Pyrgos, Elis

2025-08-11T12:10:26Z

2A02:85F:9ACB:7200:899F:5BE3:308:E4F0: /* Notable people */

{{Infobox Greek Dimos
|name = Pyrgos
|name_local = Πύργος
|type = municipality
|image_map = 2011 Dimos Pyrgou.png
|image_skyline = {{multiple image
|perrow = 2/2/1
|border = infobox
|total_width = 300
|image1 = Pyrgos, Elis sunset.jpg
|image2 = Dimotiki agora Pyrgos01.jpg
|image3 = Κινηματογράφος «Ρέξ».jpg
|image4 = Pyrgos rathaus.jpg
|image5 = Σιδηροδρομικός σταθμός Πύργου.jpg
|color = white
}}
|caption_skyline = '''Clockwise from top right:''' Municipal Market turned into the Archaeological Museum, Latseio town hall, Pyrgos railway station, Akrovatis cafe restaurant (former Rex Cinema), Skafidia Beach
|city_seal = Pyrgos Siegel.png
|coordinates = {{coord|37|40|N|21|26|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation = 15
|periph = [[West Greece]]
|periphunit = [[Elis (regional unit)|Elis]]
|pop_municipality = 45365
|area_municipality = 456.6
|pop_municunit = 35062
|area_municunit = 170.9
|pop_community = 26052
|mayor = Efstathios Kannis<ref name=mayor>[https://ekloges.ypes.gr/current/d/home/en/municipalities/9141/ Municipality of Pyrgos, Municipal elections – October 2023], Ministry of Interior</ref>
|party =
|since = 2023
|population_as_of = 2021
|postal_code = 271 xx
|area_code = 26210
|licence = HA
|website = {{url|https://cityofpyrgos.gr}}
}}

'''Pyrgos''' ({{langx|el|Πύργος|Pýrgos|lit=tower}}) is a city in the northwestern [[Peloponnese]], [[Greece]], capital of the regional unit of [[Elis (regional unit)|Elis]] and the seat of the Municipality of Pyrgos. The city is located in the middle of a plain, {{convert|4|km|0|abbr=off}} from the [[Ionian Sea]]. The river [[Alfeios]] flows into sea about {{convert|7|km|0|abbr=on}} south of Pyrgos. The population of the town Pyrgos is 26,052, and of the municipality 45,365 (2021). Pyrgos is {{convert|16|km|0|abbr=on}} west of [[Olympia, Greece|Olympia]], {{convert|16|km|0|abbr=on}} southeast of [[Amaliada]], {{convert|70|km|0|abbr=on}} southwest of [[Patras]] and {{convert|85|km|0|abbr=on}} west of [[Tripoli, Greece|Tripoli]].

==Historical population==
{| class=wikitable
! Year !! Town population !! Municipal unit population !! Municipality population
|-----
| 1981 || 21,958 || - || -
|-----
| 1991 || 28,465 || 39,183 || -
|-----
| 2001 || 23,791 || 34,902 || 51,777
|-----
| 2011 || 25,180 || 35,572 || 47,995
|-----
| 2021 || 26,052 || 35,062 || 45,365
|}

==Municipality==
[[File:Dimotiki agora Pyrgos01.jpg|thumb|The municipal market, work by [[Ernst Ziller]]|left]]The municipality Pyrgos was formed during the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 4 former municipalities, that became municipal units:<ref name=Kallikratis>{{Cite web|url=http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wGYK2xFpSwMnXdtvSoClrL81-32jgAMSfbnMRVjyfnPUeJInJ48_97uHrMts-zFzeyCiBSQOpYnT00MHhcXFRTsb2fGphpq4MKX2ZkaHobySNnvZCNHXvYVvlf80XevW0Q.|title=ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities|language=el|publisher=[[Government Gazette (Greece)|Government Gazette]]}}</ref>
*[[Iardanos]]
*[[Oleni]]
*Pyrgos
*[[Volakas, Elis|Volakas]]

The municipality has an area of 456.610 km<sup>2</sup>, the municipal unit 170.866 km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=stat01>{{cite web|url=http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf|publisher=National Statistical Service of Greece|title=Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)|language=el}}</ref>

