Vrontados
Vrontados
Βροντάδος | |
|---|---|
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| Country | Greece |
| Administrative region | North Aegean |
| Regional unit | Chios |
| Municipality | Chios |
| Municipal unit | Omiroupoli |
| Elevation | 42 m (138 ft) |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Community | 5,270 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
Vrontados (Greek: Βροντάδος) is a small coastal town located at the eastern part of the island of Chios in Greece. With a population of about 5,300 the town hosts the seat of the municipal unit of Omiroupoli.
Information
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The town has a strong tradition in merchant seafaring and is currently the home of various important Greek ship owners. Due to its proximity to the city of Chios (the island's capital), modern Vrontados is considered a sort of a suburb of the capital. Vrontados purportedly gets its name from the loud noise thunder (Greek: βροντή, vrontí) makes as it echoes from the nearby mountain Aepos.
Customs
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Vrontados is best-known for its unique Easter custom of the rouketopolemos ("rocket war"). Every Easter, the two Eastern Orthodox parishes of Saint Mark's and Panagia Erithiani, fire skyrockets at each other. Whoever hits the opposing church's bell tower first wins the war.[2][3]
Historical references
[edit | edit source]The legendary Poet Homer was supposedly born or at least lived for a long time in Chios. On the north side of the Vrontados coast is the so-called "Homer's stone", a rather uncomfortable natural rock throne where according to the legend the poet sang and taught.
According to tradition, Christopher Columbus visited Vrontados in order to study nautical charts and get information from experienced Vrontadian seamen who would help him on his voyages to the Americas.
Notable natives and inhabitants
[edit | edit source]- Stamatios Krimigis (1938) space scientist
See also
[edit | edit source]Notes
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External links
[edit | edit source]- Chiosnet Archived 2007-08-06 at the Wayback Machine: An article in Chios Travel Guide
- Municipality of Homeroupolis: Another article containing some photos.