Markopoulo Mesogaias
Encyclopedia
Markopoulo, municipally Markopoulo Mesogaias (Greek: Μαρκόπουλο Μεσογαίας) to avoid confusion with Markopoulo Oropou
in Oropos
is a suburban town in southeastern Attica
in the Mesogaian plain north of the mountains, approximately 30 km SE of Athens
, S of Rafina
, S of the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, SW of the Attiki Odos
(numbers 6 and 62) and N of Lavrio. Markopoulo is linked with GR-91 (Glyka Nera - Sounio) and there are two lanes stretching down to Lavrio. Since the late-20th century, Markopoulo has been bypassed to the southwest. Markopoulo once had a railway station and was linked with rail linking near Kifissia
and Lavrio. Markopoulo also has the only road linking north to Artemis
. Today, the nearest Proastiakos
rail lies to the north. A part of Markopoulo includes Porto Rafti
.
During the 2004 Summer Olympics
, Markopoulo was world famous for its equestrian centre (Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre
) to the southeast and about 3 km from the main route into the mountains, and the shooting centre (Markopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre
) located in the hills southwest of town and about 2.5 km west of the highway. Since the Olympics, the sporting centres have been shut down for future uses. The mountains lie to the south and the southeast. The northwestern portion of a taller mountain to the southeast is used for a huge mining area, which is about 70 ha of land. Farmlands surround the northern part while a valley area lies to the south. More mountains are further southwest. The panorama of other mountains includes the Hymettus
to the northwest and the Penteli
to the north.
The population was rural until the 1970s and the 1980s. The population became urban as suburban housing popped up in the 1980s and the 1990s, but the population dwindled and later slowed. Housing developments slowly continues to this day, and some are interspersed with farmlands or empty land.
Markopoulo Oropou
Markopoulo Oropou is a town and a former community of East Attica, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Oropos, of which it is a municipal unit....
in Oropos
Oropos
Oropos is a small town and a municipality in East Attica, Greece.-Geography:It is situated on the southern Euboean Gulf, opposite Eretria. Oropos is located N of Avlona and Athens, E of Thebes and SE of Chalcis. Oropos is linked with the road linking Nea Palatia and Sikamino...
is a suburban town in southeastern Attica
Attica
Attica is a historical region of Greece, containing Athens, the current capital of Greece. The historical region is centered on the Attic peninsula, which projects into the Aegean Sea...
in the Mesogaian plain north of the mountains, approximately 30 km SE of Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, S of Rafina
Rafina
Rafina is a town located on the eastern coast of Attica in Greece. It has a population of 10,701 inhabitants . Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Rafina-Pikermi, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit.-Geography:Rafina lies east of the Penteli mountains and...
, S of the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, SW of the Attiki Odos
Attiki Odos
Attiki Odos is a privately owned toll motorway in Greece. The Proastiakos high-speed suburban rail is set almost entirely in the median of the motorway, along its main section. The motorway's numbers are 6 for the main section, 64 for the Hymettus Beltway and 65 for the Aigaleo Beltway...
(numbers 6 and 62) and N of Lavrio. Markopoulo is linked with GR-91 (Glyka Nera - Sounio) and there are two lanes stretching down to Lavrio. Since the late-20th century, Markopoulo has been bypassed to the southwest. Markopoulo once had a railway station and was linked with rail linking near Kifissia
Kifissia
Kifissia or Kifisia is one of the most expensive northern suburbs of Athens, mainly accessed via Kifissias Avenue, running all the way from central Athens up to Theseos Avenue in the suburb of Nea Erythraia. It has traditionally been home to the major Greek political families...
and Lavrio. Markopoulo also has the only road linking north to Artemis
Artemis (Loutsa)
Artemida is a suburban town in east Attica, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Spata-Artemida, of which it is a municipal unit....
. Today, the nearest Proastiakos
Proastiakos
Proastiakós , is the name used for the suburban services of TrainOSE, servicing Greece's three largest cities: Athens, Thessaloniki and Patras; providing them with modern commuter rail links, towards their suburbs and also towards other cities and towns located around them.The service, operated by...
rail lies to the north. A part of Markopoulo includes Porto Rafti
Porto Rafti
Porto Rafti , official name: Limēn Mesogaias or Limani Mesogaias , is a seaside town.In 2001, its population was 7,131. It surrounds the Porto Rafti Bay in the east coast of Attica, 38 km from the center of Athens, Greece...
.
During the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
, Markopoulo was world famous for its equestrian centre (Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre
Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre
The Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre hosted the equestrian events at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The venue is located at Markópoulo on the outskirts of the Athens suburbs. It was completed in December 2003 and officially opened on August 12, 2004, shortly before the beginning of...
