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{{Infobox Greek Dimos
|name = Missolonghi
|name_local = {{lang|el|Μεσολόγγι}}
|type = municipality
|image_map = 2011 Dimos Mesolongiou.png
|periph = [[West Greece]]
|periphunit = [[Aetolia-Acarnania]]
|pop_municipality = 32048
|area_municipality = 680.4
|pop_municunit = 17440
|area_municunit = 280.2
|pop_community = 13965
|population_as_of = 2021
|elevation = 8
|coordinates = {{coord|38|22|09|N|21|25|40|E|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code = 302 00
|area_code = 26310
|licence = ΜΕ
|website ={{URL|www.messolonghi.gov.gr }}
|image_skyline = {{multiple image
|perrow = 1/2/2/2
|border = infobox
|total_width = 270
|image1 = West part of Mesologi.jpg
|image2 = Heldenpark Mesolongi - Lord Byron.jpg
|image3 = Street in Messolonghi.jpg
|image4 = Αιτωλικό 3836.jpg
|image5 = Heldenpark Mesolongi.jpg
|image6 = Traditional Messolongi stilt house.jpg
|image7 = Mesologgi - aitoloakarnania - panoramio - Giorgos Bartsokas.jpg
}}
|caption_skyline = From top left: view of the west part of the town, statue to [[Lord Byron]] in the Garden of Heroes, a street and square in the town, aerial view of [[Aitoliko]], statue in the Garden of Heroes, a stilt house on the [[Missolonghi Lagoon]], view of the port.
|city_flag = 
|city_seal = Mesolongi Siegel.png
|districts = 
|mayor = Spyridon Diamantopoulos<ref name=mayor>[https://ekloges.ypes.gr/current/d/home/en/municipalities/9127/ Municipality of Messologhi, Municipal elections – October 2023], Ministry of Interior</ref>
|party = 
|since = 2023
}}

'''Missolonghi''' or '''Mesolongi''' ({{langx|el|Μεσολόγγι}}, {{IPA|el|mesoˈloɲɟi|pron}})  is a municipality of 32,048 people (according to the 2021 census)<ref name=census21/> in western Greece. The town is the capital of [[Aetolia-Acarnania]] regional unit, and the seat of the municipality of '''Iera Polis Mesolongiou''' ({{langx|el|Ιερά Πόλις Μεσολογγίου||Sacred Town of Missolonghi}}). Missolonghi is known as the site of [[Third Siege of Missolonghi|a dramatic siege]] during the [[Greek War of Independence]], and of the death of poet [[Lord Byron]].

==Geography==
The town is located between the [[Achelous River|Achelous]] and the [[Evinos]] rivers and has a port on the [[Gulf of Patras]]. It trades in fish, wine, and tobacco. The [[Arakynthos]] mountains lie to the northeast. The town is almost canalized but houses are within the gulf and the swamplands. The [[Missolonghi–Aitoliko Lagoons]] complex lies to the west. In the ancient times, the land was part of the gulf.

===Climate===
Summers are long, hot and humid, with temperatures rarely surpassing 40&nbsp;°C and sometimes remaining above 25&nbsp;°C at night. Winters are short, mild and humid with frequent rainfalls.

==Transport==

===National Transport===

The [[A5 motorway (Greece)|A5 Ionia Odos]] motorway passes north of Missolonghi.

The town had a railway station on the [[Hellenic Railways Organisation]] line from [[Kryoneri, Aetolia-Acarnania|Krioneri]] to [[Agrinio]] but this has been abandoned since the 1970s.

The Intercity Buses Of Aitoloakarnania<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ktel-aitolnias.gr/el/|title=Κτελ Αιτωλ/Νιασ}}</ref> also have service towards [[Agrinio]], [[Amfilochia]], [[Astakos]], [[Volos]], [[Vonitsa]], [[Thessaloniki]], [[Lamia]], [[Larissa|Larisa]], [[Livadeia]], [[Mitikas]], [[Patras]], [[Chalkida]] and the capital [[Athens]].

The local airport has a hard runway but no scheduled services. The closest airport with scheduled services is [[Aktion National Airport]] just an hour and half away.

