Pyrgadikia

LocationPyrgadikia

Pyrgadikia is a seaside settlement of the Municipality of Aristotle. They are built amphitheatrically on a hill, with an architecture that reminds the Greek islands. In recent decades it has been developed in tourism. It is the only seaside Municipal District of the Municipality.

The village was founded by refugees, after 1922. They originated from the village of Afhonis. Together they also brought the image of the patron, Virgin Mary of Kastrella. It is built in the place of an ancient city, named Pilos. According to a local version, the name of the village probably comes from its “Garden of Gardenia”, which refers to documents of the Monastery of Dochiario of Mount Athos in 1057. In the documents of the Byzantine era, however, the settlement refers to its present name.

Pyrgadikia is surrounded by beaches, such as Saloniki, Kampos and Gialikies. Major occupations are agriculture (mainly olives), fishing and tourism businesses. In the Port of Pyrgadikia, a recent fishing retreat has been created. In the settlement there is the temple of Agios Dimitrios, in which the village owes its second name. Feast is also held on 8 September, when the temple of the Birth of the Virgin Mary is celebrated. The icon of the Virgin Mary, the so-called “Kastrella”, was brought there by refugees.