Municipality of Missolonghi

Missolonghi

Missolonghi (formally, the holy city Missolonghi) is the capital of the prefecture Etoloakarnania (Aetolia & Acarnania region) located in southern part of the county, between the rivers Achelous and Evinos. It is a historic municipality, as the city took place some of the most dramatic moments of the Greek Revolution of 1821, and the two Sieges of Missolonghi Exodus.

Missolonghi is also known for its fishing products, especially the roe, since the adjacent lagoon is ideal for fish farming. The lagoon with its picturesque "pelades", the small wooden houses on piles in the water, protected by the RAMSAR treaty known and is an environmental park and ecosystem. According to the census of 2001, Missolonghi has 18,121 inhabitants.

The name Missolonghi was first reported by a Venetian, who described the battle of Lepanto near Nafpaktos. Several historical sources indicate that the name Missolonghi from the union of two Italian words, MEZZO / MESSO and LAGHI which means "a place surrounded by lakes." By 1700 the city was under Venetian rule. The inhabitants were mostly fishermen.

You can see here a video for Missolonghi.

To the northwest of Missolonghi are the ruins of Plevron ("Asfakovouni"), a city which refers to the Homeric epics. He participated in the Trojan War and was destroyed by Demetrius Aitolikos. The new town, built on the ruins of the old, was one of the most important of Aetolia and had 30 towers and 7 gates. The excavations in Plevron brought to light the walls, the theater, tombs, a Roman aqueduct and many buildings.

During the revolution of 1770, the army of the city was defeated by the Ottomans. Missolonghi rebelled again on May 20, 1821 and was one of the main Greek forces in the liberation struggle. The residents resisted the attacks of the Ottoman Empire in 1822 and 1823 (second siege of Missolonghi). The third attack began on April 15, 1825 by Kioutachis.

After one year of continuous attacks and hunger, the inhabitants of Missolonghi decided to exit the city, the night of April 10, 1826, which became famous as "Out of Missolonghi." At that time the inhabitants of the city was 10,500 by 3,500 of which were armed. Few were Missolonghians who survived the Exodus. Because of the heroic attitude of Missolonghi, the city accepted the honor to attribute the title of the Holy City, which is unique in Greece.

The famous English poet philellene (friend of Greece) Lord Byron, who supported the effort for Greek liberation, died in 1824. Reference to face is a cenotaph containing his heart.

Located in the city, including the family home Trikoupi, home of poet Palamas, Valveios the library with rare books and documents, the contemporary art gallery Christos and Sophia Moschandreou. There are also the Center for Art and Literature Diexodos one of the most important cultural cells in Western Greece.

The walls and the gate of the city remain impressive and the visitors can visit the Garden of Heroes, where are buried many known and unknown heroes who fought in the heroic Exodus. Every year on Palm Sunday is celebrated as a day of remembrance of the Exodus.