) to the southeast and about 3 km from the main route into the mountains, and the shooting centre (Markopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre
Markopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre
The Markopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre was the site of the shooting events at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The venue is located in Markópoulo, on the outskirts of the eastern suburbs of Athens. It has a seating capacity of 4,000, though a public capacity of only 2,330 for the Olympics...
) located in the hills southwest of town and about 2.5 km west of the highway. Since the Olympics, the sporting centres have been shut down for future uses. The mountains lie to the south and the southeast. The northwestern portion of a taller mountain to the southeast is used for a huge mining area, which is about 70 ha of land. Farmlands surround the northern part while a valley area lies to the south. More mountains are further southwest. The panorama of other mountains includes the Hymettus
Hymettus
Hymettus, also Hymettos is a mountain range in the Athens area, East Central Greece. It is also colloquially known as Trellos or Trellovouno , a name of uncertain origin...
to the northwest and the Penteli
Penteli
Pentéli or Pendeli, , and Vrilissos or Vrilittos , Mendeli in medieval times) is a tall mountain and mountain range situated northeast of Athens and southwest of Marathon. Its elevation is 1,109 m...
to the north.
The population was rural until the 1970s and the 1980s. The population became urban as suburban housing popped up in the 1980s and the 1990s, but the population dwindled and later slowed. Housing developments slowly continues to this day, and some are interspersed with farmlands or empty land.
Settlements
- Agía Triáda (2001 census pop. 216)
- BrauronBrauronThe sanctuary of Artemis at Brauron is an early sacred site on the eastern coast of Attica near the Aegean Sea in a small inlet. The inlet has silted up since ancient times, pushing the current shoreline farther from the site...
or Vravróna (pop. 41) - located in the east side by the Aegean SeaAegean SeaThe Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus... - Chamoliá (pop. 113)
- Koulidás (pop. 427)
- Markópoulo (pop. 7,614) - the municipal seat
- Poriá (pop. 66)
- Porto RaftiPorto RaftiPorto Rafti , official name: Limēn Mesogaias or Limani Mesogaias , is a seaside town.In 2001, its population was 7,131. It surrounds the Porto Rafti Bay in the east coast of Attica, 38 km from the center of Athens, Greece...
or Limín Markopoúlou (pop. 7,131)
About sports
- Football/soccer : Markopoulo's local football team is called "Marko" (short term for the city's name) and it was founded in 1927. It's probably the most successful club in Eastern Attica. The team played in the National Third Division for 11 consecutive years, having successful table finishings (the best position was 3rd), but in the 2004/2005 season it was relegated to the National Semi-Professional League (Fourth DivisionGreek Fourth DivisionDelta Ethniki or Regional Championship is called the semi-professional league in Greece. The participants are divided into ten regional groups, consisting of sixteen clubs...
). This season it finished 3rd behind KoropiKoropiKoropi , is a suburb in the eastern part of Athens, Greece. It is the seat of the municipality Kropia. The Hymettus mountain is to the west. It has a metro station via subway station...
F.C. (promoted to National Third Division) and Kerafnos Kerateas FC.
- Women's volleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
: Markopoulo's women volley team is probably one of the best in Greece, and could have done the double this season, as it came second in National Championship behind PanathinaikosPanathinaikosPanathinaikos Athlitikos Omilos is a multi-sport club based in Athens, Greece. It has the shamrock as its official emblem and green and white as its colours...
. Also, Markopoulo hosted the Greek Women Volley Cup Final FourFinal fourFinal Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
, and lost in the final 3-2 to Panathinaikos!
External links
| Northwest: Paiania | North: Artemis (Loutsa) Artemis (Loutsa) Artemida is a suburban town in east Attica, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Spata-Artemida, of which it is a municipal unit.... and Spata Spata Spata , is a town east of Athens, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Spata-Artemida, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit.... |
|
| West: Kropia Koropi Koropi , is a suburb in the eastern part of Athens, Greece. It is the seat of the municipality Kropia. The Hymettus mountain is to the west. It has a metro station via subway station... |
Markopoulo Mesogeias | East: Petalies Gulf Petalies Gulf The Petalies Gulf is a gulf that connects with the South Euboean Gulf near Agia Marina and to the north. The total length is approximately 50 to 60 km long from north to south and is approximately from 6 to 8 km wide in the north to about 40 to 50 km in the south from east to west... , Aegean Sea Aegean Sea The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus... |
| South: Kalyvia Thorikou Kalyvia Thorikou Kalyvia Thorikou is a town and a former municipality and in southeastern Attica, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Saronikos, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit.... , Keratea Keratea Keratea is a town in East Attica, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Lavreotiki, of which it is a municipal unit.Keratea is linked with a highway to Glyka Nera and Sounio... and Kouvaras Kouvaras Kouvaras is a village and a former community in East Attica, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Saronikos, of which it is a municipal unit.... (community) |