Aigialeia

Aigialeia Αιγιάλεια
Location
Aigialeia
Coordinates	38°15′N 22°5′E / 38.25°N 22.083°E / 38.25; 22.083Coordinates: 38°15′N 22°5′E / 38.25°N 22.083°E / 38.25; 22.083
Location within the region
Government
Country:	Greece
Region:	West Greece
Regional unit:	Achaea
Population statistics (as of 2001)
Municipality
- Population:	57,993
- Area:	729.4 km2 (282 sq mi)
- Density:	80 /km2 (206 /sq mi)
Other
Time zone:	EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Postal code:	25x xx
Telephone:	269x0
Auto:	ΑΧ

Aigialeia (Greek: Αιγιάλεια) is a municipality and a former province (επαρχία) in the eastern part of the Achaea regional unit, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Aigio.^[1] The main towns are Aigio, Akrata and Diakopto. The municipality Aigialeia stretches from the south coast of the Gulf of Corinth to the mountainous interior of the Peloponnese peninsula. The main rivers of the municipality are the Selinountas and the Vouraikos.

Municipality

The municipality Aigialeia was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 6 former municipalities, that became municipal units:^[1]

• Aigeira
• Aigio
• Akrata
• Diakopto
• Erineos
• Sympoliteia

Province

The province of Aigialeia (Greek: Επαρχία Αιγιαλείας) was one of the three provinces of Achaea. It covered the same territory as the present municipality. It was abolished in 2006.

History

Present Aigialeia was the territory of the ancient Achaeans. Several towns of the Achaean League were located here: Rhypes, Aegium, Ceryneia, Boura, Helice, Aegae and Aigeira. Helice was submerged as a result an earthquake, which also destroyed Boura. In Roman times, the most important towns were Aegium and Aigeira.^[2] In the Middle Ages, the area was ruled by Byzantines, Slavs, Franks, Venetians, and from the 16th century the Ottoman Turks. Aigialeia was liberated in the first stage of the Greek War of Independence, in 1821. Aigio was struck by an earthquake in 1995, damaging several buildings. The 2007 Greek forest fires cause great damage in the mountains of Aigialeia.

Transport

Roads

The main highways in Aigialeia are:

• Greek National Road 8, old road Athens - Corinth - Rio - Patras
• Greek National Road 8A (part of E55 and E65): Athens - Corinth - Rio - Patras
• Greek National Road 31: Aigio - Kalavryta

Railways

The Piraeus, Athens and Peloponnese Railways line Athens - Corinth - Aigio - Patras - Pyrgos - Kyparissia runs through Aigialeia. The Diakofto–Kalavryta Railway is a rack railway, offering passenger service as well.

Media

Newspapers, fanzines and others

• Filodimos - Aigio
• Frourio tis Anatolikis Aigialeias
• Proti tis Aigaleias - Aigio and Aigaleia
• Styx - Akrata

Radio

• Radio Aigio - 99.2 FM

Television

• AXION - Aigio

Sporting clubs

• Anagennisi/Aias Sympoliteias - Rododafni
• Aris Valimitika
• Asteras Temenis
• Diakopto AC - Diakopto - fourth division
• Egieas Egion
• Olympiakos Aigio - Aigio, fourth division
• Panaigialeios - fourth division
• Thyella Aigio - Aigio
• A.O. Vouraikos Diakopto
• A.O. Ziria
• Aris Longou - Longos, Achaea

References

v t e Administrative division of the West Greece Region Area: 11,350 km² • Population : 740,506 (2001) • Capital: Patras Regional unit of Achaea Aigialeia • Erymanthos • Kalavryta • Patras • West Achaea Regional unit of Aetolia-Acarnania Agrinio • Aktio-Vonitsa • Amfilochia • Missolonghi • Nafpaktia • Thermo • Xiromero Regional unit of Elis Ancient Olympia • Andravida-Kyllini • Andritsaina-Krestena • Ilida • Pineios • Pyrgos • Zacharo Regional governor: Apostolos Katsifaras (el) • Website: www.pde.gov.gr