View source for Katakolo

{{Infobox Greek Dimos
|name               = Katakolo
|name_local         = Κατάκολο
|type = community
|image_skyline      = Katakolo esplanade. Pyrgos, Western Elis, Greece.jpg
|caption_skyline    = Promenade of Katakolo
|city_flag          = 
|city_seal          = 
|coordinates        = {{coord|37|39|N|21|19|E|format=dms|region:GR_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_min      = 
|elevation_max      = 
|periph             = [[West Greece]]
|periphunit         = [[Elis (regional unit)|Elis]]
|municipality = [[Pyrgos, Elis|Pyrgos]]
|municunit = [[Pyrgos, Elis|Pyrgos]]
|population_as_of   = 2021
|pop_community = 511
|area               = 
|postal_code        = 
|area_code          = 
|licence            = 
|website            = 
}}
'''Katakolo''' ({{langx|el|Κατάκολο}}) is a seaside village in the municipality of [[Pyrgos, Elis|Pyrgos]] in western [[Elis (regional unit)|Elis]], [[Greece]]. It is situated on a headland overlooking the [[Ionian Sea]] and separating the [[Gulf of Kyparissia]] from the rest of the Ionian. It is {{convert|11|km|abbr=on}} west of Pyrgos. The small village of [[Agios Andreas, Katakolo|Agios Andreas]], which in ancient times was the natural harbour for [[Ancient Olympia]], lies northwest of Katakolo.

==History==
In the [[Middle Ages]], Katakolo was the site of the fortress of [[Pontikokastro|Pontikon or Pontikokastro]] (Ποντικόν, Ποντικόκαστρο), which the [[Frankokratia|Frankish]] rulers of the [[Principality of Achaea]] called ''Beauvoir'' or ''Belveder''.{{sfn|Bon|1969|pp=328–330}} The fortress was built by the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantines]] and taken over by the Franks ca. 1205.{{sfn|Bon|1969|pp=66, 663}}

==Climate==
Katakolo has a hot-summer [[Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: Csa), with hot, dry summers and mild winters with significant rainfall.

{{Weather box
|location=Katakolo
|metric first=yes
|single line=yes 
|collapsed=y
|Jan high C=14.16
|Feb high C=14.24
|Mar high C=15.49
|Apr high C=17.81
|May high C=21.97
|Jun high C=25.85
|Jul high C=28.71
|Aug high C=29.03
|Sep high C=26.60
|Oct high C=22.76
|Nov high C=18.73
|Dec high C=16.06
|year high C=
|Jan mean C=11.15
|Feb mean C=11.12
|Mar mean C=12.47
|Apr mean C=15.00
|May mean C=18.88
|Jun mean C=22.62
|Jul mean C=25.42
|Aug mean C=25.63
|Sep mean C=23.12
|Oct mean C=19.4
|Nov mean C=15.83
|Dec mean C=13.08
|year mean C=
|Jan low C=8.00
|Feb low C=7.93
|Mar low C=8.88
|Apr low C=11.05
|May low C=14.31
|Jun low C=17.49
|Jul low C=19.69
|Aug low C=20.48
|Sep low C=18.33
|Oct low C=15.44
|Nov low C=12.4
|Dec low C=9.69
|year low C=
|Jan rain mm=124.95
|Feb rain mm=109.12
|Mar rain mm=82.01
|Apr rain mm=41.01
|May rain mm=12.27
|Jun rain mm=2.49
|Jul rain mm=2.36
|Aug rain mm=5.38
|Sep rain mm=17.08
|Oct rain mm=73.93
|Nov rain mm=140.53
|Dec rain mm=146.33
|year rain mm=
|Jan sun=137.87
|Feb sun=145.47
|Mar sun=192.92
|Apr sun=229.81
|May sun=293.62
|Jun sun=339.19
|Jul sun=376.36
|Aug sun=336.82
|Sep sun=265.03
|Oct sun=214.05
|Nov sun=151.74
|Dec sun=125.47
|year sun=
|source 1 = Hellenic National Meteorological Service<ref>{{cite web
  | url=http://climatlas.hnms.gr/sdi
  | url-status=dead
  | title=Archived copy
  | access-date=2021-03-14
  | archive-date=2020-08-01
  | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801222008/http://climatlas.hnms.gr/sdi/
  }}</ref>
  | date=March 2021
}}


