Kozani

Infobox Greek Dimos
name = Kozani
name_local = Κοζάνη


caption_skyline = View of the center of Kozani from Agios Ilias hill
city_

city_

lat_deg = 40
lat_min = 18
lon_deg = 21
lon_min = 47
elevation = 710
elevation_min =
elevation_max =
periph = West Macedonia
prefec = Kozani
province = Kozani
municipality =
districts = 20
mayor = Paris Koukoulopoulos
party =
since = 1991
population_as_of = 2001
population = 47451
area = 366.018
population_metro =
area_metro =
postal_code = 501 00
area_code = +30 2461
licence = KZ
website = [http://www.kozanh.gr www.kozanh.gr]

Kozani ( _el. Κοζάνη) is a city in northern Greece, capital of Kozani Prefecture and of West Macedonia periphery. It is located in the western part of Macedonia, in the northern part of the Aliakmonas river valley. The city lies 710 meters above sea level, 15 kilometers north-west of the artificial lake Polyfytos, 120 km south-west of Thessaloniki, between the mountains Pieria, Vermio, Bourinos and Askio. Its population is estimated at about 50,000. The climate of the area is continental with cold and dry winters, and hot summers.

Kozani is the home of the Technological Educational Institute of Western Macedonia and the University of Western Macedonia, with about 15,000 students from all over Greece and other places. It is also the seat of West Macedonia's court of appeal, police department, fire brigade, the seat of the I Army Corps of the Hellenic Army and of "Servia and Kozani" Bishop.

One of the most important aspects of local folklore is Kozani's carnival at the end of the winter, which retains much of the profanity of the ancient Dionysiac cult. Kozani is renowned in Greece and abroad for the production of the Greek Macedonian Saffron ("Krokos Kozanis"), in the near town of Krokos.

Kozani is a transport node between Central Macedonia, Thessaly and Epirus. The nearest airport is Filippos Airport, 4 km from the city, IATA code: KZI. The airport was first opened in the mid-20th century. Kozani is situated near the Egnatia Highway, which connects the coast of the Ionian Sea with Thessaloniki and Turkish borders.

Etymology

According to the prevailing opinion, the name comes from the village of Epirus "Kósdiani", the origin of settlers of Kozani in 1392. The settlement was first named Kózdiani, which then, it was changed into Kóziani, and in the end into Kozáni. [http://www.kozanh.gr/portal/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=88&Itemid=54 Ιστοσελίδα Δήμου Κοζάνης - 14ος αιώνας - 20ος αιώνας ] ]

The name "Kozani" probably may also derive from the South Slavic "kožani" < "koža" 'skin (goatskin)'. [Babiniotis, Λεξικό της Νέας Ελληνικής Γλώσσας] The name of the city in South Slavic languages is Кожани ("Kožani").

History

Antiquity

Antiquities from the prehistoric to the Byzantine period have been unearthed in many parts of the city. In the east part of Kozani, an ancient necropolis has been found, dating to the early Iron Age. [Κώστας Δ. Ντίνας 2005. Το γλωσσικό ιδίωμα της Κοζάνης.] During Philip II of Macedon's reign, the region was named "Elimeia", which was part of Upper Macedonia. In the south-west of the modern city, in Siopoto hill, there was a settlement named "Kalyvia", between 1100 and 1300, traces of which are still preserved.

Ottoman period

Kozani was probably founded by Christian settlers who, after the Ottoman conquest, withdrew from the plains of Macedonia into the mountains, during 14th and 15th century. Its secure position soon attracted other Christians expelled from Epirus, in 1392. [Μεγδάνης, Χ. 1820. Αγγελία παρί της αρχής προόδου της Ελληνικής Σχολης. Βιέννη.] Together with the settlers from Epirus, many cattle-breeders moved in the region.

The first recorded mention of Kozani is in an Ottoman register of 1528, as a settlement with 91 houses, 23 singles and 15 widows. [Χατζηιωάννου Μ.-Χ. 2000:32. Η ιστορική εξέλιξη των οικισμών στην περιοχή του Αλιάκμωνα κατά την Τουρκοκρατία. Ο κώδικας αρ. 201 της Μονής Μεταμορφώσεως του Σωτήρος Ζάβορδας. Αθήνα: Κέντρο Νεοελληνικών Ερευνών/Εθνικού Ιδρύματος Ερευνών.] One of the most important colonizers of Kozani was the chief shepherd Ioannis Trantas, who settled about 100 families. [Γουναρόπουλος, Κ.Α. 1872:488-9. Κοζανιτικά. Αθήνα: Πανδώρα ΚΒ & Λιούφης, Π. 1924:44-5. Ιστορία της Κοζάνης (History of Kozani). Αθήνα.] His son, Charisios Trantas, managed to obtain a Sultan's firman in 1664, according to the terms of which the town came under the protection of the Sultan's mother, was endowed with many privileges, and became forbidden for the Turks to settle in.

