Penteli, Greece

Penteli
Πεντέλη
Penteli
Location within the region
Coordinates: 38°03′09″N 23°52′06″E / 38.05250°N 23.86833°E / 38.05250; 23.86833Coordinates: 38°03′09″N 23°52′06″E / 38.05250°N 23.86833°E / 38.05250; 23.86833
Country Greece
Administrative region Attica
Regional unit North Athens
Government
 • Mayor Dimitrios Stergiou-Kapsalis (Ind.)
Area
 • Municipality 36.064 km2 (13.924 sq mi)
 • Municipal unit 28.878 km2 (11.150 sq mi)
Elevation 422 m (1,385 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Municipality 34,934
 • Municipality density 970/km2 (2,500/sq mi)
 • Municipal unit 4,995
 • Municipal unit density 170/km2 (450/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code 152 36
Area code(s) 210
Vehicle registration Z
Website www.penteli.gr

Penteli (Greek: Πεντέλη) is a town and a municipality in the North Athens regional unit, Attica, Greece. It belongs to the Athens metropolitan area. It takes its name from Mount Pentelicus.

Municipality

The municipality Penteli was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 3 former municipalities, that became municipal units:[2]

Geography

Penteli is situated on the southern slopes of the limestone Penteli mountains. The municipality has an area of 36.064 km2, the municipal unit Penteli 28.878 km2.[3] It is 14 km northeast of central Athens. Some of the neighbourhoods of Penteli are Agia Triada, Agios Dimitrios, Daou and Kallithea.

History

The bones of prehistoric animals - mastodons, rhinoceros, antelope, and giraffe, along with giant turtles, hyenas and other animals no longer extant in the area - have been found among the limestone crags of the mountain that looms over the present suburb of Athens. The Penteli mountains were renowned in Classical Greece as well as in the Roman Empire as a source of the marble, which was also used to build the Parthenon. The Romans constructed a 140-foot water tower and aqueduct to supply water to the city of Athens. Penteli is the site of the ancient town of Pentele.[4]

During the Greek War of Independence, the French philhellene Sophie de Marbois-Lebrun, Duchess of Plaisance supported the revolutionary leaders. When she settled in Greece in 1834, she bought large plots of land in Athens and on the Penteli mountain. She had the Rododafni Castle in Penteli built for her.

In July 1995, Penteli was ravaged by a large forest fire. According to Turkish former prime minister, Mesut Yilmaz, many of the forest fires that raged the Greek countryside during that summer were accually started by Turkish secret service agents. The forests of Penteli suffered damage again from the August 2007 fires.

Historical population

YearMunicipal unitMunicipality
19812,286-
19913,197-
20014,829-
20114,99534,934

Sights

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
  2. ↑ Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (in Greek)
  3. ↑ "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
  4. ↑ Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 59, and directory notes accompanying.
  5. ↑ Rododafni Castle
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