Maritsa, Rhodes
Encyclopedia
Maritsa is a village situated on west coast of the island of Rhodes
, Greece
, about 17 km far from the capital, between Kremasti
and Psinthos. It's a part of the Municipality
of Petaloudes
. This village is renowned for its traditional taverns and active nightlife all year round. Near the village at the old international airport, car and motorbike races are held as well as model airplane shows. Outside the village you'll find two churches. The Agios Georgios church, built in the 15th century and the Agios Nikolaos church, with wall paintings from the 15th century.
Maritsa is also home to Iraklis AKS, a sports club with senior and junior teams competing at regional level. Iraklis football club also has experience playing for a year in the late 90's in the then 4th National division.
Maritsa is renowned for its hospitable inhabitants and traditional character, it is the only village in Rhodes without a seasonal hotel, though studio apartments are available upon request.
Every December all the young people organise a celebration for welcoming the new year at the centre square of the village.The money needed for the celebration is an offer from the villagers and the owners of the restaurants and bars.The ceremony takes place at about 19:00 of 31 December and 3 hrs later the party is "fired up" by a group playing local songs and dances performed by instruments like lyra and bouzouki.At the same period α live crib is opened where represents the birth of Christ with genuine animals, horses ang goats.The crib is found in the top of mountain "koymoyli", next to the holily abbey of transformation of savior christ.At the crib is offered hot tea from locally herbs as well as traditional rusk while the small children can come out photographs with santa Clauss.The crib functions from 24 Dec until 6 Jan.
The village has taken his name from an Italian officer called "Maritza" that had the responsibility for the control of the village at the duration of Italian possession. Today it numbers about 1800 residents.
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, about 17 km far from the capital, between Kremasti
Kremasti
Kremasti is a town on the Greek island of Rhodes . Located on the west coast of the island, Kremasti is 12 kilometers from the capital of Rhodes, on the road to the airport. It has a population of approximately 4,372 people and is the administrative center of the Municipality of Petaloudes...
and Psinthos. It's a part of the Municipality
Communities and Municipalities of Greece
For the new municipalities of Greece see the Kallikratis ProgrammeThe municipalities and communities of Greece are one of several levels of government within the organizational structure of that country. Thirteen regions called peripheries form the largest unit of government beneath the State. ...
of Petaloudes
Petaloudes
Petaloudes is a former municipality on the island of Rhodes, in the Dodecanese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Rhodes, of which it is a municipal unit. Population was 12,133 as of 2001. It includes the villages of Kremasti, Paradisi, Theologos ,...
. This village is renowned for its traditional taverns and active nightlife all year round. Near the village at the old international airport, car and motorbike races are held as well as model airplane shows. Outside the village you'll find two churches. The Agios Georgios church, built in the 15th century and the Agios Nikolaos church, with wall paintings from the 15th century.
Maritsa is also home to Iraklis AKS, a sports club with senior and junior teams competing at regional level. Iraklis football club also has experience playing for a year in the late 90's in the then 4th National division.
Maritsa is renowned for its hospitable inhabitants and traditional character, it is the only village in Rhodes without a seasonal hotel, though studio apartments are available upon request.
Every December all the young people organise a celebration for welcoming the new year at the centre square of the village.The money needed for the celebration is an offer from the villagers and the owners of the restaurants and bars.The ceremony takes place at about 19:00 of 31 December and 3 hrs later the party is "fired up" by a group playing local songs and dances performed by instruments like lyra and bouzouki.At the same period α live crib is opened where represents the birth of Christ with genuine animals, horses ang goats.The crib is found in the top of mountain "koymoyli", next to the holily abbey of transformation of savior christ.At the crib is offered hot tea from locally herbs as well as traditional rusk while the small children can come out photographs with santa Clauss.The crib functions from 24 Dec until 6 Jan.
The village has taken his name from an Italian officer called "Maritza" that had the responsibility for the control of the village at the duration of Italian possession. Today it numbers about 1800 residents.