In 1664, the magnificent church of Agios Nikolaos was built. In 1668, the library and the famous school of Kozani were founded. During the 17th and 18th century, commercial relations with the countries of central Europe gave the opportunity for the city to flourish economically. During the 19th century, as foreigner travellers narrate, the population of the town was Greek, and was growing ("Leake 1835:305" [Leake, W.M. 1835:305. Travels in Northern Greece. London.] and "Bouè 1854:87" [Bouè, A. 1854:87. Recueil d' itineraires dans la Turquie d' Europe. Details topographiques et statistiques sur cet empire. Vienna.] ).

The town's growth was disrupted in 1770, because of conflict that erupted between Kozani's local inhabitants and Kozanite merchants in central Europe, who contributed to the town's prosperity; even more catastrophically, the city was pillaged by Turkish beys in 1770. A subsequent incursion by Aslan bey, in 1830, ravaged the city immensely. According to the 1904 population census, 12,000 Greeks and 350 Vlachs were living in Kozani at the time. [Κωνσταντίνος Σπανός. "Η απογραφή του Σαντζακίου των Σερβίων", in: "Ελιμειακά", 48-49, 2001.]

Balkan wars

The Greek army entered Kozani on 11 October 1912, during the First Balkan War, after its victory against the Ottoman army in the Battle of Sarantaporo. By this time, the population of the town was 12,000 Orthodox Greeks. [A. Chalkiopoulos (Χαλκιόπουλος, Α.) 1910:109. Εθνολογική στατιστική των Βιλαετίων Θεσσαλονίκης και Μοναστηρίου. Athens. & Χατζηιωάννου Μ.-Χ. 2000:37. Η ιστορική εξέλιξη των οικισμών στην περιοχή του Αλιάκμωνα κατά την Τουρκοκρατία.] In 1923, during the population exchange between Greece and Turkey, about 1,400 Greek families from Pontus and Asia minor were settled in Kozani.

Modern times

In the 20th century, the city grew tremendously, as lignite reserves in the area started being used by Public Power Corporation, making Kozani the foremost producer of electrical power in Greece. An earthquake that occurred in the region on 13 May 1995, with a magnitude of 6.6 on the Richter scale caused only property damage. [ [http://www.xromio.gr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=31 Ο σεισμός της 13 Μαΐου 1995] ]

The city now combines modern with old architecture. Some magnificent buildings are the Clock tower, the Townhall, the Folklore museum, the "Valtadoreio" Gymnasium, the National Bank building, the "Ermioneion" Hotel and the mansions of Georgios Lassanis and Grigorios Vourkas. The Municipal library of Kozani called "Kovendareios" is the second biggest in Greece, and it has 150,000 books, rare publications, valuable documents, and one of the rare copies of Rigas Feraios Charter. For this reason Kozani was included in the National Cultural Network of Cities with object the promotion of the Book and Reading. Thus it was established the Institute of Book and Reading and Kozani is known as "City of Books". [ [http://www.icte.uowm.gr/kozani.htm τέχνες και πολιτισμός] ] Today Kozani is the administrative, commercial, economic, and transport centre of the region of West Macedonia.

Economy

The city is mostly known for the important contribution to the Greek electricity supply, and a large part of the population works in the factories which produce electricity from coal (DEI - Greek national electrical company). In the region, 80% of the electric energy of the country is produced. Other famous products are marble, Saffron (Krokos Kozanis), fruits, local wines and specialized arts and crafts industry. A lot of banks have branches in Kozani. The local bank is named co-operative Bank of Kozani.

The Commercial Exhibition of Kozani takes part in the Exhibition Center of West Macedonia in Koila Kozanis every September. Many firms from Greece and other Balkan countries participate especially with locals products.

ites of interest

*Kozani Archaeological Museum
*Kozani museum of folklore and natural history is a place worth visiting. It is built according to old Macedonian architecture, and in its 6 floors, visitors can see everything about the georgaphy, natural history, flora and animals of the region, as well as the history, the traditions and the past way of life in Kozani.
*Kozani Museum of modern local history
*Kozani Museum of the Macedonian Struggle, a museum dedicated to the history of the Macedonian Struggle.
*The church of Agios Nikolaos 350 years old.
*Other attractions include the Grigorios Vourkas Mansion and the Georgios Lassanis Mansion. The second one lies in a central square, named Lassani Square and it is used as the Municipal Map Library.
*The Municipal Park Kouri, the Park of Agios Dimitrios where you can see the Cultural Center and the Municipal Theatre of Kozani, and the hill of Xenia with the nice view of all the city
*The bridge above the lake of Polyfytos. It is the longest bridge in Greece and measures 1372 meters in length.

