Markopoulo Mesogaias

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Markopoulo, municipally Markopoulo Mesogaias to avoid confusion with Markopoulo Oropou in Oropos (Greek: Μαρκόπουλο Μεσογαίας) older form: Markopoulon is a suburban town in southeastern Attica in the Mesogaian plain north of the mountains, approximately 30 km SE of Athens, S of Rafina, S of the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport, SW of the Attiki Odos (numbers 6 and 62) and N of Lavrio. Markopoulo is linked with GR-91 (Glyka Nera - Sounio) and there are two lanes stretching down to Lavrio. Since the late-20th century, Markopoulo has been bypassed to the southwest. Markopoulo once had a railway station and was linked with rail linking near Kifissia and Lavrio. Markopoulo also has the only road linkinbg north to Artemis. Today, the nearest Proastiakos rail lies to the north. A part of Markopoulo includes Porto Rafti.

During the 2004 Summer Olympics, Markopoulo was world famous for its equestrian centre (Markopoulo Olympic Equestrian Centre) to the southeast and about 3 km from the main route into the mountains, and the shooting centre (Markopoulo Olympic Shooting Centre) located in the hills southwest of town and about 2.5 km west of the highway. Since the Olympics, the sporting centres have been shut down for future uses. The mountains lie to the south and the southeast. The northwestern portion of a taller mountain to the southeast is used for a huge mining area, which is about 70 ha of land. Farmlands surround the northern part while a valley area lies to the south. More mountains are further southwest. The panorama of other mountains includes the Hymettus to the northwest and the Penteli to the north.

The population was rural until the 1970s and the 1980s. The population became urban as suburban housing popped up in the 1980s and the 1990s, but the population dwindled and later slowed. Housing developments slowly continues to this day, and some are interspersed with farmlands or empty land.

Settlements

Agía Triáda (2001 census pop. 216)
Brauron or Vravróna (pop. 41) - located in the east side by the Aegean Sea
Chamoliá (pop. 113)
Koulidás (pop. 427)
Markópoulo (pop. 7,614) - the municipal seat
Poriá (pop. 66)
Porto Rafti or Limín Markopoúlou (pop. 7,131)

Other

Markopoulo has 3 elementary schools, 1 lyceum, 2 "gymnasia" (high schools), over 6 banks, 5 churches, a post office, beautiful beaches, a theatre named "Petros Panayotou" and squares (plateies). Its nearest beach is located to the east, at Porto Rafti area.

About sports

Football/soccer : Markopoulo's local football team is called "Marko" (short term for the city's name) and it was founded in 1927. It's probably the most successful club in Eastern Attica. The team played in the National Third Division for 11 consecutive years, having successful table finishings (the best position was 3rd), but in the 2004/2005 season it was relegated to the National Semi-Professional League (Fourth Division). This season it finished 3rd behind Koropi F.C. (promoted to National Third Division) and Kerafnos Kerateas FC.

Women's volleyball: Markopoulo's women volley team is probably one of the best in Greece, and could have done the double this season, as it came second in National Championship behind Panathinaikos. Also, Markopoulo hosted the Greek Women Volley Cup Final Four, and lost in the final 3-2 to Panathinaikos!

Historical population

1981 - 9,388
1991 - 14,499 (+54.44%)
2001 - 15,608 (+7.65%)

External links

Street map: Street map from Mapquest, MapPoint
Satellite images: Google - image not yet available

Coordinates: