Sparta is the capital of the county of Lacedaimona and the prefecture of Lacony with 14.000 inhabitants. It is situated in the north west of the prefecture, to the east of the mountain of Taigetos at an altitude of 210m. The modern city in a fertile area of the valley of Evrotas, was founded in the same spot as ancient Sparta by enactment of the first king Othon in 1834. Its street layout is exceptional with wide streets and spacious squares. The climate is Mediterranean and the average yearly temperature 17.4 degrees Celsius while average yearly rainfall, even present during summertime, is 817mm. Because of the particularity of the climate and the fertile territory, the economy is mostly self - supported. The region's farming and cattlerearing products are gathered and processed in the city's own industrial units. Famed for its glorious historical past, Sparta has exquisite tokens of civilization involving all periods of its long - lasting history. But as a modern urban centre the city is a developing cultural power expressing its multidimensional self through the organization and realization of a number of local events.
This text is cited Mar 2003 from the Municipality of Sparti URL below.
1834. Sparta is reborn. The Greeks aim at creating a new city in the place
of olive oils and reeds. The area is surveyed by Yohmous, a resident of Magoula.
There are no other ancient remains but the Tomb of Leonidas, the shuttles of the
theatre, the Roman Baths. The governor Kapodistrias had disagreed with recreating
the city claiming that any excavations would only uncover more ancient ruins.
But Othon signed the recreation enactment based on Schtaufert's plans. It was
an ambitious idea, since the city was supposed to have 100.000 people while today
there are 20.000. Nevertheless, it was a noble idea: a Hippodamian system, wide
avenues, spacious squares, public buildings, shopping centers and commercial areas.
1837. Authorities are situated in Sparta and it becomes the capital with
Meletopoulos as its first Mayor. The Residency has already been built on the upper
square and simple, provincial buildings are starting to fill the space around
it. The new buildings are of pure Greek architecture, roofed verandah to the south
and a fireplace in the winteroom. This presented a problem for the gentry who
prefer high - ceiling houses with symmetrical windows, little decorated balconies
and trimmings under the roof like those of Mistras.
1840. The city becomes alive as Douroutis builds a silk factory, the first
of many, a very demanding and expensive task. Unfortunately, nothing is left of
those first constructions.
1860. The city is expanding. Shops are built on the upper square with high
roofs and arches and a second floor to the south where the craftshops are. The
money to finance new buildings comes from the division of the central square.
What's left today are the buildings on Palaiologou Street.
1870. The city is acculturated. The Ionic Museum is made of marble, which
will later be substituted, with cement. The construction of the Cathedral starts
at the top of the hill. The model is neoclassic like Athens,
except for the artificial decorative elements of course.
1890. The city is growing both upwards towards the acropolis and downwards
towards the Palace. The cost of this expansion will be the constant uncovering
of ancient ruins, just like Kapodistrias had foreseen.
1900. Neoclassicism is peeking influencing buildings that were of a different
style. It is the completion of the City
Hall, the Gallery
and many other houses of the gentry.
1930. The Bauhaus movement is beginning to simplify buildings. As a result
the noblemen now prefer an equally dominating but simpler way of expression. K.
Panagiotakos builds the High School for boys. Silk is becoming more rare. Gortsolagos
is responsible for the water supply of Sparta.
1940. The war breaks out. 118 fall victim to German troops at Monothendri.
1950. The need of work draws villagers to Sparta. It is the beginning of
peripheral construction. The houses are simple, rectangular with a traditional
roof. As time goes by and with the help of mechanics, they become more complicated
but not necessarily more beautiful. As far as beauty is concerned, the Xenia Hotel
is built kindly requesting our tending. As far as innovation is concerned, a house
by T. Zenetos is built opposite the 3rd Elementary School. Even today, the prominence
of that house is notable.
1970. Cement is everywhere and so are blocks of flats. The School of Professions
is pulled down as well as neoclassic buildings. The picturesque arches of the
square are vanishing. Cars fill the streets and the image of the old, calm city
is fading away.
1997. The palm trees of Palaiologou Street are still there. The houses
of craftsmen on Pirsogianni Street are still there. All remaining neoclassic buildings
are renovated. The pedestrian zone is alive and the parks are full of people again.
The State is transforming the square aiming at highlighting ancient Sparta and
turning the FIX building by T. Zenetos into a museum. The word is that a walk
on the Evrotas banks will be possible. The fragrance of the Spartan orange trees
is still in the air every Easter.
George Giaxoglou, ed.
This text is cited Apr 2003 from the Municipality of Sparti URL below.
The Museum of Ancient Sparta is the only museum built in Greece between 1874 and 1876 by architect G. Katsaros. The exhibits within the museum represent only a small portion of the ruins found in excavations within the town of Sparta and areas around it. One of the most important samples is part of the Temple of goddess Artemis. The Temple was built back in 10th Century BC and survived during most of the Roman era. The plethora of findings from the Temple reveals the great number of vows to the goddess. Some of them are made out of ivory and stone, while others are made of clay, like the clay masks (copies of wooden ones) used during ceremonies in the Temple. There are also a large number of labeled columns with built in metal scythes, commemorating the winners of contests dedicated to goddess Artemis. In a different area within the museum, there are parts of the Temple of Apollon in Amycles. The particular temple was designed in a unique way in order to combine the worship of Doric Apollon and early Doric Hyacinth. The excavations around the town of Sparta revealed parts of wealthy family ancient houses, like the elaborate mosaic floors which are now on display in another section of the museum. Two of the most famous floor samples depict the head of Achilles from Skyros and the head of Gorgos. The Museum includes findings from areas beyond Sparta, ranging from the pre-historic era to the Roman times. Some of the pre-historic findings are located upstairs and originally come from all over Laconia (Melathra, Epidauros, Amykles, Pellana) and Arcadia (Palaiokastro, Gortynia). Hopefully, a newer and larger museum will be built soon and it will accommodate the majority of the treasures of the ancient Laconia.
This text is cited Mar 2003 from the Laconian Professionals URL below, which contains images.
Tel: +30 27310 89580, 89583
Tel: +30 27310 26600
Fax: +30 27310 28701
Tel: +30 27310 27645, 23239
Tel: +30 27310 89631
Tel: +30 27313 63000
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