Two new ferry connections towards [[Zakynthos]], [[Cephalonia]], and [[Ithaca (island)|Ithaca]] were launched in 2020

==Education==
Three departments of the [[University of Patras]] are based in the city.

==Administration==
The municipality Missolonghi (official name: {{langx|el|Δήμος Ιεράς Πόλεως Μεσολογγίου}}) was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 3 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>
*[[Aitoliko]]
*Missolonghi
*[[Oiniades]]

The municipal unit Missolonghi is subdivided into 8 communities:<ref name=Kallikratis/>
*Agios Georgios 
*Agios Thomas 
*Ano Koudouni 
*Ellinika 
*[[Evinochori]] 
*Missolonghi 
*Mousoura 
*Retsina

The municipality has an area of 680.372&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, the municipal unit 280.168&nbsp;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 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921212047/http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf |archive-date=2015-09-21 }}</ref>

===Province===
The province of Missolonghi ({{langx|el|Επαρχία Μεσολογγίου}}) was one of the [[provinces of Greece|provinces]] of the Aetolia-Acarnania Prefecture. Its territory corresponded with that of the current municipality Missolonghi (except part of the municipal unit [[Oiniades]]) and the municipal units [[Angelokastro, Aetolia-Acarnania|Angelokastro]], [[Arakynthos]] and [[Makryneia]].<ref name=census91>{{cite web|url=http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00086.pdf |title=Detailed census results 1991 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183824/http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00086.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-03 }}&nbsp;{{small|(39&nbsp;MB)}} {{in lang|el|fr}}</ref> It was abolished in 2006.

==History==
===Early history===
North-west of Missolonghi are the remains of [[Pleuron, Aetolia|Pleuron]] (modern Asfakovouni), a town mentioned in [[Homer]]'s works. It participated in the [[Trojan War]] and was destroyed in 234 BC by [[Demetrius II Aetolicus]]. The new town, which was built on the remains of old Pleuron, was one of the most important towns in Aetolia. Its monumental fortification comprised thirty towers and seven gates. The remains of the theatre and an enormous water tank with four compartments still exist.

The modern settlement of Missolonghi was first mentioned by a [[Venice|Venetian]] called [[Paolo Paruta|Paruta]] when he was describing the naval [[Battle of Lepanto (1571)|Battle of Lepanto]], which took place nearby. According to predominant historical opinion, its name came from the combination of two Italian words, ''mezzo'' and ''laghi'' which means "in the middle of lakes" or ''messo'' and ''laghi'' (Messolaghi) which means "a place surrounded by lakes". 

The town grew as a fishing and trading hub. It was captured in 1684 by the [[Republic of Venice|Venetians]], and held throughout the [[Morean War]], but it was returned to the Ottoman Empire after the 1699 [[Treaty of Karlowitz]].{{sfn|Brooks|2013|p=64}} The town joined the [[Orlov Revolt]] in 1770, but the uprising was quickly quelled and it returned to Ottoman rule.{{sfn|Brooks|2013|p=64}}

===Greek War of Independence=== 
[[File:Ellinika chronika.jpg|thumb|200px|Title page of {{Lang|el-latn|[[Ellinika Chronika]]}} (1824), one of the first newspapers in modern Greece, published in Missolonghi under the editorship of Swiss Philhellene [[Johann Jakob Meyer]], who was killed during the sortie.]]
[[File:Giuseppe Mazzola - The Attack of Ibrahim Pasha against Messolonghi.jpg|thumb|200px|''The Attack of Ibrahim Pasha against Messolonghi'' by [[Giuseppe Mazzola]]]]
[[File:The sortie of Messologhi by Theodore Vryzakis.jpg|thumb|200px|''The Sortie of Missolonghi'' by [[Theodoros Vryzakis]] (1855)]]
When the [[Greek War of Independence]] broke out in spring 1821, Missolonghi was the first place in western Greece to join the uprising, on 20 May 1821,{{Greece Old Style dating}} under the leadership of the town notables, chiefly [[Athanasios Razikotsikas]], Panos Papaloukas, and A. Kapsalis. With rumours of Greek successes in the [[Morea]] and eastern Greece spreading throughout April, most of the Turkish families of the town had already evacuated to nearby [[Vrachori]], where there was a strong Ottoman military presence. Missolonghi was soon reinforced by the [[klepht]] chieftain [[Dimitrios Makris]], who immediately occupied the nearby island of [[Aitoliko|Anatoliko]]; there too, the few Turks abandoned the town without resistance and made for Vrachori.{{sfn|Ιστορία του Ελληνικού Έθνους|pp=112–113}}

