Oitylo (Greek: Οίτυλο, pronounced Ítilo), known as "Βίτσουλο", pronounced Vitsoulo, in the native Maniot dialect,[2] is a village and a former municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality East Mani, of which it is a municipal unit.[3]

Oitylo
Οίτυλο
View of Limeni
View of Limeni
Oitylo is located in Greece
Oitylo
Oitylo
Location within the regional unit
Coordinates: 36°42.4′N 22°23.3′E / 36.7067°N 22.3883°E / 36.7067; 22.3883
CountryGreece
Administrative regionPeloponnese
Regional unitLaconia
MunicipalityEast Mani
Area
 • Municipal unit218.582 km2 (84.395 sq mi)
Elevation
251 m (823 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Municipal unit
3,643
 • Municipal unit density17/km2 (43/sq mi)
 • Community
474
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
230 62
Area code(s)27330
Vehicle registrationΑΚ
Websitewww.dimosoitilou.gr

Oitylo is one of the oldest towns in the Mani Peninsula. It was mentioned in the Iliad by Homer as Oetylus (Ancient Greek: Οίτυλος), as part of Menelaus' kingdom. In the Middle Ages, it grew to become the most important town in Messenian Mani. The only town in Mani that rivaled Oitylos in numbers of pirates was Skoutari.

Now Areopoli has taken Oitylo's place as the most important town in Laconian Mani. Areopoli was also the seat of the municipality of Oitylo, which is located on the western half of the Mani Peninsula in the extreme southwestern part of Laconia. It has a land area of 218.582 km2.[4] There are 91 villages in the municipality. The largest of these are Areópoli, Pyrgos Dirou and Oítylo.

Subdivisions

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The municipal unit Oitylo is subdivided into the following communities:

Historical population

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Year Village Community Municipal unit
1981 - 507 -
1991[5] 313 540 4,859
2001[4] 258 391 3,959
2011[6] 224 392 3,515
2021[1] 324 474 3,643

Province

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The province of Oitylo (Greek: Επαρχία Οιτύλου) was one of the provinces of the Laconia Prefecture. Its territory corresponded with that of the current municipal unit Oitylo.[5] It was abolished in 2006.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
  2. ^ "TA ΓNHΣIA ONOMATA TΩN XΩPIΩN THΣ MEΣA MANHΣ KAI H ΣΩΣTH ΠPOΦOPA KAI ΓPAΦH TOYΣ ΜΕΡΟΣ B' | Mani Voice". Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  3. ^ "ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
  4. ^ a b "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
  5. ^ a b "Detailed census results 1991" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016.  (39 MB) (in Greek and French)
  6. ^ "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
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