Styra, Greece

Styra (Greek: Στύρα, also Χωριό - Chorio) is a village and a former municipality on the island Euboea, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Karystos, of which it is a municipal unit.^[2] The municipal unit has an area of 188.583 km².^[3] It is located in the southern part of Euboea, facing the eastern shore of Attica across the South Euboean Gulf. Nowadays it can be reached by ferryboat from the tiny harbor of Agia Marina, as well as by bridge from Chalcis. the Stouronisi (Styra Island).takes its name from the town of Styra.

Styra Στύρα
Municipal unit
Styra Location within the regional unit
Coordinates: 38°10′N 24°15′E
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Central Greece
Regional unit	Euboea
Municipality	Karystos
Area
• Municipal unit	188.583 km2 (72.812 sq mi)
Elevation	10 m (30 ft)
Population  (2021)[1]
• Municipal unit	2,686
• Municipal unit density	14/km2 (37/sq mi)
• Community	528
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	340 15
Area code(s)	22240
Vehicle registration	ΧΑ

Population

Year	Community population	Municipal unit population
1991	394	3,161
2001	741	2,840
2011	660	2,716
2021	528	2,686

Actually there are two towns, Nea Styra or ( Beach "Paralia") (New) and Styra or "Chorio" (Old). The Nea Styra or "Paralia" is a more modern tourist area with beautiful views, beaches, hotels, cafes, bookstores, nightclubs, shops, and bars. There are two doctors in Styra that share time between Nea Styra and Styra or "Chorio". In between Nea Styra and Styra is the ancient city of Styra, a city mentioned by Homer's Iliad (Rhapsody B). Ships left from the ancient city state of Styra to aid in the rescue of Helen of Troy.

History

Near Styra there are ancient structures standing which are 4,500 years old and are constructed using Megalithic Architecture. They are called Drakospita (i.e. dragon houses) and have been built using huge one piece stones (monoliths). The size of each of these stones is 4.0m length x 2.5m width x 1.5m height, similar to those found in the Philippines and at Stonehenge. Styra is a Arvanitika speaking community.^[4]

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. "ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
3. "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
4. Pantelidis, Nikos; Liosis, Nikos (2019). "Dialectical Modern Greek Influences on Arvanitika". Modern Greek Dialects and Linguistics Theory. National and Kapodistrian University of Athens: 223.