Vonitsa

Vonitsa (Greek: Βόνιτσα) is a is a town and it serves the seat of the municipality of Anaktorio in the northwestern part of the Aitoloakarnania prefecture in Greece. Population 12000 (2001). The town is situated in the bay overlooking the Ambracian Gulf and has a small forested peninsula, the peninsula and its narrow strait is in the northwest of town and it overlooks Preveza as well as its prefecture and Epirus. Vonitsa is linked with the GR-42 linking the island of Lefkada and Amfilochia as well as the GR-19 linking with Aktion, the ancient Aktium. Other than the popular Actium, it is also a beach town and is built on the south side of the Ambracian Gulf.

ettlements

*Aktio, the ancient Actium
*Nea Kalamaria

Nearest places

*Aktio or the ancient Actium, northwest.

Geography

The geography consists of farmlands which are mainly of mixed farming which includes groves, pastures and fruits and vegetables, the area to the west are hilly and forested, the southern and the eastern portions that are mountainous are grassy and nearly deforested.

History

The town is built very close to ancient Anactorium (Greek: Ανακτόριο) in which the ancient site gave its name to the municipality. The ancient Anactorium was an important city of Acarnania, founded by Corinthians in 630 BC. Along with the other cities of Acarnania, when the Romans founded Nicopolis on the other side of the Ambracian Gulf after the Battle of Actium, it moved many of its inhabitants of the area to that city. In the Byzantine years later on, the town was built and with the name Vonitsa, that times at the other parts in which is founded today. During the Turkish rule, the town passed into a large space from the Venetian tower. After the Greek War of Independence, the town finally became a part of Greece in 1832.

Attractions

The main attractions of the town is the Venetian castle. In the area features many ancient temples, a beautiful island located in front of the gulf that is connected with a bridge and is in pedestrian use.

Population

Other

Vonitsa has schools, lyceums, a few gymnatia, churches, a marina, banks and squares ("plateies").

External links

http://picasaweb.google.com/mramakis/VonitsaAnaktorioHellas - Vonitsa open-air dump

www.29dytika.gr - Etoloakarnania's news portal

ee also

*List of settlements in the Aitolia-Akarnania prefecture
*List of municipalities in Greece