Melissia
Encyclopedia
Melissia is a suburb in the northeastern part of Athens
, Greece
. The origin of the name comes from its beehives. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Penteli
, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit.
Melissia was first widely populated by Greek refugees coming from Asia Minor after their persecution by Turkish forces in 1922, and the region was renowned for its healthy climate, full of sanitariums for those who suffered from tuberculosis. Melissia is accessed by Attiki Odos
(number 6) to the south, Kifissias Avenue to the west and Pentelis Avenue (the road to Penteliko Mountain) to the east. This Municipality
seats on the roots of Penteliko Mountain; the Athenian plain lies to the southwest. Its main streets are A. Papandreou Avenue leading to the south Vrilissia, K. Karamanlis Street leading to Kifissia
, and Dimokratias Avenue leading to Amarousion.
The area around Melissia is made up of residential areas, except parts of Nea Penteli
and the northern part, which are made up of forests. A majority of the forests on the back side of Penteli Mountain (not the side of the mountain facing Melissia), as well as part of the forest on the side facing Melissia were destroyed by the devastating fires in late August 2007.
Until the early 1940s, Melissia was mostly uninhabited. The area was used mainly for beekeeping (from where it got its name). In the same era, two Sanatoriums where operating in the area. The first inhabitants arrived in Melissia in the early 1940s and consisted mainly of Greek refuges from Pontos
and Asia Minor
. Since 1946, Melissia are an independent community and later became an independent Municipality
. In the beginning of 1980's, the population growth boomed reaching a vast 64,96%.
Today Melissia the population is more than 25,000. It has six preliminary schools, two high schools (Greek "Gymnasium"), one lyceum, banks, a post office, a modern municipal swimming-pool, and a few public squares (plateies
).
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...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. The origin of the name comes from its beehives. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Penteli
Penteli, Greece
Penteli is a town and a municipality in the North Athens regional unit, Attica, Greece. It belongs to the Athens metropolitan area and Athens' Megalo Daktylo. One of its city halls is located next to the central square. About 80% of the non-urban land consists of Penteliko Mountain...
, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit.
Melissia was first widely populated by Greek refugees coming from Asia Minor after their persecution by Turkish forces in 1922, and the region was renowned for its healthy climate, full of sanitariums for those who suffered from tuberculosis. Melissia is accessed by 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...
(number 6) to the south, Kifissias Avenue to the west and Pentelis Avenue (the road to Penteliko Mountain) to the east. This Municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
seats on the roots of Penteliko Mountain; the Athenian plain lies to the southwest. Its main streets are A. Papandreou Avenue leading to the south Vrilissia, K. Karamanlis Street leading to 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 Dimokratias Avenue leading to Amarousion.
The area around Melissia is made up of residential areas, except parts of Nea Penteli
Nea Penteli
Nea Penteli is a suburb in the northeastern part of Athens, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Penteli, of which it is a municipal unit....
and the northern part, which are made up of forests. A majority of the forests on the back side of Penteli Mountain (not the side of the mountain facing Melissia), as well as part of the forest on the side facing Melissia were destroyed by the devastating fires in late August 2007.
Until the early 1940s, Melissia was mostly uninhabited. The area was used mainly for beekeeping (from where it got its name). In the same era, two Sanatoriums where operating in the area. The first inhabitants arrived in Melissia in the early 1940s and consisted mainly of Greek refuges from Pontos
Pontós
Pontós is a municipality in the comarca of Alt Empordà, Girona, Catalonia, Spain....
and Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
. Since 1946, Melissia are an independent community and later became an independent Municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
. In the beginning of 1980's, the population growth boomed reaching a vast 64,96%.
Today Melissia the population is more than 25,000. It has six preliminary schools, two high schools (Greek "Gymnasium"), one lyceum, banks, a post office, a modern municipal swimming-pool, and a few public squares (plateies
Plateia
Plateia or platia is the Greek word for town square. Most Greek and Cypriot cities have several town squares which are a point of reference in travelling and guiding...
).
Historical population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1981 | 8,639 |
| 1991 | 13,469 |
| 2001 | 19,526 |
External links
| Northwest: 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... |
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| Southwest: Marousi Marousi Marousi , alternative forms: Maroussi, Amarousion, and Amaroussion, is a suburban city NE of Athens, Greece. The Athens Olympic Sports Complex, the largest sports complex in Greece, is also located here; its main street is Kifisias Avenue, and also contains four ISAP train stations and two of the... |
Melissia | Northeast: Nea Penteli Nea Penteli Nea Penteli is a suburb in the northeastern part of Athens, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Penteli, of which it is a municipal unit.... |
| South: Vrilissia Vrilissia Vrilissia is a mildly urbanized northeastern suburb and a municipality of the North Athens regional unit, in the Attica region. It is located at the southwestern accessible foot of the Penteli Mountain, from which it was named after as the ancient name of the mountain was Vrilissos... |