Makrakomi ( el, Μακρακώμη) is a town and a municipality in the western part of the

Phthiotis Phthiotis ( el, Φθιώτιδα, ''Fthiótida'', ; ancient Greek and Katharevousa: Φθιῶτις) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the administrative region of Central Greece. The capital is the city of Lamia. It is b ...

regional unit, in

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders wi ...

. The seat of the municipality is the town

Spercheiada Spercheiada ( el, Σπερχειάδα) is a town and a former municipality in the western part of Phthiotis, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Makrakomi Makrakomi ( el, Μακρακώμη) is a town an ...

Geography

Makrakomi is built on the southern slopes of Western Othrys at an altitude of 280 m. It overlooks the river Spercheios and its valley. Makrakomi is located east of

Karpenisi Karpenisi ( el, Καρπενήσι, ) is a town in central Greece. It is the capital of the regional unit of Evrytania. Karpenisi is situated in the valley of the river Karpenisiotis (Καρπενησιώτης), a tributary of the Megdovas, in ...

, ENE of

Agrinio Agrinio ( Greek: Αγρίνιο, , Latin: ''Agrinium'') is the largest city of the Aetolia-Acarnania regional unit of Greece and its largest municipality, with 106,053 inhabitants. It is the economical center of Aetolia-Acarnania, although its c ...

, south of

Karditsa Karditsa ( el, Καρδίτσα ) is a city in western Thessaly in mainland Greece. The city of Karditsa is the capital of Karditsa regional unit of region of Thessaly. Inhabitation is attested from 9000 BC. Karditsa ls linked with GR-30, th ...

, west of

Lamia LaMia Corporation S.R.L., operating as LaMia (short for ''Línea Aérea Mérida Internacional de Aviación''), was a Bolivian charter airline headquartered in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, as an EcoJet subsidiary. It had its origins from the failed ...

and the GR-1/ E65 and the E75 as well as the GR-3 and WNW of

Amfissa Amfissa ( el, Άμφισσα , also mentioned in classical sources as Amphissa) is a town in Phocis, Greece, part of the municipality of Delphi, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an area of 315.174 km2. It l ...

. Makrakomi is linked with the GR-38 (Agrinio - Evrytania - Lamia).

Municipality

The Municipality of Makrakomi was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 4 former municipalities, that became municipal units (constituent communities in brackets): * Agios Georgios Tymfristou (Agios Georgios,

Dikastro Dikastro ( el, Δίκαστρο), meaning "two castles", is a small village in the northwest of Phthiotis Prefecture in Central Greece, very close to the borders with Evrytania and Karditsa. Built on the verdant rocky landscape between Mounts Tymfr ...

, Mavrilo, Megali Kapsi, Merkada, Mesaia Kapsi, Neochori, Palaiokastro, Perivlepto, Pitsiota, Ptelea, Vitoli) *Makrakomi (Archani, Asvesti,

Giannitsou Giannitsou ( el, Γιαννιτσού) is a semi-mountainous village, altitude of ~300m above the sea level, in western Phthiotis/Central Greece, with fewer than 300 inhabitants. It is located northern of Makrakomi and 36 km northwestern of ...

, Grammeni, Kastri, Litoselo, Makrakomi, Makri, Palaia Giannitsou, Pappa, Platystomo, Rovoliari, Trilofo,

Tsoukka Tsoukka ( el, Τσούκκα) is a village in the municipal unit of Makrakomi in Phthiotis Phthiotis ( el, Φθιώτιδα, ''Fthiótida'', ; ancient Greek and Katharevousa: Φθιῶτις) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of ...

) *

(Agios Sostis, Anatoli, Argyria, Fteri, Gardiki, Kallithea, Kampia, Kanalia, Kloni, Kolokythia, Kyriakochori, Lefkada, Marmara, Mesopotamia, Nikolitsi, Palaiochori, Palaiovracha, Perivoli, Pitsi, Platanos, Pougkakia, Spercheiada) * Tymfristos The municipality has an area of 836.564 km², the municipal unit 271.298 km². In 2011 the population of Makrakomi municipal unit was assessed as 5,617 (2,825 male, 2,792 female).

