Xylokastro

Xylokastro Ξυλόκαστρο
Xylokastro
Location within the regional unit
Coordinates: 38°4′N 22°38′E / 38.067°N 22.633°E / 38.067; 22.633Coordinates: 38°4′N 22°38′E / 38.067°N 22.633°E / 38.067; 22.633
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Peloponnese
Regional unit	Corinthia
Municipality	Xylokastro-Evrostina
• Municipal unit	310.3 km2 (119.8 sq mi)
Elevation	3 m (10 ft)
Population (2011)
• Municipal unit	13,277
• Municipal unit density	43/km2 (110/sq mi)
Community
• Population	5,715 (2011)
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code	204 00
Area code(s)	27430
Vehicle registration	ΚΡ
Website	http://www.xylokastro-evrostini.gov.gr/

Xylokastro (Approx: /zaɪˈlɒ.kɑːstrɒ/) (Greek: Ξυλόκαστρο) is a seaside town or village and a former municipality in Corinthia in the Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Xylokastro-Evrostina, of which it is a unit or component. The municipal unit has an area of 310.252 km². In 2011 its population was 5,715 for the town and 13,277 for the municipal unit.

Geographic features include a large beach and semi-arid forests on varied terrain, scattered with early churches and evidence of early settlements and religious sites. It has narrowly separated upper and lower coastal roads and forms a medium-sized touristic village on the Gulf of Corinth.

The municipal unit Xylokastro is subdivided into the following communities (2011 population and constituent villages in brackets):

Xylokastro is situated on the coast of the Gulf of Corinth, 30 km northwest of Corinth, near the mouth of the river Trikalitikos. Apart from the narrow strip of land along the coast, where the town Xylokastro lies, the municipal unit is mountainous. The Greek National Road 8a (Corinth - Patras) passes through the town.

The town took its name from a wooden castle (Greek: ξύλινο κάστρο), probably built in the 13th century. It was also known as Solo Castro. The village Stylia was known as Viladusa by the Venetians in the 18th century.