Coordinates	41°52′55″N87°37′40″N
Name	Kozani
Name local	Κοζάνη
Caption skyline	View of Kozani.
Lat deg	40
Lat min	18
Lon deg	21
Lon min	47
Elevation	710
Periph	West Macedonia
Periphunit	Kozani
Pop municipality	68680
Area municipality	1072.3
Pop municunit	47451
Area municunit	366.0
Pop community	35942
Districts	20
Mayor	Lazaros Maloutas
Since	2009
Population as of	2001
Postal code	501 00
Area code	2461
Licence	KZ
Website	www.kozanh.gr }}

Kozani (, ) is a city in northern Greece, capital of Kozani peripheral unit and of West Macedonia periphery. It is located in the western part of Macedonia, in the northern part of the Aliakmonas river valley. The city lies 710 meters above sea level, 15 kilometers north-west of the artificial lake Polyfytos, 120 km south-west of Thessaloniki, between the mountains Pieria, Vermio, Vourinos and Askio. Its population is estimated at about 50,000. The climate of the area is continental with cold and dry winters, and hot summers.

Kozani is the home of the Technological Educational Institute of Western Macedonia and the University of Western Macedonia, with about 15,000 students from all over Greece and other places. It is also the seat of West Macedonia's court of appeal, police department, fire brigade, the seat of the 1st Army Corps of the Hellenic Army and of the Bishop of ''Servia and Kozani''.

One of the most important aspects of local folklore is Kozani's carnival at the end of the winter, which retains much of the profanity of the ancient Dionysiac cult. Kozani is renowned in Greece and abroad for the production of Saffron (''Krokos Kozanis''), in the nearby town of Krokos.

Kozani is a transport node between Central Macedonia, Thessaly and Epirus. The nearest airport is Filippos Airport, 4 km from the city, IATA code: KZI. The airport was first opened in the mid-20th century. Kozani is situated near the Egnatia Highway, which connects the coast of the Ionian Sea with Thessaloniki and Turkish borders.

Etymology

According to prevailing opinion in Greece, the name comes from the village of Epirus ''Kósdiani'', the origin of settlers of Kozani in 1392. The settlement was first named Kózdiani, which then, it was changed into Kóziani, and in the end into Kozáni.

Another opinion is that the name "Kozani", derive from the slavic ''kožani'' < ''koža'' 'skin, leather'.

History

Antiquity

Antiquities from the prehistoric to the Byzantine period have been unearthed in many parts of the city. In the east part of Kozani, an ancient necropolis has been found, dating to the early Iron Age. During Philip II of Macedon's reign, the region was named ''Elimeia'', which was part of Upper Macedonia. In the south-west of the modern city, on Siopoto hill, there was a settlement named ''Kalyvia'', between 1100 and 1300, traces of which are still preserved.

Ottoman period

Kozani was probably founded by Christian settlers who, after the Ottoman conquest, withdrew from the plains of Macedonia into the mountains, during the 14th and 15th centuries. Its secure position soon attracted other Christians expelled from Epirus, in 1392. Together with the settlers from Epirus, many cattle-breeders moved in the region.

The first recorded mention of Kozani is in an Ottoman register of 1528, as a settlement with 91 houses, 23 singles and 15 widows. One of the most important colonizers of Kozani was the chief shepherd Ioannis Trantas, who settled about 100 families. His son, Charisios Trantas, managed to obtain a Sultan's firman in 1664, according to the terms of which the town came under the protection of the Sultan's mother, was endowed with many privileges, and became forbidden for the Turks to settle in.

In 1664, the magnificent church of Agios Nikolaos was built. In 1668, the library and the famous school of Kozani were founded. During the 17th and 18th century, commercial relations with the countries of central Europe gave the opportunity for the city to flourish economically. During the 19th century, as foreign travellers relate, the population of the town was Greek, and was growing (''Leake 1835:305'' and ''Bouè 1854:87'').

