SALAMINA ISLAND / SALAMIS ISLAND

Salamina (or Salamis) is an area of 95 square klm, with a population of approximately 23.000 inhabitants, and is only 1 nautical mile away from Piraeus. At Paloukia next to a children playground an outdoor naval museum was created,with torpedoes and canons It 1978 it was relocated from Poros, to Fneromeni of Salamina and in 1881 to Paloukia naval station. The small church of Agios Georgios was built on the foundations of the pre byzantine cathedral of the 6th century. Near the cape of Pounta between the Kamatero and Ampelakia the ruins of the city Koulouri of the historical years are located.

The capital of Salamina is commonly known as Koulouri consists of a modern rural center with vivid commotion especially during the summer months. At 1993 on the hill of Patris the Euripideo open air theatre was built, where the pan Hellenic poetry competition takes place in the memory of Aggelos Sikelianos. On the coastline of Karaiskaki, a building survives in whose basement the hero had his headquarters.

In the neoclassic building of the Cultural Association Euripides ,the folklore museum and library is housed, which consists of 3500 volumes of books. At the Faneromeni avenue, a few meters before the square of Boskou, Panagia of Boskou or Katharou, can be found, with wall paintings from 1758. The largest and most remarkable Byzantine monastery of the island is that of Faneromeni.

Tradition mentions that in the middle of the 18th century Megaritis L.Kanellos saw in his sleep the Virgin Mary ordering him to remodel the dilapidated temple Metamorphosis of Sotira at Salamina. The monastery has available a guest house and workshop where some nuns draw icons and produce candles and hand woven fabrics.

The monastery celebrates every 23-25 August with a majestic open air festival. Near the beach the house whose guest was the poet Angelos Sikelianos can be located.

At the pine-full village of Moulki (Aiantio) where the widespread first Hellenic settlement existed, visit the churches of Metamorphosis of Sotira and Kimisis of Theotokou from the 11th and 12th century. Five kilometers after Moulki on the mountain of Stavros on the southwestern side of the island the monastery of Saint Nikolaou Lemonion can be found. From 1966 the monastery has available cells and guest rooms. Exactly on the opposite side, the Byzantine temple of Saint John Kalibitou from the 10th century can be seen.

The location west of Phanari of the Peristerion received its name Kolones from the remains of the most ancient city of the island. Based on Stravona, this city was named Salamis and the island Kihria seems to have been inhabited until the end of the 7th century B.C.

Salamina (Salamis) offers intense and a variety of entertainment and nightlife. Excursions are organized to Aigina and Agistri. New Years , Apokries (Greek Halloween) and the celebration of the Fishermen (Psaras in Greek) are celebrated in the traditional way. A school of rowing operates at the naval club of Salamina

The southern coastline is mainly available for swimming and fishing. At the northern coastline you can swim on the smooth sand and Faneromeni.

HISTORY - THE FAMOUS BATTLE OF SALAMIS SAVED WESTERN CIVILIZATION (480 B.C.)

The Battle of Salamis is one of the major turning points of European History, and one of the great tales of heroic endeavour. Its effect upon you and I is thus twofold. September 20, 480 B.C. marks the day that a small alliance of free states saved Europe from subjugation and enslavement by barbarians sweeping westward from Asia. It also marks the moment that kick-started a distinctive European culture. Indeed, you might say, modern Europe owes its very existence, and the foundation of its art, to the heroes of Salamis.

Xerxes , the cruel and despotic King of the Persians had assembled a vast army, supported by a great armada, and forced them across the Hellespont under the lash. He had marched them through Thrace and Macedonia, had defeated the Spartans at Thermopylae, the inner gateway to Hellas, and slain King Leonidas. First Locris, and then Phocis and Boeotia had fallen under the Persian yoke. The plight of the Hellenes was desperate: they had abandoned Athens, leaving behind only a token garrison to defend the Acropolis to the death. Indeed, they had abandoned the whole of Attica, and withdrawn the fleet to the island of Salamis.....

DATELINE 17 SEPTEMBER         Athens has fallen. The temples of the Acropolis have been looted and burnt, its garrison slain. The Greek commanders hold a council of war, at which Themistocles , master tactician, persuades them to fight - what they expect to be their last battle - in Salaminian waters, rather than in the open sea. This is a brave and a bold resolution, for at Salamis the fleet will be entirely cut off, with no possibility of retreat. Truly, it is a last throw of the dice.....

DATELINE 19 SEPTEMBER .         The Allied fleet is trapped. It is anchored in the shelter of the long promontory which runs out into the narrow sound between Salamis and mainland Attica. The island of Psyttalea divides that sound, with an Ionian squadron guarding the left channel, and the Phoenician fleet - the bulk of the Persian armada - guarding the right. Nor is there any escape to the open sea west of Salamis: an Egyptian squadron lies in wait.
And on the mainland of Attica, cruel Xerxes waits and watches from a high throne on the slopes of Mount Aegaleos.....

DATELINE 20 SEPTEMBER .        Persuaded by false intelligence that the Athenians are prepared to turn against their allies, Xerxes decides to attack at dawn. A fatal error. As the Persian columns edge into the sound, the Athenians fall suddenly and savagely upon their flank and drive them towards the Attic shore. The superior numbers and speed of the Persian ships count for nothing in those narrow waters, barely a mile wide. By nightfall little remains of the proud armada of Xerxes, and the Persian soldiers stationed on Psyttalea have been slaughtered.

MAP OF SALAMINA (SALAMIS)