Communications

Media

Climate

The climate of the area is continental with cold and dry winters, and hot summers.

Education

There are 18 Primary schools in Kozani, and another 8, in the municipal departments of Vatero, Kariditsa, Koila, Lefkovrysi, Lefkopigi, Nea Charavgi, Xirolimni and Petrana. The Gymnasiums of the city are 8, and there are two more in the municipal departments of Lefkopigi and Xirolimni. There are also 4 Lyceums, 4 Technical Schools (TEE), some Business Schools and one municipal Odeum.

Kozani is the home of the Technological Educational Institute of Western Macedonia - one of the biggest in Greece (founded on 1976). Three of its Faculties are in the city - the Faculty of Administration and Economy, Technological Applications and Health. (The rest of them are in other places of West Macedonia). The seat of the University of Western Macedonia and its Faculty of Engineering, they are also in Kozani. The University was founded in 2002.

Culture

Festivals

The Carnival

The most interesting local celebration during the carnival [ [http://apokries-kozanis.gr/ Αποκριά Κοζάνης 2007 ] ] are the "Fanoi" (great bonfires), which are lit in the squares of Kozani. Around them, people sing and dance mainly scoptic songs and local dances, such as the best known song in the region - the "Enteka" of Kozani, often called Kozani's "national anthem". All celebrations become more exciting on the Sunday of the last week, after the carnival parade, when bonfires are lit all over the town which burn until the early morning hours.

Lassaneia events

Events at the end of summer, which consist of theatrical representations, concerts, athletic events etc. They are named "Lassaneia" from Georgios Lassanis, who was from Kozani and participated in the Greek War of Independence.

Niaimeros fair

Fair in the north of the city in the Niaimeros place. It takes place on the first Tuesday of October. It used to last 9 days ("niaimeros" = nine days), but now it lasts only 3 days.

Local holidays

*11 October - celebration for the liberation of the city from the Turks.
*6 December - Saint Nicolas day, Kozani's patron.The municipal Band is named "Pandora". It was founded in 1902, and it takes part in all the events and celebrations.

Cuisine

A typical dish in Kozani is the so called Giaprakia. The main ingredients are meat and rice in salty vine-leaf, having the shape of a ball. It is used often as Christmas food. Kichi ("Kozanitiko kichi") is called another local dish, which is actually a cheese pie with circular form.

Notable people

*Georgios Sakellarios, (1765-1838) educator
*Georgios Lassanis, (1793-1870) scholar and politician
*Georg Johannes Karajanis, great-great-grandfather of conductor Herbert von Karajan
*Evripidis Bakirtzis, (1895-1947), politician
*Georgios Parakeimenos, educator
*Nikolas Asimos, (1949-1988) composer and singer
*Anna Diamantopoulou, (1959-present) politician, former EU Commissioner, for Employment and Social Affairs, in the Prodi Commission
*Elias Atmatsidis, (1969-present)Football goalkeeper
*Ieroklis Stoltidis, (1975-present) footballer
*Kalliopi Vetta, singer
*Ioannis Amanatidis, (1981-present) footballer

ports

*Kozani FC (Greek Fourth Division)
*Makedonikos F.C.
*Lassanis Kozanis BC

Twinnings

*flagicon|USA Bristol, Connecticut, USA, since November 2 1987
*flagicon|Romania Iaşi, Romania

ee also

*Lake Polyfytos Bridge
*Kozani Municipal Stadium
*Technological Educational Institute of Western Macedonia
*University of Western Macedonia
*I Army Corps of the Hellenic Army
*Kozani National Airport "Filippos"
*"Enteka" dance
*Krokos Kozanis

References

External links

* [http://www.kozanh.gr/ Municipality of Kozani]
* [http://www.kozani.gr/ Perfecture of Kozani]
* [http://www.westernmacedonia.gr/ Periphery of Western Macedonia]
* [http://www.uowm.gr/ University of Western Macedonia]
* [http://www.teikoz.gr/ TEI of Western Macedonia]
*http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/HellenicMacedonia/en/C3.6.html
*wikitravel