. It was the seat of the former municipality Trikolonoi. Stemnitsa is a traditional settlement and is considered one of th ...
and 15 km northwest of
Tripoli
Tripoli or Tripolis may refer to:
Cities and other geographic units Greece
*Tripoli, Greece, the capital of Arcadia, Greece
* Tripolis (region of Arcadia), a district in ancient Arcadia, Greece
* Tripolis (Larisaia), an ancient Greek city in ...
.
The village’s houses are all on the slope of the mountain. Allowing a great view over the valley, a green pasture – in fact a small
karstic
Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. It has also been documented for more weathering-resistant ro ...
plain – kind of a typical arcadian landscape.
Forest fires are a permanent threat in the
Mainalo
Mainalo ( el, Μαίναλο, grc, Μαίναλος or Μαίναλον, Mainalos or Mainalon; la, Maenalus) is the tallest mountain in the Menalon highlands of the Peloponnese, and is located in Arcadia, Greece. In antiquity, the mountain wa ...
mountains.
Population
History
The settlement dates back to the 15th century. Around 1700, it was mentioned as ''Chrissovizzi'' under the
Venetian census and later ''Xovitzi'' (Ξοβίτζι). The village was a center of Greek rebellion during the
Greek Revolution of 1821. The revolutionary leader
Theodoros Kolokotronis
Theodoros Kolokotronis ( el, Θεόδωρος Κολοκοτρώνης; 3 April 1770 – 4 February 1843) was a Greek general and the pre-eminent leader of the Greek War of Independence (1821–1829) against the Ottoman Empire. Kolokotronis's g ...
grew up in nearby Limpovisi. In 1935, a lumbermill was built, which was operated until 1972. It is now used as a museum by the Forest Council. In 1997, the formerly independent community joined the municipality of Falanthos.
Song Archives of Sam Chianis, PhD
Noted ethnomusicologist
Sam Chianis, PhD (Σωτηριος Τσιανης) made many trips to Greece in his academic career to catalogue recordings of folk songs as sung and played by locals of various regions. His extensive archive include hundreds of songs from Chrysovitsi alone that was amassed from 2 trips: early 1959 (over 400 songs) and summer 1969 (approximately 110 songs).
Dr Chianis' music library is considered culturally significant and he has shared his collection for posterity with several institutions including the Academy of Athens.
Chicago Organization
The Chrysovitsi Society of Chicago (officially The Benevolent Society of Saint Mary, Chrysovitsi) was formed in the 1950s and hosts social events including an annual 4th of July picnic a northern suburb of Chicago. Funds are raised to benefit philanthropic projects in Chrysovitsi.
See also
*
Karst
Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. It has also been documented for more weathering-resistant ro ...
*
Plateau
In geology and physical geography, a plateau (; ; ), also called a high plain or a tableland, is an area of a highland consisting of flat terrain that is raised sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side. Often one or more sides ha ...
*
List of settlements in Arcadia
This is a list of settlements in Arcadia, Greece.
* Aetorrachi
* Agia Sofia
* Agia Varvara
* Agiorgitika
* Agios Andreas
* Agios Georgios
* Agios Ioannis
* Agios Konstantinos
* Agios Petros
* Agios Vasileios, Leonidio
* Agios Vasileio ...
*
List of traditional settlements of Greece
Traditional settlements in Greece are considered those settlements that have retained their unchanged image of the past, as well as their local character. The traditional settlements designated by law in Greece exceed 800. Around 830 traditional ...
References
External links
Chrysovitsi at the GTP Travel Pages
{{Falanthos
Populated places in Arcadia, Peloponnese