Palaia Fokaia
Encyclopedia
Palaia Fokaia is a former community
and a town (pop. 2,436 in 2001) in southeastern Attica
. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Saronikos
, of which it is a municipal unit.
, S of the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, NW of Cape Sounio. Souniou Avenue (GR-91
) connects Palaia Fokaia with Athens and Sounio. Another road runs east towards Lavrio.
Mountains cover the eastern part of the community, consisting mostly of rocks and grasslands. Forests lie to the east and to the north. The remaining area, including one further northwest, is covered by farmlands and residential buildings. Rocky seashore dominates the southern part. In general, the terrain is quite hilly, apart from the northwest which is mostly flat. The community includes town of Thymári (pop. 687) and the small, rocky and deforested island of Patroklos (Νήσι Πατρόκλου Nisou Patroklou), which is uninhabited.
The population was rural until the 1960s. Farmlands used to dominate the northern part. Suburban housing appeared in the 1980s and, by the 1990s, the majority of population was urban. Later, Palaia Fokaia became part of the Athens Metropolitan Area. Tourism and commerce have been the most popular business sectors in Palaia Fokaia after the shift from a rural economy.
The town has restaurants, shops, bars and taverns, next to the beach and surrounding the highway. Hotels also cover the coastline. Trees surround the coastline, from the junction of the highway with the road to Kalyvia Thorikou all the way to the eastern part of the beach. A park is in the centre of the area and a beach lies to the west and an amusement park used mainly in the weekends lies to the northwest.
).
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. ...
and a town (pop. 2,436 in 2001) 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...
. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Saronikos
Saronikos, Attica
Saronikos is a municipality in the East Attica regional unit, Attica, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Kalyvia Thorikou.-Municipality:...
, of which it is a municipal unit.
Geography
Palaia Fokaia is located approximately 40 km SE of AthensAthens
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 the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, NW of Cape Sounio. Souniou Avenue (GR-91
Greek National Road 91
Greek National Road 91 is a highway running from the southernmost limit of the Athens metropolitan Area, in Vouliagmeni up to Sounio. It is a continuation of Poseidonos Avenue . It was first constructed in the 1950s as a one lane per direction road, but was later extended to two lanes per...
) connects Palaia Fokaia with Athens and Sounio. Another road runs east towards Lavrio.
Mountains cover the eastern part of the community, consisting mostly of rocks and grasslands. Forests lie to the east and to the north. The remaining area, including one further northwest, is covered by farmlands and residential buildings. Rocky seashore dominates the southern part. In general, the terrain is quite hilly, apart from the northwest which is mostly flat. The community includes town of Thymári (pop. 687) and the small, rocky and deforested island of Patroklos (Νήσι Πατρόκλου Nisou Patroklou), which is uninhabited.
The population was rural until the 1960s. Farmlands used to dominate the northern part. Suburban housing appeared in the 1980s and, by the 1990s, the majority of population was urban. Later, Palaia Fokaia became part of the Athens Metropolitan Area. Tourism and commerce have been the most popular business sectors in Palaia Fokaia after the shift from a rural economy.
The town has restaurants, shops, bars and taverns, next to the beach and surrounding the highway. Hotels also cover the coastline. Trees surround the coastline, from the junction of the highway with the road to Kalyvia Thorikou all the way to the eastern part of the beach. A park is in the centre of the area and a beach lies to the west and an amusement park used mainly in the weekends lies to the northwest.
Other
Palaia Fokaia has schools, lyceums, gymnasia, banks, churches, a post office and squares (plateiesPlateia
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 | Village population | Community population |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 1,430 | - |
| 1991 | 1,631 | 2,051 |
| 2001 | 2,436 | 3,123 |