The town's growth was disrupted in 1770, because of conflict that erupted between Kozani's local inhabitants and Kozanite merchants in central Europe, who contributed to the town's prosperity; even more catastrophically, the city was pillaged by Turkish beys in 1770. A subsequent incursion by Aslan bey, in 1830, ravaged the city immensely. According to the 1904 population census, 12,000 Greeks and 350 Vlachs were living in Kozani at the time.

Balkan wars

The Greek army entered Kozani on 11 October 1912, during the First Balkan War, after its victory against the Ottoman army in the Battle of Sarantaporo. By this time, the population of the town was 12,000 Orthodox Greeks. In 1923, during the population exchange between Greece and Turkey, about 1,400 Greek families from Pontus and Asia minor were settled in Kozani.

Modern times

In the 20th century, the city grew tremendously, as lignite reserves in the area started being used by Public Power Corporation, making Kozani the foremost producer of electrical power in Greece. An earthquake that occurred in the region on 13 May 1995, with a magnitude of 6.6 on the Richter scale caused only property damage.

The city now combines modern with old architecture. Some magnificent buildings are the Clock tower, the Townhall, the Folklore museum, the "Valtadoreio" Gymnasium, the National Bank building, the "Ermioneion" Hotel and the mansions of Georgios Lassanis and Grigorios Vourkas. The Municipal library of Kozani called "Kovendareios" is the second biggest in Greece, and it has 150,000 books, rare publications, valuable documents, and one of the rare copies of Rigas Feraios Charter. For this reason Kozani was included in the National Cultural Network of Cities with object the promotion of the Book and Reading. The Institute of Book and Reading was established and Kozani is now known as ''City of Books''. Today Kozani is the administrative, commercial, economic, and transport centre of the region of West Macedonia.

Economy

The city is mostly known for its important contribution to the Greek electricity supply, and a large part of the population works in the factories which produce electricity from coal (DEI - Greek national electrical company). In the region, 80% of the electric energy of the country is produced. Other famous products are marble, Saffron, (Krokos Kozanis), fruits, local wines and specialized arts and crafts industry. A lot of banks have branches in Kozani. The local bank is named Bank of West Macedonia.

The Commercial Exhibition of Kozani takes part in the Exhibition Centre of West Macedonia in Koila Kozanis every September. Many firms from Greece and other Balkan countries participate, especially with local products.

Sites of interest

The Kozani Archaeological Museum.

The Historical - Folklore and Natural History Museum of Kozani is a place worth visiting. It is built according to old Macedonian architecture, and in its 6 floors, visitors can see everything about the geography, natural history, flora and animals of the region, as well as the history, the traditions and the past way of life in Kozani.

The Kozani Museum of modern local history

The Kozani Museum of the Macedonian Struggle, a museum dedicated to the history of the Macedonian Struggle.

The clock tower and the church of Agios Nikolaos - 350 years old - in Nikis Square.

Other attractions include the Grigorios Vourkas Mansion and the Georgios Lassanis Mansion. The second one lies in a central square, named Lassani Square and it is used as the Municipal Map Library.

The Municipal Park Kouri, the Park of Agios Dimitrios where you can see the Cultural Center and the Municipal Theatre of Kozani, and the hill of Xenia with the nice view of all the city

The bridge above the lake of Polyfytos. It is the longest bridge in Greece and measures 1372 meters in length.

Mass media

There are some telecommunications companies, TV and radio stations, newspapers, magazines, and web portals based in Kozani. The television channels are West Channel, TOP Channel and Flash TV. Top-circulation newspapers include ''Chronos'', ''Grammi'', ''Tharros'' and others.

Historical Population

{| class=wikitable ! Year !! Town population !! Municipality population |- | 1971 || 23,240 || - |- | 1981 || 31,120 || - |- | 1991 || 31,553 || 43,395 |- | 2001 || 38,591 || 49,812 |}

Transport

Kozani is accessed with Motorway Egnatia (or GR-2, or E90) from Ioannina and Thessaloniki, GR-3 (or E65) from Larissa and Florina, GR-4 and GR-20.

