Messini
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Messini Μεσσήνη |
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The old railway station.
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 Messini
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Location within the region
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| Coordinates: 37°3′N 22°0′E / 37.050°N 22.000°ECoordinates: 37°3′N 22°0′E / 37.050°N 22.000°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | Peloponnese |
| Regional unit | Messenia |
| Area | |
| • Municipality | 562.1 km2 (217.0 sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 84.6 km2 (32.7 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Municipality | 23,482 |
| • Municipality density | 42/km2 (110/sq mi) |
| • Municipal unit | 9,889 |
| • Municipal unit density | 120/km2 (300/sq mi) |
| Community | |
| • Population | 6,287 (2011) |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| Postal code | 242 00 |
| Area code(s) | 27220 |
| Vehicle registration | ΚΜ |
Messini (Greek: Μεσσήνη) is a municipal unit (dimotiki enotita) and seat (edra) of the municipality (dimos) of Messini within the regional unit (perifereiaki enotita) of Messenia in the region (perifereia) of Peloponnese, one of 13 regions into which Greece has been divided. Before 2011 the same hierarchy prevailed, according to Law 2539 of 1997, the Kapodistrias Plan, except that Messenia was a nomos and the Municipal unit was a locality (topiko diamerisma). The dimos existed under both laws, but not with the same constituents.
Messini (modern pronunciation) is not to be confused with its ancient namesake, Messene, located 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) to the north in the shadow of Mount Ithome. Ancient Messene is an equally large but abandoned site of ruins partially occupied by the small village of Mavrommati (not to be confused with Mavrommati Pamisou, or just Pamisou, on the north of the modern city). Messini did not gradually become nor was it created by population transfer from Ancient Messene. Formerly Nisi (Νησί), it underwent a name change to Messini in 1867.
The modern town has some 10,000 inhabitants. It is the second largest municipality of Messinia. The town centre is 3 km from the Messinian Gulf coast, near the right bank of the river Pamisos. The major city of Messenia, Kalamata, is 10 km to the east. The town is accessed by Greek National Road 82 (Pylos - Kalamata - Sparta). The Kalamata International Airport is two kilometers to the east. Since 1892, Messini had a railway station on a branch line from the Corinth–Kalamata railway. It was closed in 1976, reopened in 2007, and again closed in 2011.
Before the reorganization, the municipality of Messini contained 14 local divisions (topika diamerismata) for a total population of 11041. Since 2010 Messini has still been a municipality, one of the six of Messenia. However, it has absorbed seven other former municipalities. These, and the former municipality of Messini, have become municipal units (dimotikes enotites) of the municipality Messini, with a total population of 23,482 (2011 census). These are as follows:
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