Konitsa

Konitsa Κόνιτσα
View of Konitsa.
Konitsa
Location within the region
Coordinates:
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Epirus
Regional unit	Ioannina
Area
• Municipality	949.9 km2 (366.8 sq mi)
• Municipal unit	542.5 km2 (209.5 sq mi)
Elevation	600 m (2,000 ft)
Population (2011)
• Municipality	6,362
• Municipality density	6.7/km2 (17/sq mi)
• Municipal unit	4,632
• Municipal unit density	8.5/km2 (22/sq mi)
Community
• Population	2942
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code	441 00
Area code(s)	26550
Vehicle registration	ΙΝ

Konitsa municipality

Konitsa (Greek: Κόνιτσα; Aromanian: Conita) is a town in Epirus, Greece, near the Albanian border. It lies, amphitheatre-shaped, on a mountain slope of the Pindos mountain range, overlooking the valley where the river Aoos meets the river Voidomatis. The valley is used for farming. Konitsa is a regional centre for many small Pindos villages, and there are shops, schools and a hospital. It is a good starting point for tourists who want to explore the Pindos mountains, or who want to go rafting in the river Aoos or parapenting. Other places of interest nearby are:

• The Vikos–Aoös National Park, including the Vikos Gorge, the Aoos Gorge and the Tymfi mountains. It is where Vikos spring water is collected;
• Mount Smolikas (2637 m), Greece's second highest mountain;
• The sulfur baths of Kavasila;
• The two Dragonlakes (Tymfi's and Smolika's)
• Zagori, a group of small mountain villages;
• The nearest city is Ioannina

History

In antiquity, the area of Konitsa was part of the territory of the Molossians.

In 15th century Konitsa came under Ottoman rule and became part of the Sanjak of Ioannina.

A Greek school was operating already from the end of the 18th century under Georgios Mostras, student of Balanos Vasilopoulos. Greek education was flourishing and in 1906 the kaza of Konitsa had 31 schools and 1,036 pupils. The functioning of the school was interrupted during the turbulent times of Ali Pasha's rule, however soon after it reopened following the initiative of Kosmas Thesprotos, a student of Athanasios Psalidas. During the 19th century until the early 20th century, the tekke of Konitsa, similarly to other Albanian Bektashi tekkes, was a covert center of culture, learning and tolerance, but also Albanian national activism against the Ottoman Empire. On the other hand, the local Greek population displayed tolerance towards actions by the Albanians that didn't reveal chauvinist inclinations.

During the Greek Civil War (1946–1949) the surrounding region became a major battleground, while in December 1947 communist guerrilla units unsuccessfully tried to capture the town. Almost all buildings inhabited by Muslim Albanians in Konitsa were destroyed during World War II warfare.

Municipality

The present municipality Konitsa was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 5 former municipalities, that became municipal units (constituent communities in brackets):

• Konitsa (Aetopetra, Agia Paraskevi, Agia Varvara, Aidonochori, Amarantos, Armata, Elefthero, Exochi, Gannadio, Iliorrachi, Kallithea, Kavasila, Kleidonia, Konitsa, Mazi, Melissopetra, Molista, Molyvdoskepastos, Monastiri, Nikanoras, Pades, Palaioselli, Pigi, Pournia, Pyrgos)
• Aetomilitsa
• Distrato
• Fourka
• Mastorochoria (Asimochori, Vourmpiani, Gorgopotamos, Drosopigi, Kallithea, Kastania, Kefalochori, Kleidonia, Lagkada, Oxya, Plagia, Plikati, Pyrsogianni, Chionades)

Province

The province of Konitsa (Greek: Επαρχία Κόνιτσας) was one of the provinces of the Ioannina Prefecture. It had the same territory as the present municipality. It was abolished in 2006.

Historical Demographics

Year	Town	Municipal unit	Municipality
1981	2,859	-	-
1991	2,858	6,572	-
2001	2,871	6,225	-
2011	2,942	4,632	6,362

Notable people

• Konstantinos Dovas (1898–1973), Prime minister of Greece and Army general.
• Saint John Vrachoritis (-1813), Greek Orthodox Saint
• Eleftherios Oikonomou, former Chief of the Greek Police.
• Faik Konica (March 15, 1875 – December 15, 1942), writer and ambassador of Albania in Washington, DC
• Mehmet Konica, twice Foreign Minister of Albania
• Giannis Lyberopoulos, professor and author.
• Konstantis Pistiolis, clarinet player and vocalist

External links

• Περισσότερα για την Κόνιτσα (in Greek only)