By bus, (KTEL Kozanis) for all West Macedonian towns and for the biggest Greek cities Athens (4 times/day - 470 km), Thessaloniki (every hour - 120 km), Larisa (120 km), Volos, Ioannina (160 km), Patras.

By aeroplane (Sky Express), the city is connected with Athens and Kastoria from Filippos Airport which lies 3 km south-east of Kozani.

By railway (OSE) to Thessaloniki (Railway Line Kozani - Amyntaio).

The public transit in the city is provided by minibuses, and between the centre and the municipal departments, it is provided by Transit buses. The traffic problems of the city have become more severe during the last few years.

Government

The municipality Kozani was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 5 former municipalities, that became municipal units: {| class=wikitable ! Municipal unit !! Population |- | Kozani || align=right | 47,461 |- | Aiani || align=right | 3,816 |- | Dimitrios Ypsilantis || align=right | 3,018 |- | Elimeia || align=right | 6,429 |- | Ellispontos || align=right | 7,966 |- |}

The total population is 68,680. It is developing into a nodal town of the Western Balkans, with areas and activities of a wider regional nature. Within this context, the municipality of Kozani is creating a modern satellite town, the Kozani Zone of Alternate Urban Planning (ZEP). The Municipal Corporation of alternate planning and development of Kozani S.A.(DEPEPOK) was established in order to implement the projects of the ZEP.

The ZEP is strategically located on 50 ha south-west of Kozani, and aims to become a model development centre, attracting an urban population and economic activities from throughout Western Macedonia in Greece and the Western Balkans.

Other known neighborhoods of Kozani are Sk'rka, Ipirotika, Gitia, Agios Athanasios, Platania.

Climate

The climate of the area is continental with cold and dry winters, and hot summers.

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Education

There are 18 Primary schools in Kozani, and another 8, in the municipal departments of Vatero, Kariditsa, Koila, Lefkovrysi, Lefkopigi, Nea Charavgi, Xirolimni and Petrana. The Gymnasiums of the city are 8, and there are two more in the municipal departments of Lefkopigi and Xirolimni. There are also 4 Lyceums, 4 Technical Schools (TEE), some Business Schools and one municipal Odeum.

Kozani is the home of the Technological Educational Institute of Western Macedonia - one of the biggest in Greece (founded on 1976). Three of its Faculties are in the city - the Faculty of Administration and Economy, Technological Applications and Health. (The rest of them are in other places of West Macedonia). The seat of the University of Western Macedonia and its Faculty of Engineering, they are also in Kozani. The University was founded in 2002.

Culture

Festivals and events

Kozani carnival is one of the most important events in the region, taking place the end of the winter. The most interesting local celebration during the carnival are the ''Fanoi'' (great bonfires), which are lit in the squares of Kozani. Around them, people sing and dance mainly scoptic songs and local dances, such as the best known song in the region - the ''Enteka'' of Kozani, often called Kozani's "national anthem". All celebrations become more exciting on the Sunday of the last week, after the carnival parade, when bonfires are lit all over the town which burn until the early morning hours.

At the end of summer Lassaneia Events are organised. They consist of theatrical representations, concerts, athletic events etc. The name "Lassaneia" comes from Georgios Lassanis, who was from Kozani and participated in the Greek War of Independence. A part of those events is also the new authors ''song festival "Nikolas Asimos"''.

Niaimeros is a fair in the north of the city in the Niaimeros place. It takes place on the first Tuesday of October. It used to last 9 days (''niaimeros'' = nine days), but now it lasts only 3 days.

Official local public holidays are the celebration for the liberation of the city from the Turks on 11th October and Saint Nicolas day - Kozani's patron - on 6th December.

The municipal Band is named ''Pandora''. It was founded in 1902, and it takes part in all the events and celebrations.

Cuisine

A typical dish in Kozani is the so called Giaprakia. The main ingredients are meat and rice in salty carbage-leaf, having the shape of an egg. It is used often as Christmas food. Kichi (''Kozanitiko kichi'') is called another local dish, which is actually a cheese pie with circular-snail form.

