Palaio Faliro, Athens
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Palaio Faliro ( el, Παλαιό Φάληρο, ;
Katharevousa Katharevousa ( el, Καθαρεύουσα, , literally "purifying anguage) is a conservative form of the Modern Greek language conceived in the late 18th century as both a literary language and a compromise between Ancient Greek and the contempor ...
: Palaion Faliron, Παλαιόν Φάληρον, meaning "Old
Phalerum Phalerum or Phaleron ( ''()'', ; ''()'', ) was a port of Ancient Athens, 5 km southwest of the Acropolis of Athens, on a bay of the Saronic Gulf. The bay is also referred to as "Bay of Phalerum" ( el, Όρμος Φαλήρου '').'' The ...
") is a coastal district and a municipality in the southern part of the
Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...
agglomeration,
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 it had 64,021 inhabitants.


Geography

Palaio Faliro is situated on the east coast of the Phalerum Bay, a bay of the
Saronic Gulf The Saronic Gulf (Greek: Σαρωνικός κόλπος, ''Saronikós kólpos'') or Gulf of Aegina in Greece is formed between the peninsulas of Attica and Argolis and forms part of the Aegean Sea. It defines the eastern side of the isthmus of Co ...
, 6 km southwest of Athens city centre. The municipality has an area of 4.574 km2. It is surrounded by other districts of Athens:
Kallithea Kallithea (Greek: Καλλιθέα, meaning "beautiful view") is a district of Athens and a municipality in south Athens regional unit. It is the eighth largest municipality in Greece (96,118 inhabitants, 2021 census) and the fourth biggest i ...
,
Nea Smyrni Nea Smyrni ( el, Νέα Σμύρνη, ''Néa Smýrni'', "New Smyrna") is a municipality in South Athens, Greece. At the 2011 census, it had 73,076 inhabitants. It was named after İzmir in Turkey, which Greek's called it as Smyrna, whence many ...
, Agios Dimitrios and Alimos. The Pikrodafni stream flows into sea on the border of Palaio Faliro and Alimos. Palaio Faliro is at the Northwest part of what is referred to as the
Athens Riviera Athens Riviera is the coastal area in the southern suburbs of Athens, Greece from Piraeus to Sounio. It is located about from downtown Athens stretching from the southern suburbs of Athens to the southernmost point of Attica, Cape Sounio. Hist ...
. The seaside area was redeveloped for the
2004 Summer Olympics The 2004 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, ), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας, ) and also known as Athens 2004 ( el, Αθήνα 2004), ...
, and now contains a seaside promenade, several sports venues, a marina and the Naval Tradition Park, where museum ships are exhibited. The neighbourhoods of Palaio Faliro are Amfithea, Batis, Edem, Panagitsa, Floisvos, Palmyra, Pikrodafni, Agia Varvara and Kopsachila.


