Oitylo

Oitylo (Greek: Οίτυλο, pronounced Ítilo), known as "Βίτσουλο", pronounced Vitsoulo, in the native Maniot dialect,^[2] is a village and a former municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality East Mani, of which it is a municipal unit.^[3]

Oitylo Οίτυλο
Municipal unit
View of Limeni
Oitylo Location within the regional unit
Coordinates: 36°42.4′N 22°23.3′E
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Peloponnese
Regional unit	Laconia
Municipality	East Mani
Area
• Municipal unit	218.582 km2 (84.395 sq mi)
Elevation	251 m (823 ft)
Population  (2021)[1]
• Municipal unit	3,643
• Municipal unit density	17/km2 (43/sq mi)
• Community	474
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	230 62
Area code(s)	27330
Vehicle registration	ΑΚ
Website	www.dimosoitilou.gr

Oitylo is one of the oldest towns in the Mani Peninsula. It was mentioned in the Iliad by Homer as Oetylus (Ancient Greek: Οίτυλος), as part of Menelaus' kingdom. In the Middle Ages, it grew to become the most important town in Messenian Mani. The only town in Mani that rivaled Oitylos in numbers of pirates was Skoutari.

Now Areopoli has taken Oitylo's place as the most important town in Laconian Mani. Areopoli was also the seat of the municipality of Oitylo, which is located on the western half of the Mani Peninsula in the extreme southwestern part of Laconia. It has a land area of 218.582 km².^[4] There are 91 villages in the municipality. The largest of these are Areópoli, Pyrgos Dirou and Oítylo.

Subdivisions

The municipal unit Oitylo is subdivided into the following communities:

• Alika
• Ano Boularioi
• Areopoli
• Dryalos
• Germa
• Gerolimenas
• Kareas
• Kelefa
• Koita
• Kounos
• Kryoneri
• Mina
• Neo Oitylo
• Oitylo
• Pyrgos Dirou
• Tsikkalia
• Vachos
• Vatheia

Historical population

Year	Village	Community	Municipal unit
1981	-	507	-
1991[5]	313	540	4,859
2001[4]	258	391	3,959
2011[6]	224	392	3,515
2021[1]	324	474	3,643

Province

The province of Oitylo (Greek: Επαρχία Οιτύλου) was one of the provinces of the Laconia Prefecture. Its territory corresponded with that of the current municipal unit Oitylo.^[5] It was abolished in 2006.

See also

• List of settlements in Laconia

References

1. "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
2. "TA ΓNHΣIA ONOMATA TΩN XΩPIΩN THΣ MEΣA MANHΣ KAI H ΣΩΣTH ΠPOΦOPA KAI ΓPAΦH TOYΣ ΜΕΡΟΣ B' | Mani Voice". Archived from the original on December 13, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
3. "ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
4. "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
5. "Detailed census results 1991" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016.  (39 MB) (in Greek and French)
6. "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.

External links

• Official website (in English and Greek)
• Chapman, John, Mani: A guide and history, Zorbas.de Travel Agency.