Kato Dafni

articleissues|orphan=December 2007|notable=September 2007}Kato Dafni is the southernmost and largest section of Dafni, in the municipality of Nafpaktos, Greece, which consists of Dafni proper or Ano Dafni and Trypou, now uninhabited. During the centuries of Ottoman occupation, Dafni was located higher up in the hills in an area called now Old Dafni (Paliodafni); of that settlement only the foundations of a few houses survive. The name Dafni means laurel. It comes either from the laurel plant that is autochthonous to the area or from small plants called also dafni that grow in abundance on the banks of the nearby river Mornos (its alternative but rarely used name is Dafnos).

The settlement of Kato Dafni began in the early 20th century and before World War II it had less than 20 houses. Now it is a thriving and rapidly growing part of Nafpaktos. Its landmarks are the impressive St Paraskevi Cathedral, the construction of which is still ongoing, and the Mornos river bridge with its five arches, constructed in 1939 as part of Greece's preparation for the war. The river is now mostly dry; its water is used for farm irrigation but most of it is diverted to the municipal water supply of Athens.

Dafni in general and Kato Dafni in particular, have a rich cultural history. Many locals, most of them retired, gather at its roadside cafes to analyze geopolitical issues and world affairs. Politics and international events receive daily scrutiny by people keeping abreast through radio, television and newspapers. Financial issues, mainly capital markets, are analyzed as well. Nothing escapes the sensitive antennae of these remarkable yet otherwise idle pensioners who have formed closed groups, deep in thought and animated by cultural concerns. Notable among them are retired teachers of all levels of education ranging from kindergarten to university.

Products of the area include olives, figs and oranges; large orange groves dot the picturesque landscape.

Kato Dafni's water was considered to have therapeutic properties and before the cortisone era many used it to treat skin diseases.

Dafni has been visited by many luminaries, including the famous Italian poet and Nobel laureate Eugenio Montale, a towering figure of 20th century poetry. Due to language barriers he was unable to converse with the groups of Kato Dafni's passionate discussants.

References

* Ta Nea tis Dafnis, local monthly newspaper, publication currently suspended.
* "Dafni" biannual priodical (~200 pages per issue) devoted to cultural issues and local tradition. M. Mentzas, ed.
* K. Oikonomou, Nafpaktos - a tourist guide, privately published, ca 1970