History

The conventions for writing and
Romanizing Romanization or romanisation, in linguistics, is the conversion of text from a different writing system to the Roman (Latin) script, or a system for doing so. Methods of romanization include transliteration, for representing written text, and ...
Ancient Greek and Modern Greek differ markedly, which can create confusion. Thus the Greek name Φάληρον (Phaleron) can appear in various forms in English (Phalerum, Faliro, etc.), according to the historical context, disguising the fact that it is the same word. Phaleron was an important place in antiquity, then as now one of the
demes In Ancient Greece, a deme or ( grc, δῆμος, plural: demoi, δημοι) was a suburb or a subdivision of Athens and other city-states. Demes as simple subdivisions of land in the countryside seem to have existed in the 6th century BC and ear ...
of
Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...
; however, a precise definition of its Classical topography is lacking, although the location of the deme is well established.
Pausanias Pausanias ( el, Παυσανίας) may refer to: *Pausanias of Athens, lover of the poet Agathon and a character in Plato's ''Symposium'' *Pausanias the Regent, Spartan general and regent of the 5th century BC * Pausanias of Sicily, physician of t ...
records that it was on the coast, equidistant from Athens and Cape Kolias (i.e., Ayios Kosmas) at 20
stadia Stadia may refer to: * One of the plurals of stadium, along with "stadiums" * The plural of stadion, an ancient Greek unit of distance, which equals to 600 Greek feet (''podes''). * Stadia (Caria), a town of ancient Caria, now in Turkey * Stadi ...
.Description of Greece , by Pausanias, books 1 and 8 (see 1.1.2, 8.10.4 and 1.1.5)
Strabo Strabo''Strabo'' (meaning "squinty", as in strabismus) was a term employed by the Romans for anyone whose eyes were distorted or deformed. The father of Pompey was called "Pompeius Strabo". A native of Sicily so clear-sighted that he could see ...
enumerates the coastal demes east of Piraeus and starts with Phaleron.Geographica, by Strabo, book 9, ch. 21 The site of the ancient town appears to be the area and headland around the church of St. George,The Ports and the Long Walls of Athens (Οι Λιμένες και τα Μακρά Τείχη των Αθηνών), by H. Ulrichs, publ. Athens, 1843 (in Greek). See page 28Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites, by Richard Stillwell and others, publ. Princeton University Press,1976 with the harbour to the west in the open
roadstead A roadstead (or ''roads'' – the earlier form) is a body of water sheltered from rip currents, spring tides, or ocean swell where ships can lie reasonably safely at anchor without dragging or snatching.United States Army technical manual, TM 5- ...
. Remains of conglomerate blocks have been found crossing the heights of Old Phaleron to the sea and these are likely to be part of the Phaleric Wall recorded by
Thucydides Thucydides (; grc, , }; BC) was an Athenian historian and general. His ''History of the Peloponnesian War'' recounts the fifth-century BC war between Sparta and Athens until the year 411 BC. Thucydides has been dubbed the father of "scientifi ...
. Before the 5th century B.C., Phaleron was the port of Athens, as it is least distant from the city. Thus the Athenians sailing to Troy would have departed from Phaleron. But Themistocles, when he became preeminent in the government of the Athenians, arranged that Piraeeus be the main port, as it was more convenient for seafarers.Description of Greece , by Pausanias, book 1, ch. 1. Pausanias, in the Roman period, notes that Phaleron contained an altar to the unknown god (by the Temple of Zeus in Phaleron), which was referred to by
St. Paul Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...
when he visited Athens. In the reign of the emperor
Justinian Justinian I (; la, Iustinianus, ; grc-gre, Ἰουστινιανός ; 48214 November 565), also known as Justinian the Great, was the Byzantine emperor from 527 to 565. His reign is marked by the ambitious but only partly realized ''renovat ...
,
Stephanus of Byzantium Stephanus or Stephan of Byzantium ( la, Stephanus Byzantinus; grc-gre, Στέφανος Βυζάντιος, ''Stéphanos Byzántios''; centuryAD), was a Byzantine grammarian and the author of an important geographical dictionary entitled ''Ethni ...
, in his geographical dictionary ''Ethnica'', records Phaleron as a deme and port of Attica. Throughout the period of Frankish rule, which followed the Roman-Byzantine empire, Athens was confined within the late Roman walls, and the area beyond became a wasteland. In the Ottoman period, the port was known as Porto Vecchio (old port) and its harbour was located near the church of St. George, once a chapel dedicated to St. Nicholas. The harbour also had the name Skala of St. Nicholas. In 1674 the English Consul in Athens, Jean Giraud, called this location "Three Towers" or Tripyrgi, a place-name that was retained into the 19th century. Most likely the name was created in medieval times because of the presence of ancient ruins in this area.Μediaeval Towers on the Athenian Coastline, City and Landscape in the Mediterranean, published in the periodical: Diachronia Supplement 2 (December 2012), 145-160. By George Pallis The Battle of Phaleron took place in May 1827 as part of an ill-fated action to relieve the Greeks besieged in the Acropolis during the Greek War of Independence. Greek troops landed around the Three Towers area and advanced on the Acropolis but the expedition ended in disaster and the fortress capitulated in June. The area came to be known as old Phaleron in the later 19th century, following the development of the settlement of Neo Phaleron in 1850–1860, now a suburb of Piraeus. Before 1920 old Phaleron was a small seaside village where the houses were few and between which there were long stretches of wheat, barley and oats as well as many vineyards. Some of the men were fishermen, but most were farmers, shepherds and stock breeders. In 1883 the first public transport connecting old Phaleron with Athens was inaugurated, a horse-drawn tram line. In 1890 steam trams were introduced and it was later electrified.Web site of municipality http://www.palaiofaliro.gr/ (Our City – recent years) retrieved June 2016 In the western ‘Delta’ area a sea plane airport was started in August 1926, with the first international route Brindisi - Faliro - Istanbul. In the 20th century there was a rapid growth in population, reflected in upgrades in municipal government (see below). Many Greeks from Istanbul (Constantinople) came to live in Palaio Faliro, especially after 1974, and now form a very active and prominent community. In January 2005, a 1.8-meter-tall marble torso of a young man was found in the Pikrodafni streambed at the intersections of Pikrodafnis and Dimokratias Streets. The statue dates back to the 1st century A.D. and was a copy of a 4th-century B.C. classical original that may depict
Apollo Lykeios The Apollo Lyceus ( el, Ἀπόλλων Λύκειος, ''Apollōn Lukeios'') type, also known as Lycean Apollo, originating with Praxiteles and known from many full-size statue and figurine copies as well as from 1st century BCE Athenian coinage ...
. It was said the statue could have been recently discovered by builders during construction work and dumped in the streambed for fear archaeologists might stop the works if alerted to the find. During the 2000s, especially during the
Summer Olympics 2004 The 2004 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, ), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας, ) and also known as Athens 2004 ( el, Αθήνα 2004), ...
, Palaio Faliro saw major improvements in its infrastructure, such as the establishment of the Tram Line 3 that serves the southern coastal area of
Athens Athens ( ; el, Αθήνα, Athína ; grc, Ἀθῆναι, Athênai (pl.) ) is both the capital and largest city of Greece. With a population close to four million, it is also the seventh largest city in the European Union. Athens dominates ...
.


