Kritinia

Kritinia
Κρητηνία
Community
Kritinia
Kritinia
Kritinia is located in Greece
Kritinia
Kritinia
Kritinia (yellow dot) within Attavyros municipal unit (red)
Coordinates: 36°15′N 27°49.9′E / 36.250°N 27.8317°E / 36.250; 27.8317
CountryGreece
Administrative regionSouth Aegean
Regional unitRhodes
MunicipalityRhodes
Municipal unitAttavyros
Elevation
242 m (794 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Community
388
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
WebsiteOfficial website
The ruins of Kastellos castle

Kritinia (Greek: Κρητηνία) is a Greek village and community in the municipal unit of Attavyros, on the island of Rhodes, South Aegean region. In 2021 the population was 388 for the community, which includes the locality of Kameiros Skala.

History

The village, meaning New Crete, was founded by some families escaped from Crete (Κρήτη) during the Turkish rule in the island.[2] Originally, the settlement was located by the coast, in the current position of Kameiros Skala; but after the Byzantine era it was moved on the hills, for safety against pirates. In 1658, the Venetian Doge Francesco Morosini tried to conquer Rhodes entering at Kameiros Skala beach, but the Venetian army was rejected.

The castle above Kritinia, named Kastellos (Κάστελλος), was built in 1472 by Giorgio Orsini to protect the inhabitants of the village from the attacks of the Ottoman fleets. Until the liberation of the Dodecanese, the village was named Kastelli, from the Latin Castellum, meaning castle.[3]

Geography

Kritinia is located on a hillside between Mount Attavyros and the western coast of the island of Rhodes. It is 10 km from Embonas, 51 km from the town of Rhodes, 53 km from Lindos and 35 km from Rhodes International Airport.

The locality of Kameiros Skala (Greek: Κάμειρος Σκάλα) is located by the Aegean Sea, 5 km from Kritinia (36°16′20″N 27°49′43″E / 36.27229°N 27.82863°E / 36.27229; 27.82863). It has a beach and a little port with a ferry service to the island of Halki.[4][5] Despite the name Kameiros Skala is some 14 km from Kameiros. Close to it is Mandriko, a locality which is part of the community of Embonas.

  • Aerial view of Attavyros area. The coastal settlements are Mandriko (left) and Kameiros Skala (right). On the hill upon K. Skala is visible Kritinia
    Aerial view of Attavyros area. The coastal settlements are Mandriko (left) and Kameiros Skala (right). On the hill upon K. Skala is visible Kritinia
  • Kastelos castle and the hill of Kritinia.
    Kastelos castle and the hill of Kritinia.

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. ^ "Historical infos about Kritinia". Archived from the original on 2012-05-27. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
  3. ^ (in German) Kritinia at rhodos-travel.com
  4. ^ Some infos at europatravel.gr
  5. ^ "Kritinia official website - Intro article in English". Archived from the original on 2012-05-02. Retrieved 2012-04-21.

Media related to Kritinia at Wikimedia Commons