Dionysos ( el, Διόνυσος) is a north suburb of Athens and a municipality in northeastern Attica, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Agios Stefanos.

Geography

Dionysos is situated on the northeastern slopes of the forested Penteliko Mountains. It is 5 km south of Agios Stefanos, 9 km west of

Nea Makri Nea Makri ( el, Νέα Μάκρη) is a town in East Attica, Greece. Since the local government reform of 2011, it has been a municipal unit within the municipality of Marathon. The municipal unit has an area of 36.662 km2. It is part of the ...

, on the Aegean Sea coast, and 18 km northeast of Athens city centre. Its built-up area is continuous with those of the neighbouring suburbs Drosia and

Rodopoli Rodopoli ( el, Ροδόπολη, meaning "City of Roses", before 1981: Μπάλα - ''Bala'') is a suburban town in Athens, East Attica regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Dionysos, of which ...

to the northwest. Even though the town is located only 20 Kilometres away from central Athens, it has a completely different climate, with weather being significantly cooler, including frequent snowfall during the winter. Motorway 1 (Athens - Lamia - Thessaloniki) and the railway from Athens to Thessaloniki pass through the western part of the municipality, near Agios Stefanos. There is a railway station at Agios Stefanos. Dionysos is connected to

Kifisia Kifissia or Kifisia (also Kephisia or Cephissia; el, Κηφισιά, ) is one of the most expensive northern suburbs of Athens, Greece, mainly accessed via Kifissias Avenue, running all the way from central Athens up to Theseos Avenue in the subu ...

by the 536 Dionysos-Kifisia bus service.

Climate

Dionysos has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate ( Köppen climate classification: ''Csa''). Thrakomakedones experiences hot, relatively dry summers and cool, wet winters.

History

The town was known by the Arvanitika name Tzamali (Τζαμάλη) up until 1928 when it was renamed Dionysos. The sanctuary of

Dionysus In ancient Greek religion and myth, Dionysus (; grc, Διόνυσος ) is the god of the grape-harvest, winemaking, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, festivity, and theatre. The Romans ...

of Icaria was rediscovered by archaeology in 1888.p. 44, Peter Green, From Ikaria to the stars, (Austin, 2004)

Culture

Dionysos hosts an annual open summer festival usually every July, featuring art exhibitions, theatrical performances, musical shows, sculpture painting and other arts. The public library of Dionysos is located in the town hall, includes over 3500 books available to registered residents to borrow for free. It is run by local volunteers.

Municipality

The municipality Dionysos was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 7 former municipalities, that became municipal units: * Agios Stefanos *

Anoixi Anoixi ( el, Άνοιξη, meaning "spring") is a suburban town in East Attica, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Dionysos, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an area of 4.582 ...

*Dionysos * Drosia * Kryoneri *

Stamata Stamata ( el, Σταμάτα) is a community in East Attica, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform, it is part of the municipality Dionysos, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an area of 18.950 km2. Stamata is ...

The municipality has an area of 69.360 km², the municipal unit 21.410 km².

Notable people

Thespis Thespis (; grc-gre, Θέσπις; fl. 6th century BC) was an Ancient Greek poet. He was born in the ancient city of Icarius (present-day Dionysos, Greece). According to certain Ancient Greek sources and especially Aristotle, he was the first pe ...

, (6th century BC) actor * Kostas Martakis, singer * Aristi Tsipras, mother of the former Greek prime minister

Alexis Tsipras Alexis Tsipras ( el, Αλέξης Τσίπρας, ; born 28 July 1974) is a Greek politician serving as Leader of the Official Opposition since 2019. He served as Prime Minister of Greece from 2015 to 2019. Tsipras has led the Coalition of th ...

Gallery

File:church1111.jpg, The St. George Chiopolitis church in Dionysos File:nice1111.jpg, Penteli mountain as viewed from Dionysos File:Dionysos Greece.JPG , Typical street in Dionysos

References

External links

Municipality of Dionysos
*
Dionyssomarble group
(Dionyssos - Pentelikon marble quarries)

{{Dionysos div Populated places in East Attica Municipalities of Attica el:Δήμος Διονύσου