Penteli, Greece
| Penteli Πεντέλη | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Penteli | |
|
Location within the region  | |
| Coordinates: 38°3′N 23°52′E / 38.050°N 23.867°ECoordinates: 38°3′N 23°52′E / 38.050°N 23.867°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Attica |
| Regional unit | North Athens |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Dimitrios Stergiou-Kapsalis (Ind.) |
| Area | |
| • Municipality | 32.9 km2 (12.7 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 | 1,100/km2 (2,800/sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 4,995 |
| • Municipal unit density | 170/km2 (450/sq mi) |
| Community | |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| 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 the Penteli mountain.
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]
- Melissia
- Nea Penteli
- Penteli
Geography
Penteli is situated on the southern slopes of the limestone Penteli mountains. 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.
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
| Year | Municipal unit | Municipality |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 2,286 | - |
| 1991 | 3,197 | - |
| 2001 | 4,829 | - |
| 2011 | 4,995 | 34,934 |
Sights
- Rododafni Castle, also known as Pyrgos Doukissis Plakentias, a mansion built for the Duchess of Plaisance. Construction was started in 1840, but it was not finished until 1961, when Constantine II of Greece moved into it.[3]
- The Penteli Astronomical Station of the National Observatory of Athens, completed in 1936
See also
References
- ↑ "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
- ↑ Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (Greek)
- ↑ Rododafni Castle
External links
- Official website (Greek)
Gallery
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Center of Penteli
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Penteli Monastery entrance
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Penteli fields
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Tourelle tower
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Penteli fallen residents monument
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Kifisia | Dionysos | Nea Makri | |
| Nea Penteli |  |
Rafina | ||
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| Chalandri | Gerakas, Anthousa, Pallini | Pikermi |
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