Its location made it a vital bastion to the Greeks in the War of Independence: protected by a chain of small islands and its lagoon from the sea, and by a wall and the marshy terrain from the landward side, it was strategically located near the [[Peloponnese]] and the [[Ionian Islands]].{{sfn|Doganis|1929|p=505}} Coming from [[Marseille]], [[Alexandros Mavrokordatos]] landed in the town in July, and made it the base of his attempts to form his own power-base in western Greece, independent of the authority of [[Dimitrios Ypsilantis]] in the Morea.{{sfn|Ιστορία του Ελληνικού Έθνους|p=139}} On 4 November, Mavrokordatos and his political allies convened an assembly of regional representatives in the town, which established a separate governing body, the "[[Senate of Western Continental Greece]]".{{sfn|Ιστορία του Ελληνικού Έθνους|pp=194–195}}

The town's fortifications were initially limited to a ditch {{convert|2|m|ft}} wide and {{convert|1.2|m|ft}} deep, in many places filled up with rubbish, as well as by a small wall, not higher than {{convert|1|m|ft}} and in need of repair, with fourteen guns.{{sfn|Brooks|2013|p=64}}{{sfn|Doganis|1929|p=505}} Nevertheless, the city held out against the first Ottoman attempt to capture it in 1822. A 7,000-8,000 strong Ottoman army under [[Omer Vryonis]] and [[Reşid Mehmed Pasha|Mehmed Reshid Pasha]] [[First Siege of Missolonghi|laid siege to the city]] on 25 October 1822. The small Greek garrison of 500 men, under Mavrokordatos, managed to delay the Ottomans by pretending to negotiate a surrender until the Greek fleet landed reinforcements on 8 November. The subsequent Ottoman attacks were beaten off, and the onset of winter, disease, and the attacks of other Greek forces from the rear under [[Georgios Karaiskakis]] forced the Ottoman commanders to lift the siege on 31 December 1822.{{sfn|Doganis|1929|p=505}}{{sfn|Ιστορία του Ελληνικού Έθνους|pp=272–275}} 

A [[Second Siege of Missolonghi|second Ottoman attack]], led by Vryonis and [[Mustafa Pasha Bushatli|Mustafa Pasha]] of [[Shkoder|Scutari]], was launched on 20 September 1823, and focused mostly on Anatoliko. Facing the onset of winter, disease, the failure of the simultaneous Ottoman operations in eastern Greece, and Greek attacks on their foraging parties, the Ottoman commanders abandoned the siege on 17 November.{{sfn|Ιστορία του Ελληνικού Έθνους|pp=304–305}}

Another siege started on 15 April 1825<ref name=EB1911-607>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Missolonghi|volume=18|page=607}}</ref> by [[Reşid Mehmed Pasha]] whose army numbered 30,000 men and was later reinforced by another 10,000 men led by [[Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt|Ibrahim Pasha]], son of [[Muhammad Ali of Egypt|Muhammad Ali Pasha]] of Egypt. After a year of [[Third Siege of Missolonghi|relentless enemy attacks and facing starvation]], the people of Missolonghi decided to leave the beleaguered city in the "Exodus of its Guards" (The Sortie) on the night of 10 April 1826. At the time, there were 10,500 people in Missolonghi, 3,500 of whom were armed. Very few people survived the Ottoman [[pincer movement]] after the betrayal of their plan.