===Subdivisions===
[[File:Fotografi från Pyrgos, 1896 - Hallwylska museet - 104560.tif|thumb|left|223x223px|Pyrgos, 1896]]
The municipal unit of Pyrgos is divided into the following communities (settlements within the communities given in brackets):<ref name=Kallikratis/>
*Pyrgos (Pyrgos, Anthopyrgos, Kavasilakia, Lampeti, Syntriada, Tragano)
*[[Agios Georgios, Pyrgos|Agios Georgios]]
*[[Agios Ilias, Pyrgos|Agios Ilias]] (Agios Ilias, Pyrgi, Stamatelaiika)
*[[Agios Ioannis, Elis|Agios Ioannis]] (Agios Ioannis, Kyani Akti, Palatas, Tragano)
*Ampelonas (Ampelonas, Kouzouli, Rozeika)
*Elaionas (Elaionas, Vytinaiika)
*Granitsaiika (Granitsaiika, Kavouri)
*[[Katakolo]] ([[Agios Andreas, Katakolo|Katakolo, Agios Andrea]]s)
*[[Koliri]] (Koliri, Kolireikes Paragkes)
*[[Korakochori]] (Korakochori, Agios Andreas, Kallithea, Bouka)
*[[Lasteika]] (Lasteika, Itia)
*[[Leventochori, Elis|Leventochori]]
*[[Myrtia, Elis|Myrtia]]
*Palaiovarvasaina (Palaiovarvasaina, Agios Georgios, Kampos)
*[[Salmoni, Elis|Salmoni]] (Salmoni, Alfeios)
*[[Skafidia]] (Skafidia, Kalakaiika, Moni Skafidias, Patronikoleika)
*[[Skourochori]] (Skourochori, Kato Kavouri)
*[[Varvasaina]] (Varvasaina, Kato Varvasaina)
*Vytinaiika

== History ==

=== History of the name ===
[[File:Πλαζ Λετρινα - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Beach of Pyrgos|left]]In the 1510s, during [[Ottoman Greece|Ottoman rule over Greece]], a villager from [[Kalavryta]] decided to move and reform the area of Pyrgos which up until then was uncultivated. During this reformation he found in a well a large amount of gold ancient coins which he delivered to the Sultan as the rightful owner. The Sultan, [[Selim I]] (1470-1520), in order to honor his integrity named him ruler of the region (1512) and gave him a great acreage expanding from [[Alfeios]] river until the village [[Agios Ioannis, Elis|Agios Ioannis]] which is located near [[Katakolo]] (the main port of the [[Elis (regional unit)|Elis]] region). This area was encompassing today's Pyrgos and was uninhabited. According to the stories the new ruler built a great tower (Πύργος, ''pyrgos'' in Greek) on a hill in order to supervise his fields and his flocks. This was the first settlement of the area.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Η Ηλεία στο μύθο και την ιστορία|last=Κάπος|first=Μιλτιάδης|year=1996|isbn=9789608301078|location=Athens}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Το χρονικό του Πύργου|last=Δόξας|first=Τάκης|year=1965|location=Pyrgos}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vivliothiki-pirgou.gr/pirgos-i-poli-kai-to-onoma-tis|title=Η πόλη του Πύργου και το όνομά της {{!}} Δημόσια Κεντρική Βιβλιοθήκη Πύργου|website=vivliothiki-pirgou.gr|language=el|access-date=2017-04-29}}</ref>

==Climate==
Pyrgos has a hot-summer [[Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Csa'') with hot and dry summers and rainy winters with generally mild temperatures. Annual precipitation is sizeable, like most of [[Western Greece]], nearly 900 mm, while it peaks in late autumn.{{Weather box
| location = Pyrgos (1975-2010)
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan record high C =
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| year record high C =
| Jan high C = 14.7
| Feb high C = 15.0
| Mar high C = 17.2
| Apr high C = 20.0
| May high C = 24.8
| Jun high C = 29.1
| Jul high C = 32.0
| Aug high C = 32.2
| Sep high C = 29.0
| Oct high C = 24.8
| Nov high C = 19.5
| Dec high C = 15.9
| year high C =
| Jan mean C = 9.7
| Feb mean C = 10.2
| Mar mean C = 12.3
| Apr mean C = 15.3
| May mean C = 19.9
| Jun mean C = 24.1
| Jul mean C = 26.7
| Aug mean C = 26.4
| Sep mean C = 23.1
| Oct mean C = 18.8
| Nov mean C = 14.2
| Dec mean C = 11.0
| year mean C =
| Jan low C = 5.1
| Feb low C = 5.3
| Mar low C = 6.6
| Apr low C = 9.0
| May low C = 12.4
| Jun low C = 15.5
| Jul low C = 17.5
| Aug low C = 17.9
| Sep low C = 15.7
| Oct low C = 12.7
| Nov low C = 9.4
| Dec low C = 6.9
| year low C =
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| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 129.7
| Feb rain mm = 104.4
| Mar rain mm = 71.5
| Apr rain mm = 52.9
| May rain mm = 26.8
| Jun rain mm = 7.7
| Jul rain mm = 3.6
| Aug rain mm = 10.8
| Sep rain mm = 39.4
| Oct rain mm = 102.1
| Nov rain mm = 177.6
| Dec rain mm = 164.0
| year rain mm =
| Jan rain days = 12.0
| Feb rain days = 11.2
| Mar rain days = 8.9
| Apr rain days = 8.9
| May rain days = 4.8
| Jun rain days = 1.6
| Jul rain days = 0.5
| Aug rain days = 1.0
| Sep rain days = 4.3
| Oct rain days = 7.4
| Nov rain days = 11.5
| Dec rain days = 13.4
| year rain days =
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| Jan humidity = 73.6
| Feb humidity = 71.9
| Mar humidity = 69.0
| Apr humidity = 70.3
| May humidity = 67.7
| Jun humidity = 62.3
| Jul humidity = 58.7
| Aug humidity = 62.0
| Sep humidity = 66.7
| Oct humidity = 71.2
| Nov humidity = 74.9
| Dec humidity = 75.3
| year humidity =
| Jan sun = 143.2
| Feb sun = 147.4
| Mar sun = 193.4
| Apr sun = 227.2
| May sun = 285.3
| Jun sun = 332.3
| Jul sun = 360.4
| Aug sun = 333.9
| Sep sun = 263.6
| Oct sun = 215.2
| Nov sun = 152.5
| Dec sun = 124.9
| year sun =
| source 1 = sunshine 1975-1997<ref name="Mean Pyrgos Climatic Averages">{{cite web
| url=http://www.hnms.gr/hnms/english/climatology/climatology_region_diagrams_html?dr_city=Pyrgos&agriculture=true
| title=Mean Pyrgos Climatic Averages
| publisher=Hellenic National Meteorological Service
| access-date=14 June 2015
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924030845/http://www.hnms.gr/hnms/english/climatology/climatology_region_diagrams_html?dr_city=Pyrgos&agriculture=true
| archive-date=24 September 2015
| url-status=dead
}}</ref>
| date = June 2015
| source = [[HNMS]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.emy.gr/emy/el/climatology/climatology_city?perifereia=West+Greece&poli=Pyrgos|title=Κλιματικά Δεδομένα ανά Πόλη- ΜΕΤΕΩΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΑ, ΕΜΥ, Εθνική Μετεωρολογική Υπηρεσία|website=www.emy.gr}}</ref> Sunshine 1975-1997<ref name="Mean Pyrgos Climatic Averages"/>
}}

