Kozani
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  Kozani (Κοζάνη) |
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| Coordinates | 40°18′ N 21°47′ E | |
| Country | Greece | |
| Periphery | West Macedonia | |
| Prefecture | Kozani | |
| Population | 49,812 source (2001) | |
| Area | 366.0 km² | |
| Population density | 136 /km² | |
| Elevation | 710 m | |
| Postal code | 501 00 | |
| Area code | +30 24610 | |
| Licence plate code | ΚΖ | |
| Mayor | Paris Koukoulopoulos | |
| Website | www.kozanh.gr | |
Kozani (Greek: Κοζάνη), is a city in northern Greece, capital of Kozani Prefecture. It is located in the western part of Macedonia. The city lies 710 meters above sea level, 15 kilometers north-west of the lake Polyfytos, 120 km south-west of Thessaloniki, between the mountains Pieria, Vermio, Bourinos and Askio.
Kozani is the home of the Technological Educational Institute of West Macedonia and the University of West Macedonia [1], with about 15,000 students from all over Greece and other places.
One of the most important aspects of local folklore is Kozani's carnival at the end of the winter, which retains much of the profanity of the ancient Dionysiac cult.
Kozani's nearest airport is Filippos Airport, 3 km from the city, IATA code: KZI. The airport was first opened in the mid-20th century. Kozani is situated near the Egnatia Highway, which connects the coast of the Ionian Sea with Thessaloniki and Turkish borders.
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[edit] Etymology
The name "Kozani" probably derives from the South Slavic kožani < koža 'goat, goatskin'.[1]
Other speculations include that it comes from a village Kósdiani, the origin of settlers in the 15th century[2]; from an ancient Macedonian word kosdianos (Κοσδιανος), with "σδ" representing [ʒ][dubious — see talk page]; or from Turkish Kovan 'beehive'[dubious — see talk page].
The name of the city in the Slavic languages is Кожани (Kožani).
[edit] History
Antiquities, from the prehistoric to the Byzantine period, have been unearthed in many parts of the city. In the east part of Kozani, an ancient necropolis has been found, dating back from the early Iron Age.
Kozani was founded probably by Christian settlers who, after the Ottoman conquest, withdrew from the plains of Macedonia into the mountains, during 14th and 15th century. Its secure position soon attracted other Christians expelled from Epirus, on 1392. Together with the settlers from Epirus, many cattle-breeders moved in the region.
The first recorded mention of Kozani is in an Ottoman register of 1528, as a settlement with 91 houses, 23 singles and 15 widows (Gounaropoulos 1872, Megdanis 1820, Lioufis 1924).
One of the most important colonizers of Kozani was the chief shepherd Ioannis Trantas, who came in the settling with about 100 families (Gounaropoulos 1872:488-9 and Lioufis 1924:44-5). His son, Charisios Trantas, managed to obtain a Sultan Firman in 1664, according to the terms of which the town came under the protection of the Sultan's mother, was endowed with many privileges, and became forbidden for the Turks to settle in.
In 1664, the magnificent church of Agios Nikolaos was also built. In 1668 the library and the famous school of Kozani were founded. During the 17th and 18th century commercial relations with the countries of central Europe gave the opportunity for the city to flourish economically. During the 19th century, as foreigner travellers narrate, the population of the town was Greek and it had increasing tendentions (Leake 1835:305 and Bouè 1854:87). The town's growth was disrupted in 1770, because of conflict that erupted between Kozani's local inhabitants and Kozanite merchants in central Europe, who used to contribute to the town's prosperity; even more catastrophically, an incursion by Turkish beys in 1770 resulted in the town's pillaging. A subsequent incursion by Aslan bey, in 1830, ravaged the city immensely.
Kozani was liberated from the Turks by the Greek army during the Balkan war, on 11 October 1912.