Due to the heroic stance of the population and the subsequent massacre of its inhabitants by the Turkish-Egyptian forces, the town of Missolonghi received the honorary title of '''Hiera Polis''' (the Sacred City), unique among other [[Greece|Greek]] cities. The famous British poet and [[Philhellenism|philhellene]] [[Lord Byron]], who supported the Greek struggle for independence, died in Missolonghi in 1824. He is commemorated by a [[cenotaph]],<ref name=EB1911-607/> containing his heart,<ref name=cne>{{Cite Collier's|wstitle=Missolonghi}}</ref> and a statue located in the town.<ref name=EB1911-607/>

===Modern era===
[[File:Messolonghi lagoon.jpg|thumb|200px|The lagoon of the city]]

The town itself is very picturesque but also modern with functional, regular urban planning. Some very interesting buildings representative of traditional architecture can be seen here. People whose names were related to modern [[History of Greece|Greek history]] once lived in some of them. The mansion of the [[Trikoupis]] family, Palamas' House, Valvios Library, Christos and [[Sophia Moschandreou]] Gallery of Modern Art emphasize the fact that Missolonghi has always been a city of some [[wealth]] and refinement. In addition, the Centre of Culture and Art, Diexodos, which hosts [[cultural]] events and exhibitions as well as the Museum of History and Art is housed in a [[Neoclassical architecture|neo-classical]] building in [[Markos Botsaris]] Square and hosts a collection of paintings indicative of the struggle of Missolonghi, further boosting the city's cultural and artistic profile. The Messolonghi Byron Society also, founded in 1991 in the city, is a non profit organisation which is devoted to promoting scholarly and general understanding of [[Lord Byron]]'s life and poetry as well as cultivating appreciation for other historical figures in the 19th-century international Philhellenic movement, idealists who, like Byron, gave their fortunes, talents, and lives for the cause of [[Greek War of Independence]]. The Messolonghi Byron Center is now located in the upper floor of Byron House.

Today, the Entrance Gate remains intact and so does part of the fortification of the Free Besieged which was rebuilt by [[Otto of Greece|King Otto]]. Past the gate, there is the Garden of Heroes where several famous and some anonymous heroes who fought during the Heroic Sortie are buried. The Garden of Heroes is the equivalent of the [[Elysium|Elysian Fields]] for modern Greece. Every year the Memorial Day for the Exodus is celebrated on [[Palm Sunday]] (the Sunday before Easter); the Greek State is represented by high-ranking officials and foreign countries by their ambassadors.

==Media==
*Radiofonikos Stathmos Mesolongiou,(Radio Missolonghi 92FM),[https://mesradio92.gr/ Website]

==Landmarks==
[[File:Garden of Messolonghi.jpg|thumb|200px|View of the ''Garden of Heroes'']]
[[File:Messologi station building.jpg|thumb|200px|Railway station]]

*Museum of the History and the Art of the Sacred City of Messolonghi, [https://web.archive.org/web/20050305161631/http://www.culture.gr/4/42/421/42103/42103d/e42103d1.html Website]
* Centre of Culture and Art, Diexodos,[http://www.diexodos.com.gr Website]
*Christos and Sophia Mosxandreou Gallery of Modern Art
*The Messolonghi Byron Society-International Research Center for Lord Byron and Philhellenism,[https://web.archive.org/web/20120830035410/http://rea.teimes.gr/byronlib// Website]

==Notable people==
[[File:The Greek child of David d'Angers reads the name of Botzaris.jpg|thumb|200px|The tomb of [[Markos Botsaris]] (copy by [[Georgios Bonanos]]; the original by [[David d'Angers]] is located in Athens)]]

*[[Lord Byron]] died here in 1824 and is commemorated by a cenotaph and a statue<ref name=EB1911-607/>
*[[Epameinontas Deligeorgis]] (1829–1879), former [[Prime Minister of Greece]]
*[[John Lykoudis]] (1910–1980), major and medical doctor involved in the treatment of [[peptic ulcer disease]]
*[[List of modern Greek poets|Miltiadis Malakasis]] (1869–1943), poet
*[[Spyros Moustaklis]], Army officer, democracy activist during the junta
*[[Thanasoulas Valtinos]] (1801 or 1802-1870 or 1877), revolutionary of the [[Greek War of Independence]]
*[[Kostis Palamas]] (1859–1943), Greek poet, co-author of the [[Olympic Hymn]]
*[[Anastasios Papoulas]] (1859–1935), Greek general and commander-in-chief in the [[Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922)]]
*Antonis Travlantonis (1895–1896), Greek educator, former director of [[Zosimaia School]]
*[[Charilaos Trikoupis]] (1832–1896), Prime Minister of Greece
*[[Nikolaos Trikoupis]] (1869–1956), Greek general
*[[Spyridon Trikoupis]] (1788–1873), Prime Minister of Greece, father of Charilaos Trikoupis
*[[Charalambos Tseroulis]] (1879–1929), Greek general
*[[Dimitrios Valvis]] (1814–1886), Prime Minister of Greece
*[[Zinovios Valvis]] (1800–1872), Prime Minister of Greece
*[[Sperantza Vrana]] (1926–2009), actress