==Visitor attractions==
The port of Katakolo is a popular stop for [[cruise ship]]s, offering an opportunity for passengers to visit the site of [[Olympia, Greece|Olympia]]. Low hills with forests surround Katakolo. Visitors here have the opportunity to visit the ancient port of Olympia, the sunken ancient city of [[Pheia (Elis)|Pheia]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Destruction of Olympia's Ancient Harbour Site by a Tsunami Impact |url=http://ciesm.org/online/archives/abstracts/pdf/39/PG_0809.pdf |publisher=CIESM Congress |access-date=27 December 2018 |date=2010}}</ref> Ancient Pheia was on the other side of the mountain of Ichthys, now [[Agios Andreas, Katakolo|Agios Andreas]], within walking distance of Katakolo port. The lighthouse of Katakolo was built in 1865. One of the most important sites of Katakolo is the [[Museum of Ancient Greek Technology]].

Katakolo has a big market. It consists of more than sixty shops. Cafeterias, restaurants, clothing and traditional Greek products.

The remains of the medieval Pontikokastro/Belvedere/Beauvoir castle still stand on a hilltop northeast of the modern port, but the castle is mostly ruined and its original appearance can only be surmised.{{sfn|Bon|1969|pp=663–665}}

==Historical population==
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Population of Katakolo
|-
| 1991 || 594 
|-
| 2001 || 601
|-
| 2011 || 513 
|-
| 2021 || 511
|}

==Transport==
===Rail===
A railway station connects [[Katakolo railway station|Katakolo]] with [[Pyrgos railway station|Pyrgos]] and [[Olympia railway station|Olympia]].<ref>[http://www.trainose.gr/en/tourism-culture/train-and-recreation/katakolo-olympia/ TrainOSE], accessed 10 October 2016</ref>

==Notable people==
<!-- PLEASE ONLY ADD PEOPLE WITH ARTICLES -->
*Carolos Cantounis aka. [[Magic Mizrahi]] (1983-) Jewish music producer of electronic music, well-known in Latin America & Israel. 
*[[Pavlos Haikalis]] (1959–) actor and member of parliament
*[[Yiannis Latsis]] (1910–2003) shipping tycoon

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Katakolo.jpg|The main street
File:Katakolon.jpg|View of harbour
File:Katakolo 2011-10-18.jpg|Cruise ships at the harbour
File:Cruise Ship Costa Fortuna in Katakolo - April 2009.jpg|Cruise ship Costa Fortuna in Katakolo, April 2009
File:Ioannis Latsis renovated house in Katakolo.jpg|alt=Ioannis Latsis house in Katakolo|Ioannis Latsis house in Katakolo<ref>{{Cite web|title=Katakolon, Greece|url=https://kukuvaya.org/blogs/some-thoughts/katakolon|access-date=2020-12-23|website=KUKUVAYA Ideas|language=en}}</ref>
File:Katakolo train station 01.jpg|Train station in Katakolo
</gallery>

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

==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}

==References==
* {{cite book | last = Bon | first = Antoine | title = La Morée franque. Recherches historiques, topographiques et archéologiques sur la principauté d'Achaïe | year = 1969 | language = fr | publisher = De Boccard | location = Paris | url = http://cefael.efa.gr/detail.php?site_id=1&actionID=page&serie_id=BefarA&volume_number=213&issue_number=1 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://www.portkatakolo.gr Port of Katakolo "John Latsis"]
*[https://www.katakolon.org Katakolon official website]

{{Pyrgos}}

[[Category:Mediterranean port cities and towns in Greece]]
[[Category:Populated places in Elis]]
[[Category:Pyrgos, Elis]]