View source for Voies

{{Infobox Greek Dimos
  |name = Voies
  |name_local = Βοιές
|type = municipal unit
|image_map = DE Vion.svg
|map_caption = Location within the regional unit
|periph = [[Peloponnese (region)|Peloponnese]]
|periphunit         = [[Laconia]]
|municipality = [[Monemvasia]]
  |pop_municunit = 7235
  |population_as_of = 2021
  |area_municunit  = 215.5 
  |elevation = 15
  |coordinates = {{coord|36|30|N|23|4|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
  |postal_code = 230 53
  |area_code = 27340
  |licence = ΑΚ
  |website = [http://www.visitvatika.gr VisitVatika.gr]
 |image_skyline      = Castle of Agia Paraskevi and Vatika region view.jpg
 |caption_skyline    = Castle of Agia Paraskevi and Vatika region
 |city_flag          = 
 |city_seal          = 
 |districts          =  
}}
'''Voies''' ({{langx|el|Βοιές}} {{IPA|el|/viˈes/}}, feminine plural) is a former [[Communities and Municipalities of Greece|municipality]] in [[Laconia]], [[Peloponnese (region)|Peloponnese]], [[Greece]]. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality [[Monemvasia]], of which it is a municipal unit.<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> The municipal unit has an area of 215.527&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}}</ref> It is on the southern tip of [[Cape Malea]]. It is a predominantly [[agricultural]] region with a few minor [[villages]] and one dominant town. ''Vatika'' is the common term for the area, but ''Voies'' is used in a more official context, particularly for postal situations. ''Voion'', the [[genitive case|genitive]], is used for description: for example, to differentiate the village of Agios Nikolaos in Voies from other villages and towns of the same name, one would use ''Agios Nikolaos Voion''. [[Neapoli Voion|Neapoli]] is the administrative capital of the municipality, and is also the urban center to the numerous villages that surround the hinterland.

In the Kato Kastania village of Voies is found the large and colorful Kastania Cave.<ref>[https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/kastania-cave "Kastania Cave, Kato Kastania, Greece", ''Atlas Obscura'']</ref>

==Geography==
There is a single mountain range that runs through the center of the municipality dividing it into two parts, both an east and west section. Adjacent to the west coast of the region lies the island of [[Elafonisos]]. The island contains some of the oldest evidence of human inhabitance in the whole of the Peloponnese.

==Historical population==
{| class=wikitable
! Year !! Neapoli !! Municipality
|-
| 1981 || 2,113 || -  
|-
| 1991 || 2,469 || 7,802 
|-
| 2001 || 2,751 || 7,871
|-
| 2011 || 3,130 || 7,703
|-
| 2021 || 2,787 || 7,235
|}

==History==
The name of the region derives from the initial name of the town of ''Neapoli'', ''Boiai'' ({{langx|grc|Βοιαί}}), which is thought to have been founded in the second century BC. The feminine plural ending has evolved from -αί to -ες.

The ancient writer [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] wrote that Boiai was founded "...by [[Boeus|Boios]], one of the [[Heraclidae]], who is supposed to have gathered the people from three cities: ''Etis'', ''[[Aphrodisias]]'' and ''Side''".

==Neapoli==
[[Neapoli Voion|Neapoli]] ({{langx|el|Νεάπολη}} meaning "new city") ({{coord|36|30|42|N|23|03|31|E|}}) is the largest town of the former municipality. It was initially an agricultural center, but now has seen a rise in the numbers of tourists (particularly visitors to the neighbouring island of [[Elafonisos]]). The commercial center of the town is located on the water front, facing [[Vatika Bay]]. There are ferries to the islands [[Kythira]] and Elafonisos. The town is surrounded by the villages of [[Faraklo]], [[Paradisi (Laconia), Greece|Paradisi]] and [[Lachi, Greece|Lachi]] in its hinterland, and Kambos located on the same plain as Neapoli. Neapoli has a kindergarten school, a school, a church and a square.

==Agios Nikolaos==
[[Agios Nikolaos, Voies|Agios Nikolaos]] ({{langx|el|Άγιος Νικολάος}}) ({{coord|36|28|38|N|23|05|53|E|}}) is a small village, south-east of Neapoli. It has a largely agricultural population; however, many inhabitants are employed in the shipping industries.

==Places of interest==
*[[Neapoli Voion|Neapoli]]
Villages:
*[[Velanidia, Laconia|Velanidia]] (Βελανίδια), a Byzantine village about 17&nbsp;km from [[Neapoli Voion|Neapoli]], it includes several Byzantine churches.<ref name="urlΣύνδεσμος Βελανιδιωτών Η Μυρτιδιώτισσα">{{cite web|url=http://www.myrtidiotissa.gr|title=Σύνδεσμος Βελανιδιωτών "Η Μυρτιδιώτισσα"|access-date=2010-02-08|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201132224/http://www.myrtidiotissa.gr/|archive-date=2010-02-01}}</ref>
*[[Faraklo]] (Φάρακλο)
*[[Lachi, Greece|Lachi]] (Λάχι) - Site of the Ancient city named Itis.
*[[Mesochori, Laconia|Mesochori]] (Μεσοχώρι) - A village with Byzantine origins.
*[[Agios Nikolaos, Voies|Agios Nikolaos]] (Άγιος Νικόλαος) - The Agricultural center for the Municipality. The original name of the village dating back in the 17th century was "Panagia" from a homonymous temple of Virgin Mary. Most of the inhabitants trace their ancestry from the Western parts of Crete that was occupied by the Ottomans in 1669 resulting to a wide refugee influx in the Vatica area. Moreover, people from the island of Kythera started populating the village from the early 19th century and onwards. Known families include "Nychas" family presumably indigenous since the 17th century, "Pavlakis" Cretan ancestry and "Michaletos" Venetian ancestry coming from Crete as well. The village has a strong diaspora concentrated in Australia and Pretoria -South Africa.
*[[Paradeisi, Laconia|Paradeisi]] (Παραδέισι)
*[[Ano Kastania]] (Ανό Καστανία) - The location of many Byzantine Churches and Monasteries.
*[[Kato Kastania]] (Κάτο Καστανία)
*[[Viglafia]] (Βιγκλάφια)
*[[Elafonisos]] - A small island just 500 m of the coast of Vatika near Viglafia.
*[[Pantanassa, Laconia|Pantanassa]]<ref name="urlPandanassa_Vion, Pandanassa_Vion">{{cite web |url=http://www.pandanassa.com |title=Pandanassa_Vion|access-date=2010-02-08}}</ref>

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

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.visitvatika.gr VisitVatika,gr, Complete guide of Vatika region]
*[http://www.agiosnikolaos.net Agios Nikolaos Official Website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100201132224/http://www.myrtidiotissa.gr/ Velanidia]
*[http://www.vatika2000.com Vatika (Greek, English)]
*[http://www.elafonissos.gr/el/photography.php?page=21 Photos from Vatika and Elafonissos]

{{Monemvasia div}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places in Laconia]]
[[Category:Monemvasia]]