==Transportation==
[[File:Σιδηροδρομικός σταθμός Πύργου.jpg|thumb|180x180px|The railway station, another work by Ernst Ziller|left]][[File:Pirgos autobusove nadrazi.jpg|thumb|180x180px|The bus terminal in Pyrgos.]]Pyrgos has a train station with regular trains to the port of [[Katakolo]] and [[Olympia, Greece|Olympia]]. Service on the line from [[Patras]] to [[Kalamata]] via Pyrgos has been suspended in 2011. Pyrgos has a bus terminal, served by [[KTEL (Greece)|KTEL Ileias]], with regular buses for the regional routes to most places in Elis as well as for intercity routes to Athens and to larger cities such as Patras, Kalamata, Ioannina and Thessaloniki.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ktelileias.gr/|title=ΚΤΕΛ Νομού Ηλείας – Πληροφορίες, δρομολόγια και on-line έκδοση εισιτηρίων}}</ref> The [[Greek National Road 9]] connects Pyrgos with Patras and [[Kyparissia]], the [[Greek National Road 74]] run from Pyrgos to [[Tripoli, Greece|Tripoli]] via Olympia. The nearest airport is located in Andravida near the town of Amaliada but it is served for military operations only. However, there are plans to open passenger operations in the next years. The alternative airports for passenger operations are Araxos airport, located in the province of Aichaia about 60 km to the north-east or Kalamata Captain Vasilios Constatakopoulos airport, in Messinia province near Kalamata about 120 km south of the city.

==Education==
Department of Museum Studies of the [[university of Patras]] was based in the city.

==Sporting teams==
*[[Paniliakos F.C.]] (played last in the first division during the 2003–2004 season)

==Notable people==

*[[Andreas Avgerinos]] (1820–1895), politician
*[[Petros Avgerinos]] (19th century), politician, mayor of Pyrgos
*[[Nakis Avgerinos]] (1911–2002), politician
*[[Giorgos Karagounis]] (1977–), footballer
*[[Kostas Kazakos]] (1935–2022), actor and politician
*[[George Pavlopoulos]] (1924–2008), poet
*[[Takis Sinopoulos]] (1917–1981), poet
*[[Stephanos Stephanopoulos]] (1898–1982), politician and President of the Hellenic Republic
*[[Theodoros Xydis]], (1909–1985), poet and essayist.
*[[Sakis Karagiorgas]] (1930–1985), professor in Panteion University
*[[Emmanouil Karalis]] (1999-), athlete of [[Pole Vault]], Olympic Medalist in [[Athletics at the 2024 Summer Olympics]] in Paris

==See also==
*[[List of settlements in Elis]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{official website|http://www.cityofpyrgos.gr/}}

{{Geographic location
| Centre = Pyrgos
| North = [[Iardanos]], Amaliada
| Northeast = [[Oleni]]
| East = [[Olympia, Greece|Archaia Olympia]]
| Southeast = [[Volakas, Elis|Volakas]]
| South = ''Ionian Sea''
| Southwest =
| West = ''[[Ionian Sea]]''
| Northwest = [[Amaliada]]
| image =
}}

{{Pyrgos}}
{{Kallikratis-West Greece}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Pyrgos, Elis| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Elis]]
[[Category:Greek prefectural capitals]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Western Greece]]
[[Category:1512 establishments in Europe]]

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Pyrgos, Elis