==Historical population==
[[File:Mesolonghi6.jpg|thumb|200px|''Avgotaracho'' ([[Botargo]]) of Missolonghi]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! City !! Municipal unit !! Municipality
|-
| 1981 || 11,375 || - || -
|-
| 1991 || 10,916 || 16,859 || -
|-
| 2001 || 13,791 || 17,988 || -
|-
| 2011 || 14,386 || 18,482 || 34,416
|-
| 2021 || 13,965 || 17,440 || 32,048
|}

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Greece}}

===Twin towns—sister cities===
Missolonghi is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
{|class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
*[[Schöfflisdorf]], Switzerland
*[[Famagusta]], [[Cyprus]]
*[[Kalavryta]], Greece
*[[Lawrence, Kansas]], United States
*[[Gedling]], UK
||
*[[Morphou]], [[Cyprus]]
*[[Naousa, Imathia|Naousa]], Greece
*[[Psara]], Greece
*[[Hydra (island)|Hydra]], Greece
*[[Mani Peninsula|Mani]], Greece
*[[Karpenisi]], Greece
|}

==See also==
*[[List of settlements in Aetolia-Acarnania]]

==References==
{{sfn whitelist|CITEREFDoganis1929}}
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book | last = Brooks | first = Allan | title = Castles of Northwest Greece: From the Early Byzantine Period to the Eve of the First World War | publisher = Aetos Press | location = Huddersfield | year = 2013 | isbn = 978-0-9575846-0-0 | url = {{Google Books|Xc5HAQAAQBAJ|plainurl=yes}}}}
* {{Ιστορία του Ελληνικού Έθνους|volume=12|ref={{harvid|Ιστορία του Ελληνικού Έθνους}}}}
* {{Great Military and Naval Encyclopaedia|volume=4|title=Μεσολόγγιον|pages=503–507|last=Doganis|first=Th.|year=1929}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Municipality of Missolonghi}}
{{AmCyc Poster|Missolonghi}}
*[http://www.pneumatikomes.blogspot.gr/ Cultural Centre Of Messolonghi] {{in lang|el}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090427040152/http://www.messolonghi.gr/ Municipality of Messolonghi] {{in lang|el}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100216174808/http://www.mesolongi.info/ Information about Mrssolonghi] {{in lang|en}}
*[https://www.29dytika.gr/ News from Messolongi] {{in lang|el}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120623000250/http://www.mesologgi.info/ Messolonghi Travel and Business Guide] {{in lang|el}}
*[http://www.water-technology.net/projects/acheloos/acheloos3.html The Acheloos delta forms the Messolongi Lagoon]
*[http://www.visitmes.gr Sights and Activities in Messolongi]
{{Geographic location
|Centre = Messolonghi (municipal unit)
|North = [[Arakynthos]]
|Northeast = [[Makryneia]]
|East = [[Chalkeia]]
|Southeast = 
|South = ''[[Gulf of Patras]]''
|Southwest = 
|West = [[Aitoliko]]
|Northwest = 
}}

{{Kallikratis-West Greece}}
{{Missolonghi div}}
{{Prefectures and provinces of Greece}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Missolonghi| ]]
[[Category:Mediterranean port cities and towns in Greece]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Western Greece]]
[[Category:Greek prefectural capitals]]
[[Category:Holy cities]]
[[Category:Provinces of Greece]]
[[Category:Populated places in Aetolia-Acarnania]]