Florina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  Flórina (Φλώρινα) |
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| Coordinates | 40°47′ N 21°24′ E | |
| Country | Greece | |
| Periphery | West Macedonia | |
| Prefecture | Florina | |
| Population | 16,771 source (2001) | |
| Area | 150.6 km² | |
| Population density | 111 /km² | |
| Elevation | 663 m | |
| Postal code | 531 00 | |
| Area code | 23850 | |
| Licence plate code | ΡΑ | |
| Mayor | Stephanos Papanastasiou | |
| Website | www.cityoflorina.gr | |
Flórina (Greek: Φλώρινα), is a town in West Macedonia, Greece. It lies in the central part of Florina Prefecture, of which it is the capital. The Florina region reached from the Albania border all the way to Chalkidiki. The Florina belongs to the periphery of Western Macedonia. It is located at . The town's population is estimated as some 12,622 people (1991 census). It is in a wooded valley about 13 km south of the border with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
It is located east of Korçë, Albania and Lake Prespa, south of Bitola, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, west of Thessaloniki and Edessa, northwest of Larissa and Kozani, and northeast of Ioannina and Kastoria. The nearest airport is situated to the east. The mountains of Verno is to the southwest and Varnous to the northwest.
Florina is passed by GR-2 (Lake Prespa - Edessa) and GR-3/E65 (Kozani - Florina - Niki - Bitola). The historic Via Egnatia is situated to the east. The new GR-3 superhighway will run east of Florina.
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[edit] Name
The name Florina (Greek: Φλώρινα) may derive from the word "φλωρός" florós in the Macedonian dialect (χλωρός chlorós in standard Greek, which means green or fresh, in reference to the vegetation of the area). The name of the city in the Slavic languages of Macedonia is Lerin (Лерин).
[edit] History
Founded during the Byzantine period, Florina fell to the Ottoman Empire in the late 14th century. By the 18th century, its population was a mixture of Turks, Albanians, Greeks, and Bulgarians. In the late 19th century, it became a major centre of Slavic agitation for independence from the Ottoman Empire, but in 1912 it became part of Greece following the First Balkan War.
The town was contested again during the Second Balkan War, World War I, and World War II, during each of which it was occupied by Bulgaria.
[edit] Economy
Florina is a market town with an economy dominated by cross-border trading and the sale of local produce (especially grain, grapes, and vegetables). It also has textile mills and is known for locally manufactured leather handicrafts.
[edit] Sites of interest
- Florina Archaeological Museum, Website
- Florina Byzantine Museum, Website
- Florina Museum of Modern Art, Website
[edit] Communications
[edit] Radio
- ERA Florinas - an ERA affiliate, website
http://www.kanali3.gr/ http://www.radioflorina.gr/
All Greek Radio Stations http://www.e-radio.gr/
[edit] Subdivisions
- Simos Ioannidis
[edit] Communities and subdivisions
- Alonon (Άλωνα)
- Armenochori (Αρμενοχώρι)
- Koryfi (Κορυφή)
- Mesonissi (Μεσονήσι)
- Proti (Πρώτη)
- Skopia (Σκοπιά)
- Trivouni (Τρίβουνο, 2005 pop: 10)
- village (2001 pop: 5)
- Kalogeritsa (Καλογερίτσα, 2001 pop: 5) - one of the few municipal districts that has the same population as another settlement in Greece
[edit] Other
Florina has schools, lyceums, gymnasia, banks, a train station, a sports centre, a post office, and squares (plateies). It also has a University that has recently changed from being a branch of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, to a part of the University of West Macedonia.
[edit] Notable persons
- Augoustinos Kantiotes.
- Necati Cumalı - Turkish novelist, short-story writer and poet
[edit] Historical population
| Year | Population | Change | Municipal population | Change | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 12,573 | - | - | - | - |
| 1991 | 12,355 | -218/-1,73% | 14,873 | - | 98.76/km² |
| 2003 | - | - | 14,318 | - | 95.07/km² |
[edit] References
- The Columbia Encyclopedia, 2004
- Encyclopædia Britannica, 2005
- The Penguin Encyclopedia of Places, 1999
- Rough Guide to Greece, Mark Ellingham et al, 2000
| Municipalities and communities of the Florina Prefecture |
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| Aetos • Amyntaio • Filotas • Florina • Kato Kleines • Meliti • Perasma • Prespes |
| Krystallopigi • Lechovo • Nymfaio • Variko |
[edit] External links
- City of Florina
- Lerin Region Macedonian Cultural Association of Ontario. Cultural society of former inhabitants from Florina and surrounding villages.
- EFA Rainbow : Macedonian Political Party in Greece. Political party of ethnic Macedonians in Greece, based in Florina.