Historical population


Municipality

In 1925 Palaio Faliro was established as a local government Community (i.e.
civil parish In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties, or their combined form, the unitary authority ...
or
township A township is a kind of human settlement or administrative subdivision, with its meaning varying in different countries. Although the term is occasionally associated with an urban area, that tends to be an exception to the rule. In Australia, Ca ...
) with the Presidential Decree 27/8/1925.See web site of municipality http://www.palaiofaliro.gr/ retrieved June 2015 In 1942, Palaio Faliro, together with Kalamaki, became a
municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
, with K. Toufexí̱s as the first mayor. Kalamaki (now in Alimos municipality) was separated in 1945. Mayors of Palaio Faliro * K. Toufexis (1/9/1942 - 28/1/1945) * K. Ntaí̱s (29/1/1945 - 11/2/1946) * A. Magriplí̱s (11/2/1946 - 11/4/1946) * K. Ntaí̱s (11/4/1946 - 17/6/1946) * I. Ntávari̱s (17/6/1946 - 9/8/1950) * G Sakellaríou (17/8/1950 - 24/5/1951) * I. Láppas (24/5/1951 - 9/6/1959) * N. Psarráki̱s (9/6/1959 - 25/5/1970) * E. Zi̱simopoúlou (29/5/1970 - 13/7/1970) * S. Vlachópoulos (13/7/1970 - 17/9/1974) * G. Chronópoulos (17/9/1974 - 24/9/1974) * D. Bavarézos (24/9/1974 - 6/4/1975) * D. Kapsanis (6/4/1975 - 31/12/1986) * G. Chrysoverídis (1/1/1987 - 31/12/1998) * D. Kapsanis (1/1/1999 - 31/12/2002) * D. Hatzidakis (1/1/2003 - 31/8/2019) * I. Fostiropoulos (1/9/2019 - ) The municipal council has 41 members. In the municipal election of 2014, the seats achieved by each party were as follows: * 27 seats - New Force for Phaleron (
New Democracy New Democracy, or the New Democratic Revolution, is a concept based on Mao Zedong's Bloc of Four Social Classes theory in Chinese Communist Revolution, post-revolutionary China which argued originally that democracy in China would take a path ...
), aligned with mayor Dionysis Hajidakis * 6 seats - Radical Left (
SYRIZA The Coalition of the Radical Left – Progressive Alliance ( el, Συνασπισμός Ριζοσπαστικής Αριστεράς – Προοδευτική Συμμαχία, Synaspismós Rizospastikís Aristerás – Proodeftikí Simachía), ...
) * 3 seats – Independent Municipal Force with Phaleron * 2 seats – Democratic Rally * 2 seats – We for Phaleron * 2 seats – Greek Dawn


