Polygyros Πολύγυρος
The City Hall
Location
Polygyros
Coordinates	40°22′N 23°26′E / 40.367°N 23.433°E / 40.367; 23.433Coordinates: 40°22′N 23°26′E / 40.367°N 23.433°E / 40.367; 23.433
Location within the region
Government
Country:	Greece
Region:	Central Macedonia
Regional unit:	Chalkidiki
Mayor:	Thomás Kaplánis
Population statistics (as of 2001)
Municipality
- Population:	23,152
- Area:	952.0 km2 (368 sq mi)
- Density:	24 /km2 (63 /sq mi)
Municipal unit
- Population:	10,721
- Area:	470.9 km2 (182 sq mi)
- Density:	23 /km2 (59 /sq mi)
Community
- Population:	6,232
Other
Time zone:	EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Elevation (center):	560 m (1,837 ft)
Postal code:	631 00
Telephone:	23710
Auto:	ΧΚ
Website
www.poligiros.gr

Polygyros (Greek: Πολύγυρος) is a town and municipality in Central Macedonia, Greece. It is the capital of Chalkidiki.

Geography[link]

Polygyros town (pop. 5,040 at the 2001 census) is built in the shape of an amphitheatre on a plateau on the south west side of the mountain Cholomontas. It is south of Greek National Road 16 (Thessaloniki - Arnaia). Polygyros is located SE of Thessaloniki, NE of Nea Moudania, NW of Sithonia and SW of Arnaia. The municipal unit (the municipality before 2011) has a population of 10,721 inhabitants and a land area of 470.933 km². Other large villages in the municipal unit are Kalývai Polygýrou (1,136), Ólynthos (1,131), Taxiárchis (1,070), and Vrástama (793).

Name[link]

There are different speculations about the origin of Polygyros' name. Some claim that it comes from the combination of poly (much) and geros (strong), because of the healthy climate. Others believe that the words poly and ieros (sacred) have given the present name, because of an ancient temple in the area. Also an old landowner, named Polyaros, offers a possible etymology. According to another possible etymology, the name derives from poly and gyros (round), possible due to the town's amphitheatric position.^[1]

Municipality[link]

The municipality Polygyros was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 4 former municipalities, that became municipal units:^[2]

• Anthemountas
• Ormylia
• Polygyros
• Zervochoria

History[link]

Antiquity[link]

Some situate in the broader area of modern Polygyros the ancient city of Apollonia. Apollonia was one of the 32 cities, which, under the leadership of the Olynthus, constituted the Koinon ton Chalkideon (Chalkidian League). The Koinon was destroyed in 379 BCE by the Spartans, while in 348 BCE Philipp II of Macedon annexed the whole Chalcidice into the Macedonian Kingdom. In 168 BCE Chalcidice was subjected by the Romans.

Byzantine and Ottoman Era[link]

The town of Polygyros is first mentioned in a medieval imperial document, chryssovoulon (with golden stamp), of Eastern Roman Emperor Nikephoros III Botaneiates about 1080 CE. In 1430, as the rest of the Eastern Roman Empire, Polygyros was conquered by the Ottomans and belonged to the Sanjak of Thessaloniki. On 17 May 1821 the people of Polygyros rose against the Ottoman authority and managed, temporarily, to expel the ottoman guard. Many residents of Polygyros took part in the 1854's unsuccessful revolutionary movement against the Ottomans.

Modern Era[link]

Finally, on November 2 1912 the Greek army, as one of the winners of the First Balkan War, entered Polygyros and incorporated the town in the Greek State.

Culture[link]

Polygyros is famous for its carnival celebrations, which attracts visitors from all over Greece. A nearby location called Panagia (Virgin Mary) is the setting of a famous religious celebration on August 15. Also, cultural societies are active in the fields of folk music and dance. Classic and modern music is cultivated in the municipal conservatory.

Sports[link]

Niki (victory) is the name of Polygyros' football club, which participates in the Greek National Fourth Division Professional League. AOP (Athletic Club of Polygyros) is the local basketball team, participant in the Third National Basketball Division.

Landmarks[link]

Church in Polygyros

The Archaeological Museum of Polygyros has exhibits containing findings from all over Halkidiki and referring to paleolithical and neolithical age, geometric, archaic, classic, hellenistic and Roman period.

• Archaeological Museum of Polygyros

Historical population[link]

See also[link]

• List of settlements in Chalkidiki

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website (Greek)
• Official website of the Prefecture of Chalkidiki

v t e Administrative division of the Central Macedonia Region Area: 18,811 km² • Population : 1,874,214 (2001) • Capital: Thessaloniki Regional unit of Chalkidiki Aristotelis • Kassandra • Nea Propontida • Polygyros • Sithonia Regional unit of Imathia Alexandreia • Naousa • Veroia Regional unit of Kilkis Kilkis • Paionia Regional unit of Pella Almopia • Edessa • Pella • Skydra Regional unit of Pieria Dio-Olympos • Katerini • Pydna-Kolindros Regional unit of Serres Amfipoli • Emmanouil Pappas • Irakleia • Nea Zichni • Serres • Sintiki • Visaltia Regional unit of Thessaloniki Ampelokipoi-Menemeni • Chalkidona • Delta • Kalamaria • Kordelio-Evosmos • Langadas • Neapoli-Sykies • Oraiokastro • Pavlos Melas • Pylaia-Chortiatis • Thermaikos • Thermi • Thessaloniki • Volvi Regional governor: Panagiotis Psomiadis (el) • Website: www.pkm.gov.gr

v t e   Prefectural Capitals of Greece Agios Nikolaos Alexandroupoli Amfissa Argostoli Arta Athens Chalcis Chania Chios Corfu Corinth Drama Edessa Eleusis Ermoupoli Florina Grevena Heraklion Igoumenitsa Ioannina Kalamata Karditsa Karpenisi Kastoria Katerini Kavala Kilkis Komotini Kozani Lamia Larissa Lefkada Livadeia Missolonghi Mytilene Nafplion Pallini Patras Piraeus Polygyros Preveza Pyrgos Rethymno Rhodes Serres Sparta Thessaloniki Trikala Tripoli Vathy Veria Volos Xanthi Zakynthos