Historical population

History, monuments and sights

''See

Ainis Ainis ( Ancient Greek Αἰνίς, , Modern Greek Αινίδα, ) or Aeniania, was a region of ancient Greece located near Lamia in modern Central Greece, roughly corresponding to the upper Valley of Spercheios. Name The region takes its name ...

''. ''Makrakomi'': This market town bears the name of the ancient Aenian town "Makra Kome" ong Townwhose ruins can be seen on the small hill Profitis Ilias. "Makra Kome" is mentioned by the historian

Livy Titus Livius (; 59 BC – AD 17), known in English as Livy ( ), was a Roman historian. He wrote a monumental history of Rome and the Roman people, titled , covering the period from the earliest legends of Rome before the traditional founding in ...

(Titus Livius) in his description of the destruction of Sperchias by the Aetolians (198 B.C) (see

Macra Come Macra Come or Makra Kome ( grc, Μακρά κώμη) was a fortress mentioned by Livy along with Sperchiae in Ainis, in ancient Thessaly. It may have been a town of the Aenianes Ainis (Ancient Greek Αἰνίς, , Modern Greek Αινίδα, ) or ...

). Sights include the church of Agia Paraskevi (set in an overgrown site with cypress trees), the Acropolis of Makrakomi (which affords a splendid view over the plain) and the hillock of Lavanitsa. ''Platistomo'': A picturesque bath town with natural springs (known to ancient Aenians). The waters of these springs are recommended for stomach and skin ailments. ''Nea and Palea Gianitsou - Papas'': There are traces of two ancient castles in this location. ''Makri'': A town square is located here, as well as the river Spercheios. The only station for nursing and protecting animals in Phthiotis is also located in Makri. The Greek Army general

Ioannis Zisis Ioannis Zisis ( el, Ιωάννης Ζήσης, 1881-1941) was a Hellenic Army General during World War II. He was born in village Makri, near to Makrakomi, Fthiotida. Prior to and during the German invasion of Greece, Major General Zisis wa ...

was born at Makri in 1888. ''Archani'': Close to springs and therapeutic waters. ''Asvestis'

It has a vaulted bridge made of stone. ''Trilofo'': It features a religious museum "I Vivlos" The Bible" ''Kastri'': It has a plane-tree forest on both sides of the Spercheios. The Castle is the most prominent building at the village centre. ''Tsouka'': The porch of Western

. It features a fountain in the "chalkia gourna" brass basin"while there are huge oak trees at Agios Giannis. ''Litosselo'': There is a folklore museum and a settlement called "Afentika" The Bosses" ''Rovoliari'': There are ancient fir-trees, chestnut-tree woods and oak-tree woods, as well as a folklore museum.

Food and entertainment

Local meat from free range animals and delicious sausages traditionally produced. Wine and raki from the mountainous

vineyards A vineyard (; also ) is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice. The science, practice and study of vineyard production is known as viticulture. Vineyards ...

of Makrakomi, Tsouka and Platistomo. Famous local produce includes kiwi berries from Kastri and shelled peanuts from Makri. The taverns and restaurants in Makrakomi and the surrounding villages serve kokoretsi, splinantero, kontosouvli (skewered and grilled meats) and other local specialities.

Cultural and other events

Organized events in commemoration of the Battle of Makrakomi; three-day Carnival festivities in Makrakomi. Traditional festivals in Makrakomi (on Agiou Pnevmatos Day oly Ghost and all the other villages. Music nights, dedicated events, exhibitions and theatricals are also put on in summer.

References

External links

Municipality of MakrakomiMakrakomi on lineMunicipality of Makrakomi on GTP Travel Pages
(in English and Greek)
Makrakomi (community) on GTP Travel Pages
(in English and Greek)

{{Makrakomi div Populated places in Phthiotis Municipalities of Central Greece Spercheios Valley