Transport

The main avenues of Palaio Faliro are the seaside
Poseidonos Avenue Poseidonos Avenue ( el, Λεωφόρος Ποσειδώνος), also known as Paraliaki (), is the main coastal road of Athens, Greece. It runs from new Faliro in Piraeus to Glyfada and beyond, traversing all the coastal suburbs of Athens; thus it ...
, which connects it with the port of
Piraeus Piraeus ( ; el, Πειραιάς ; grc, Πειραιεύς ) is a port city within the Athens urban area ("Greater Athens"), in the Attica region of Greece. It is located southwest of Athens' city centre, along the east coast of the Saronic ...
and the other southern suburbs, and the
Andrea Syngrou Avenue Andrea Syngrou Avenue ( gr, Λεωφόρος Ανδρέα Συγγρού) is a major road in Athens, linking the city centre with Poseidonos Avenue near the Bay of Faliro. It was planned and built by, and later named for, Andreas Syngros. It ru ...
respectively, which connects Palaio Faliro with the central Athens. Palaio Faliro is served by the
Tram A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...
and by
Buses A bus (contracted from omnibus, with variants multibus, motorbus, autobus, etc.) is a road vehicle that carries significantly more passengers than an average car or van. It is most commonly used in public transport, but is also in use for cha ...
. Palaio Faliro has a direct connection to the
Athens International Airport Athens International Airport ''Eleftherios Venizelos'' ( el, Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Αθηνών «Ελευθέριος Βενιζέλος», ''Diethnís Aeroliménas Athinón "Elefthérios Venizélos"''), commonly initialised as ...
via its express bus line X96. A new pedestrian overpass is planned to cross Poseidonos Avenue at Aphrodite Road.


Landmarks

The Flisvos Public Park at Palaio Faliro, next to the Marina of Flisvos, is a common destination for cultural activities and public events in Palaio Faliro, as well as a place for relaxation for the local population and tourists. It is located just next to the sea beach and provides benches and ample space for jogging or gymnastics. Other landmarks include: *Cultural Centre of Palaio Faliro
Marina of Flisvos
*Saint Mary church (Panagitsa) * Naval Tradition Park, including the historical warships ''
Georgios Averof George M. Averoff (15 August 1815, Metsovo – 15 July 1899, Alexandria), alternately Jorgos Averof or Georgios Averof (in Greek: Γεώργιος Αβέρωφ), was a businessman and philanthropist. He is one of the great national benefactors o ...
'', and the replica of the ancient Athenian trireme '' Olympias''. *Village Cinemas Complex * Phaleron Allied War Cemetery *The
Evgenidio Foundation The Eugenides Foundation ( el, Ίδρυμα Ευγενίδου) is Greek private educational foundation. It was established in 1956 in Athens, Greece implementing the will of the late Greek benefactor Eugenios Eugenidis, who died in April 1954. Th ...
(better known as: The Athenian Planetarium) *Parts of the
Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Complex The Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Sports Complex is a complex in the coastal zone of Athens, Greece. It consists of two indoor arenas and a beach volleyball stadium, and it hosted Handball, Taekwondo, and volleyball events at the 2004 Summer Ol ...
, such as the
Faliro Sports Pavilion Arena The Faliro Sports Pavilion Arena which is part of the Faliro Coastal Zone Olympic Complex is an indoor arena in Palaio Faliro, in Athens, Greece. It is nicknamed "The Little Peace And Friendship Stadium", due to its similarity in design and clo ...
, that were intended for the usage for the
2004 Summer Olympics The 2004 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, ), officially the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad ( el, Αγώνες της 28ης Ολυμπιάδας, ) and also known as Athens 2004 ( el, Αθήνα 2004), ...
*National Historical Museum of the
Hellenic Air Force , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = 8 November , equipment = , equipment_label ...
*Phylax Statue