In the 20th century, the city saw great expansion, as lignite reserves in the area started being used by Public Power Corporation, making Kozani the foremost producer of electrical power in Greece.
An earthquake that occurred in the region on 13 May 1995, with an intensity of 6,6R , brought only material damages to Kozani.
The city now combines modern with the old architecture. Some magnificent buildings are the clock tower, the townhall, the folklore museum, the national bank building and the mansions of Georgios Lassanis and Grigorios Vourkas. The "Koventareios" Municipal library, which is the second biggest in Greece, has 150,000 books, rare publications, valuable documents, and one of the rare copies of Rigas Feraios Charter.
Today Kozani is the administrative, commercial, economic, and transport centre of the region of West Macedonia.
[edit] Culture
[edit] Kozani's carnival
The most interesting local celebration during the carnival are the Fanoi (great bonfires) lit at the squares of Kozani, where people sing and dance around them. All celebrations become more exciting on the Sunday of the last week, after the carnival parade, when bonfires are lit all over the town which burn until the early morning hours.
[edit] Lassaneia events
Events on the end of summer, which constist theatrical representations, concerts, athletic events etc. They are named "Lassaneia" from Georgios Lassanis, who was from Kozani and participated in the Macedonian Struggle.
[edit] The Niaimeros fair
Fair in the north side of the city in the Niaimeros place. It takes place in the first Tuesday of October. It was lasting 9 days (niaimeros = nine days), but now it lasts only 3 days.
[edit] Local holidays
- 11 October - celebration for the liberation of the city from the Turks.
- 6 December - Saint Nicolas day, Kozani's patron.
[edit] Economy
The city is mostly known for the important contribution to the Greek electricity supply, and a large part of the population works in the factories which produce electricity from coal (DEI - Greek national electrical company). Other famous products are marbles, Saffron (Krokos Kozanis), fruits, local wines and specialized arts and crafts industry.
[edit] The Commercial Exhibition of Kozani
It takes part in the Exhibition Center of West Macedonia in Koila Kozanis every September. Many firms from Greece and other Balkan countries participate especially with locals products.
[edit] Sites of interest
- Kozani Archaeological Museum, Website
- Kozani museum of folklore and natural history is a place worth visiting. It is built according to old Macedonian architecture, and in its 6 floors, visitor can see everything about the georgaphy, natural history, flora and animals of the region, as well as the history, the traditions and the past way of life in Kozani.Website
- Kozani Museum of modern local history.
- Kozani Museum of the Macedonian Struggle, a museum dedicated to the history of the Macedonian Struggle, Website
- The church of Agios Nikolaos 350 years old.
- Other attractions include the Vourkas Mansion and the Lassanis Mansion.
- The Municipal Park Kouri, the Park of Agios Dimitrios where you can see the Cultural Center and the Municipal Theatre of Kozani, and the hill of Xenia with the nice view of all the city
- The bridge above the lake of Polyfytos. It is the longest bridge in Greece with 1372 meters length.
[edit] Sporting teams
- Kozani FC (Greek Fourth Division) Kozani F.C.
- Lassanis Kozanis BC
[edit] Communications
[edit] Media
| Newspapers | TV Stations | Radio Stations |
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[edit] Historical Population
| Year | Population | Change | Municipal population | Change | Density |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 23,240 | - | - | - | - |
| 1981 | 31,120 | +7,880/ +33.9% | - | - | - |
| 1991 | 31,553 | +433/ +1.39% | 43,395 | - | 127/km² |
| 2001 | 38,591 | +7,038/ +22.3% | 49,812 | +6,417/+14.8% | 138/km² |
[edit] Transport
Kozani is accessed with Highway Egnatia (or GR-2, or E90) from Ioannina and Thessaloniki, GR-3 (or E65) from Larissa and Florina, GR-4 and GR-20.
- By bus(KTEL) for the biggest Greek cities Athens (4 times/day - 470 km), Thessaloniki (every hour - 120 km), Larisa (120 km), Volos, Ioannina (160 km), Patra.
