Igoumenitsa

Infobox Greek Dimos
name = Igoumenitsa
name_local = Ηγουμενίτσα
periph = Epirus
prefec = Thesprotia
population = 14710
population_as_of = 2001
area = 80.8
elevation =
lat_deg = 39
lat_min = 29
lon_deg = 20
lon_min = 16
postal_code = 461 00
area_code = 26650
licence = ΗΝ
mayor = Thomas Pitoulis
website = [http://www.igoumenitsa.gr www.igoumenitsa.gr]


caption_skyline = The town of Igoumenitsa
city_

city_

districts = 4
party =
since =
elevation_min = 0
elevation_max = 10

Igoumenitsa (Greek: Ηγουμενίτσα, _sq. Gumenicë, or Gumenica) is a coastal city in northwestern Greece. It is the capital of the prefecture Thesprotia. Its original ancient name used to be Titani.

Igoumenitsa is a picturesque small town with lots of green (the dominating forest can be easily seen in the picture), beaches with crystal clear blue waters, and green mountains surrounding the town. The new 670 km Egnatia Highway, which serves Northern Greece, terminates at Igoumenitsa.

Ancient times

In ancient times Igoumenitsa was known as Titani, (Gitani, Gitana, Goumani) and was one of the most important towns of the kingdom of Thesprotis during the 4th century BC, covering 28 hectares. The circumference of its walls was 2,400 metres. The walls had four gates. Internal walls, in the shape of a sickle, divided the city in half. Its most noteworthy tower, located at the top of the hill, was round, and is thought to have been a religious sanctuary. Excavations have revealed a theatre which seats 2,500 and ruins of two temples.

The city was a meeting place of the Epirote League (Livy 42.38.1). A spur near Philiates between the Kalamas River, the acropolis had a fine semicircular tower. A small theater, towers, and gateways which are still visible. The Kalamas may have been navigable to this point. The city was destroyed by the Romans in 167 BC and later on it was annexed into the Roman Empire.

In modern time, Igoumenitsa was home to a minority population of Cham Albanians before 1944, when they were expelled, after many collaborated with Nazi forces. [James Pettifer and Miranda Vickers [http://http://209.85.135.104/search?q=cache:pviZMX8bAMYJ:www.da.mod.uk/colleges/arag/document-listings/balkan/07(01)MV.pdf+THE+CHALLENGE+TO+PRESERVE+THE+CHAM+HERITAGE&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3] ]

ubdivisions

*Ethiniki Antistasi
*Igoumenitsa
*Lakka
*Liofyta
*Pestaniotika

Municipal districts

*Agia Marina
**Myloi
**Vasilikos
*Agios Vlassios
*Graikochori
**Drosia
**Filothei
*Kastri
*Kryovrysi
*Ladochori
*Mavroudi
**Pigadi
*Nea Selefkia
**Ampelia

Historical population

Climate

The climate except for temperatures are almost as the same as Bergen, Norway (2,250 mm, 2 of the 3 rainy days). The average rainfall in Igoumenitsa is around 1,100 mm while in Athens it is only 380 mm; in Crete, the famous tourist resort and southern port of Europe, it is 640 mm, and in Ioannina 1,300 mm.

The temperature table are dated as of 2005.

The water is safe for swimming between the months of May to November, that's only half a year. In 2005, the town had 65 rainy days, the summer had 4 rainy days with 10 hours of mix of sun and clouds each day. The last 25 years, the lowest temperature was -9°C and the highest was 43°C.

ee also

*List of settlements in the Thesprotia prefecture

External links

* [http://www.igoumenitsa.gr Official website] el icon
* [http://hellas.teipir.gr/prefectures/english/Thesprotia/Hgoumenitsa.htm Igoumenitsa]