Notable people

Ioannis Amanatidis, (1981–present) footballer

Nikolas Asimos, (1949–1988) composer and singer

Elias Atmatsidis, (1969–present)Football goalkeeper

Evripidis Bakirtzis, (1895–1947), politician

Panayiotis Demopoulos, (1977–present) composer and pianist

Anna Diamantopoulou, (1959–present) politician, former EU Commissioner, for Employment and Social Affairs, in the Prodi Commission

Foulidis Eleftherios, Iconographer

Georg Johannes Karajanis, great-great-grandfather of conductor Herbert von Karajan

Georgios Lassanis, (1793–1870) scholar and politician

Michalis Papakonstantinou, (1919–2010), author and Minister for Foreign Affairs (1992–1993)

Giorgos Papakonstantinou, Minister for Finance of Greece

Georgios Parakeimenos, educator

Georgios Sakellarios, (1765–1838) educator

Ieroklis Stoltidis, (1975–present) footballer

Ioannis Topalidis, (1962–present), former Greek football player, assistant manager of the Greek national football team.

Chrisanthos Theodoridis, (1934–2005) singer-songwriter, was born in Kozani

Kalliopi Vetta, singer

Sports

Kozani FC (Greek Third Division)

Makedonikos F.C.

Lassanis Kozanis BC

Twinnings

Bristol, Connecticut, USA, since November 2, 1987 Iaşi, Romania Toluca, Mexico Turgovishte, Bulgaria, since 2002

Location

{| |}

See also

Lake Polyfytos Bridge

Kozani Municipal Stadium

I Army Corps of the Hellenic Army

Kozani National Airport "Filippos"

''Enteka'' dance

Krokos Kozanis

References

External links

Municipality of Kozani

Prefecture of Kozani

Periphery of Western Macedonia

University of Western Macedonia

TEI of Western Macedonia

http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/HellenicMacedonia/en/C3.6.html

* Category:Municipalities of West Macedonia Category:Populated places in Kozani (peripheral unit) Category:Greek prefectural capitals Category:Greek regional capitals

ar:كوزاني bg:Кожани ca:Kozani cs:Kozani da:Kozani de:Kozani et:Kozáni el:Κοζάνη es:Kozani eo:Kozano (urbo) fa:کوزانی fr:Kozani hr:Kozani id:Kozani it:Kozani la:Cozane lv:Kozani lt:Kozanė lmo:Kozani hu:Kozáni mk:Кожани nl:Kozani (stad) ja:コザニ no:Kozani nn:Kozáni pl:Kozani pt:Kozani ro:Kozani ru:Козани sq:Kozani simple:Kozani sk:Kozani sl:Kozani sr:Кожани sh:Kozani fi:Kozani sv:Kozani tr:Kozani uk:Козані war:Kozani zh:科扎尼

Coordinates	41°52′55″N87°37′40″N
name	Panos KiamosΠάνος Κιάμος
background	solo_singer
born	October 04, 1975Athens, Greece
genre	Laiko, pop
instrument	Vocals
occupation	Singer
label	Universal Music Greece (2006-present)
website	Homepage }}

Panos Kiamos (Greek: Πάνος Κιάμος) is a Greek laiko/pop singer, known for his distinctive voice and on-stage energy.

His early career began with appearances in major nightclubs alongside well-established names in the Greek music scene, such as Tolis Voskopoulos, Makis Christodoulopoulos, Eleni Dimou and Giorgos Alkaios.

In 1998, Kiamos released his first CD entitled ''Enas Erotas Latria ke Anagki'', from which two songs gained distinct popularity: ''Ola Ya Senane Milane (Horis Nero)'' and ''Trelos Ya Sena''. In 1999, he released his second CD ''Den Ise Moni''. This was followed in 2000 by ''Tou Erota Feggaria''.