- By aeroplane (Olympic Airlines) the city is connected with Athens (4 times/week) from Filippos Airport which lies 3 km south-east of Kozani.
- By railway (OSE) to Thessaloniki.
The public transit in the city is provided by minibuses.The traffic problems of the city have become more severe the last time.
[edit] Subdivisions and Zone of Alternate Urban Planning
Kozani has 20 municipal departments and it is developing into a nodal town of the Western Balkans, with areas and activities of a wider regional nature. Within this context, the municipality of Kozani is creating a modern satellite town, the Kozani Zone of Alternate Urban Planning (ZEP). The Municipal Corporation of alternate planning and development of Kozani S.A.(DEPEPOK[4]) was established in order to implement the projects of the ZEP.
The ZEP is strategically located on 50 ha south-west of Kozani, and aims to become a model development centre, attracting an urban population and economic activities from throughout Western Macedonia in Greece and the Western Balkans.
The 20 municipal departments of Kozani are:
- Kozani
- Nea Charavgi
- Inoi
- Ptelea
- Petrana
- Kila
- Kardia
- Exochi
- Melissia
- Kariditsa
- Argilos
- Protohori
- Lefkovrisi
- Lefkopigi
- Vatero
- Nea Nikopoli
- Lygeri
- kalamia
- Anthotopos
- Kipario
- Kipario
- Alonakia
- Skiti
- Xirolimni
- Metamorfosi
[edit] Climate
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high °C (°F) | 6 (43) | 8 (48) | 11 (53) | 17 (63) | 20 (69) | 25 (78) | 29 (85) | 27 (82) | 25 (77) | 18 (66) | 13 (56) | 16 (43) | 17 (64) |
| Avg low temperature °C (°F) | -1 (29) | 0 (32) | 1 (34) | 6 (44) | 10 (50) | 13 (57) | 16 (62) | 16 (61) | 13 (56) | 8 (47) | 4 (40) | 0 (33) | 7 (45) |
| Source: Weatherbase | |||||||||||||
[edit] Notable people
- Georg Johannes Karajanis, great-great-grandfather of Herbert von Karajan.
- Ioannis Amanatidis, Football player.
- Ieroklis Stoltidis, Football Player.
- Nikolas Asimos, composer and singer.
[edit] Twinnings
[edit] External links
- Kozan.Gr
- Sourdos.Gr
- Kozani
- The bigest Photo Gallery from Kozani
- Photo-Estiasi, Photographic Community of Kozani
- Municipality of Kozani
- Perfecture of Kozani
- Periphery of Western Macedonia
- University of Western Macedonia
- TEI of Western Macedonia
- http://www.culture.gr/maps/macedon/kozani/kozani.html
- Gr. Vourkas Mansion
- http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/HellenicMacedonia/en/C3.6.html
- Forecasts in Kozani
- Filippos Airport
- http://www.mcm.aueb.gr/ment/spetses/Koutsompogera-Manolopoulou/kozani.htm
- Kozani Gallery
- live camera
- Photo gallery of Kozani in www.panoramio.com
In Greek:
[edit] Notes and references
- Gounaropoulos (1872) Περί Κοζάνης (About Kozani)
- Megdanis (1820).
- Lioufis (1924) Η ιστορία της Κοζάνης (The History of Kozani).
- M.H. Hatziioannou (2000).
- ^ Babiniotis, Λεξικό της Νέας Ελληνικής Γλώσσας
| Municipalities and communities of the Kozani Prefecture |
|---|
| Agia Paraskevi • Aiani • Askio • Dimitrios Ypsilantis • Elimeia • Ellispontos • Kamvounia • Kozani • Mouriki • Neapoli • Ptolemaida • Servia • Siatista • Tsotyli • Velventos • Vermio |
| Vlasti • Livadero • Pentalofos |
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