Churches of Palaio Faliro

The oldest church of Palaio Faliro is the chapel of St. George in Xirotagaro, next to the Museum of Naval Tradition. It was built probably in the 17th century, when the area was known by the Turks as Three Towers. Restored 1985. The large church of St. Alexander is the metropolis of Palaio Faliro and is located in St. Alexander Street, the main commercial thoroughfare, at the corner with Alcyonis Street. In order to satisfy the spiritual needs of the growing population of Palaio Faliro the church was founded at the behest of the "Urban League of Palaio Faliro" on 5 June 1916, in honour St. Alexander, Archbishop of Constantinople. The foundation stone was laid by the then prince, later king, Alexander of the Hellenes. The church was completely rebuilt on the same site in 1952. The Church of the Assumption of Mary is in Achilles Street. It is a large and imposing building on the model of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. The first church was built in 1930 and burned down in 1969. The church of St. Barbara, in St. Barbara Avenue, gave its name to the district of the same name in Paleo Faliro. Initially built in 1936 as a wooden chapel, the current Byzantine style church was completed in 1965. The church of Ayia Kyriaki, in Amfitheas Street, was founded in 1955 as a private wooden church. It became a parish church in 1957. The present stone building was built in 1964 and the site includes a separate stone tower at the corner with Palaeologos Street.


Sports

The Scouts of Greece have a Sea Scout Group in Palaio Faliro. Palaio Faliro also has an A1 water polo team named AC Palaio Faliro. Palaio Faliro is also home to its professional basketball club Paleo Faliro B.C., which is currently in the Greek Second Division.


Notable people and residents

*
Pavlos Kountouriotis Pavlos Kountouriotis ( el, Παύλος Κουντουριώτης; 9 April 1855 – 22 August 1935) was a Greek rear admiral during the Balkan Wars, regent, and the first President of the Second Hellenic Republic. In total he served four times ...
* Christodoulos of Athens *
Dimitrios Levidis Dimitrios Levidis ( el, Δημήτριος Λεβίδης; 8 April 1885 or 1886, Athens - 29 May 1951, Palaio Faliro) was a List of Greek composers, Greek composer, later naturalized List of French composers, French (1929). Background He descende ...
*
Kostas Rigopoulos Kostas Rigopoulos ( el, Κώστας Ρηγόπουλος; 22 November 1930 – 14 January 2001) was a Greek actor. Biography Rigopoulos was born in Athens in November 1930 and graduated from the National Theatre of Greece Drama School in 1953. ...
*
Yanis Varoufakis Ioannis "Yanis" Varoufakis ( el, Ιωάννης Γεωργίου "Γιάνης" Βαρουφάκης, Ioánnis Georgíou "Giánis" Varoufákis, ; born 24 March 1961) is a Greek economist and politician. A former academic, he served as the Gree ...
* Nikolaos Vokos * Vera Zavitsianou *
Demetrius of Phalerum Demetrius of Phalerum (also Demetrius of Phaleron or Demetrius Phalereus; grc-gre, Δημήτριος ὁ Φαληρεύς; c. 350 – c. 280 BC) was an Athenian orator originally from Phalerum, an ancient port of Athens. A student of Theophrast ...


References


External links


Municipality of Palaio Faliro

Ancient Roman work in Faliron Stream
- Ekathimerini
Averof ship museum
{{Kallikratis-Attica Municipalities of Attica Populated places in South Athens (regional unit)