In 2002, Kiamos made significant progress in the northern city of Thessaloniki. The songs ''Alithina'' (''Truly'') and ''Arketa'' (''Enough'') from the CD ''Tis Nyhtas Oniro'' (''Dream of the Night'') became notably popular in the north, and as a result Kiamos' stock rose considerably. The CD ''To Yelio Sou Klei'' followed a year later; by this stage, he had become a household name throughout the country, and had gained a reputation for his on-stage energy and enthusiasm.

In 2004, he released a live CD entitled ''Panos Kiamos Live Sto Fix'', which included performances of his own work, as well as various popular hits. The CD was quickly certified gold.

In 2005, Kiamos appeared at "Asteria Glyfadas" - one of the most popular entertainment venues in Athens - with the initial 20 scheduled performances turning into 9 consecutive months (April–January). His performances broke all previous attendance records and sustained performances by a single performer.

His next albums "Eisai pantou" (You're everywhere), "Monima erteumenos" (Permanently in love), "Gyrna se mena" (Return to me), "Gia agapi etimasou" (Get ready for love), "Tha ziso gia mena" (I'll live for myself) became all gold and platinum, with huge hits like "Gyrna se mena", "Anemothiella" (Wind storm), "Ase me mia nihta mono (Leave me for just one night)", "Eisai pantou", "Tha vgaino, tha pino" (I'll go out, I'll drink), "Apopse fora ta kala sou" (Tonight wear your fancy clothes), "Hartorihtra" (Fortune teller), "Sfyrixa kai elixes" (I whistled and you blown), "Eimaste ena" (We're one), "Os ton ourano" (Until the sky), which all have been released on "The best of" album in 2010.

Since March 2010, he regulary performs at "Posidonio Music Hall", and he's the only one singer who manages to fill up the club four times every week.

In April 2011, he released new album with title "Olokainourgios" (Brand new), with a smash hit "Apo deutera" (From monday). Kiamos performed that song at the 2011 MAD Music Awards, at the closing of the show. He was also nominated for the best lyrics award for his song "Apo deutera", the award which he got in 2010, for another smash hit "Sfyrixa kai elixes".

He's considered one of the most popular and loved Greek singers, because of his anti-star attitude and his friendly relationship with audience. He worked with some of the most popular Greek authors, like Hristodoulos Siganos, Vasilis Gavrlilidis, Hristos Dantis, Thanos Papanikolaou, Natalia Germanou, Giorgos Sampanis, Nikos Terzis, Tasos Panagis.

Personal life

Kiamos was born in Athens on 4 October 1975, and spent the rest of his adolescent life in the capital. In 1994, at the age of 18, he passed the entry exams for medical school. However, it was around the same time that he discovered his interest in music, leading to his decision to reject the medical school's offer of a scholarship. He began to learn to play the guitar, and took up music theory lessons.

In 2005, Kiamos met his future wife, Zacharoulla. The pair met while Kiamos was performing at a nightclub in Pireus - after finishing his performance, Zacharoulla - a self-confessed fan of his music - went to the back door to request an autograph. Kiamos continued to perform at the same club, and after several encounters, the pair began a relationship which would remain secret until their marriage six months later.

The couple have two children together - Liana, born in 2008, and Vasilis, born in 2010.

Kiamos is a devout Greek Orthodox Christian, and often wears a rosary. His dressing room at ''Asteria'', the nightclub where he regularly performs, has a corner full of religious icons depicting various saints.

Discography

Ένας έρωτας λατρεία και ανάγκη (1998)

Δεν είσαι μόνη (1999)

Του έρωτα φεγγάρια (2000)

Της Νύχτας Όνειρο (2002)

Το Γέλιο Σου Κλαίει (2003)

Είσαι Παντού (2005)

Μόνιμα Ερωτευμένος (2006)

Γυρνά σε μένα (2007)

Για Αγάπη Ετοιμάσου (2008)

Θα Ζήσω Για Μένα (2010)

Ολοκαίνουργιος (2011)

External links

Homepage

Category:Living people Category:Greek pop singers Category:People from Athens Category:1975 births

de:Panos Kiamos