Steni Dirfyos ( el, Στενή Δίρφυος) formerly Ano Steni is a Greek village in

Euboea Evia (, ; el, Εύβοια ; grc, Εὔβοια ) or Euboia (, ) is the second-largest Greek island in area and population, after Crete. It is separated from Boeotia in mainland Greece by the narrow Euripus Strait (only at its narrowest ...

. It is nearly located the centre of Euboea, 30 km northeast of

Chalcis Chalcis ( ; Ancient Greek & Katharevousa: , ) or Chalkida, also spelled Halkida ( Modern Greek: , ), is the chief town of the island of Euboea or Evia in Greece, situated on the Euripus Strait at its narrowest point. The name is preserved f ...

. It is built at a height of 440 m. in the slopes of mount

Dirfys Dirfys ( el, Δίρφυς) is a former municipality in Euboea, Greece, named after Mount Dirfys. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Dirfys-Messapia, of which it is a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an are ...

. Steni is part of

Dirfys-Messapia Dirfys-Messapia ( el, Δίρφυς-Μεσσάπια) is a municipality in the Euboea regional unit, Central Greece, Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on ...

municipality and is the seat of

regional unit. Its population is 392 inhabitants according to 2011 census.

History

Steni is built in the late 18th century (at about in 1790) by inhabitants of village Skounteri (nowadays Pyrgos). During Ottoman occupation Skounteri was the seat of the local Ottoman governor (Beis). Skounteri has almost been depopulated the next years. In the short distance from Steni is located a big steep rock that named Kleisoura. During Ottoman period this place was the refuge of local anti-Ottoman insurgents known as

Klepht Klephts (; Greek κλέφτης, ''kléftis'', pl. κλέφτες, ''kléftes'', which means "thieves" and perhaps originally meant just "brigand": "Other Greeks, taking to the mountains, became unofficial, self-appointed armatoles and were know ...

. After the Greek independence, Steni became the most important village of the mountainous central Euboea. The last years there was the seat of the local municipality of

as well as the seat of the local community that includes moreover the small villages Kato Steni and Pyrgos.

Historical population

Tourism

The recent years the village has evolved as a popular destination for climbers and mountain hikers. In the village is the starting point of the path for the summit of

. There are also hiking paths towards the mountain refuges. Interesting sights near village is the old Byzantine church known as Palaiopanagia. The temple had very important hagiography frescoes that date from 16th century. Five of these were stolen in 1978 but they returned to Greece recently. After the return the frescoes were exhibited in Byzantine Museum.

References

{{Dirfys-Messapia div Populated places in Euboea