Vesini, Achaia

Greece Greece

Administrative Region : West Greece
Regional unit : Achaia

Vesini is a small mountain village in the prefecture of Achaia. It is a settlement of the local community of Paou in the municipal unit of Pai, Municipality of Kalavryta. It occupies an area of 9 km2. It has been classified as a traditional settlement[1].

Location

It is located in the southwestern part of the former province of Kalavryta and is built at the foot of the mountain peak "Prophitis Elias"[2][3] (altitude 1363 m) of Aphrodisius, which is an extension of Erymanthos, at an altitude between 865-965 meters. It is east-southeast facing. It is surrounded by various mountain peaks, such as "Ag. Triados" (alt. 1000 m), "Gardisios" (alt. 800 m), "Agios Petros" (alt. 827 m) and "Megalis Rahis" (alt. 944 m). It has a beautiful view of the "Skoupeikos Kampos" and the Tripotamon-Pagkrati valley[4]. Vesini is the only village in the province of Kalavryta that has an open horizon of 300 degrees with a view of Erymanthos, Helmos, Kyllini (Zirea) and many mountains of Arcadia[5][6], while from the top of the mountain of "Prophitis Elias" there is visibility towards Gortynia, Ilia, Kalavryta and the Gulf of Kyparissia[7].

Nearby are the abandoned traditional settlement of Dehouni, the old and new settlement of Pau, the small settlements: Dehouneika and Bafi, the main village of Dafni (Strezova), Nasia and the settlements of Hovoli. On the Arcadia side, it is adjacent to the village of Vachlia. On the "Kastelli" mountain of the region is the Castle of Hotsa[7].

It is 32 hours away from Patras via the Lechouritiko mountain on foot, 24 hours from Pyrgos, 2 hours from Strezova, 3 hours from Sopotos, 5 hours from Mazeika, and 8 hours from Kalavryta. By highway, it is 104 km from Patras, 70 km from Tripoli, 46 km from Kalavryta, and 81 km from Pyrgos. and from the Patras-Tripoli National Road 4 km.
Historical information

Pre-revolutionary the village was an Ottoman manor[8]. A tribute from a resident of Vessini to the Great Cave dates back to 1676[9]. It was inventoried by the Venetians in 1700[10].

Residents of Vessini, such as Ch. Papalexopoulos, Anast. Papalexopoulos, Ch. Panoutsakopoulos, Io. Salistathis fought in the struggle of 1821[7]. The village mourned the dead in the period 1921-1922[6].

In 1835 the settlement of "Vessini" is mentioned as being one hour and 20 minutes away from neighboring Versitsi[10]. In 1889 it was reported that it was one hour's walk from the main village of Strezova, the seat of the then Municipality of Pai, to which it belonged administratively[11], while in 1901 it was reported that it was 17 hours' walk from Patras, eight hours from Kalavryta, one and a half hours from the main village of Strezova and two and a half hours from Sopoto[12]. In 1903 Christos Koryllos reported that the village had a school (registry) and that the women of the village, like those of Strezova, wove beautiful carpets which were sold in Patras and other markets[13].

In 1928 it had a mixed primary school which was housed in an ecclesiastical building[6].

Description

This is a stone-built settlement[14].

Three streams pass through the village: the "Paliovrysis" or "Konaki stream", the "Ekklisia" and the "Lakkas". All of them join together in the "Kakavos" and with the "Manganisios" torrent they form the "Vesineikos river", which flows into the Skoupeikos river[15], near the site of ancient Pau[5], and then, together with other torrents, into Ladonas. Other springs of the village, which are mentioned in 1906 and serve for water supply and irrigation, are the "Xerosakkouli", the "Alevrochia", the "Lykovryso", the "Leipsotas", the "Mavria", which powered two watermills, etc.[5]

In 1928 it is reported that the village had 2 cafes and 3 shops[8].
Economy

The villagers were engaged in the primary sector. In 1906, it was reported that the territory of the village included approximately 15,000 acres, including holm oak and chestnut forests, of which 200 are irrigated acres and 1,000 are dry fields and 100 acres of vineyards[5][16]. The villagers produced annually 2,400 kilograms of wheat, 3,000 kilograms of maize, 700 kilograms of barley, etc., while they had crops of lentils and beans[5]. They also had some fruit and vegetables and a sufficient number of goats, sheep, cattle, pigs, horses, etc.[5]

The sale of traditional carpets woven by the village women also contributed to the village's economy[5].

Toponym

The name Vesini is Greek-speaking and comes from the ancient word "vissa"[8][9] which means: a connected gorge, valley, wooded ravine, a deep place between two mountains, a narrow valley between hills with many trees, a wide ravine. The explanation given is quite convincing, because the area "Vrytsoulia", in which the village was originally built, has all the characteristics of a wide ravine, which according to tradition was full of dense and tall trees (oaks, holly, glavoutsia, maples, etc.).

Bibliographically, there is also the view that the name may come from the word vresht-i, which means "vine"[9].
Older location and population relocation

The first houses, which were agricultural and livestock-raising (kalyvia), were built at the locations "Paliokalyva", "Isiomata" and "Dragatsoula", opposite the acropolis of ancient Pau[17]. Historically, it has not been ascertained when they were built. These houses were traditionally the first settlement. Shortly before 1400, the few inhabitants moved the village higher up, to the location "Vrytsoulia" and gave it the name Vesini.

It is unknown for how long the village remained at the location "Vrytsoulia". Its transfer to its current location is placed after 1700, with a more likely date of 1750 AD.[18] The village was built on the slopes of the Aphrodisia Mountains before 1841[14]. For the transfer of the village, the then residents invoked various superstitions, that supposedly "some element was abusing people and they were dying". The younger generations claim that "Vrytsoulia" was and is an unhealthy place[18], because it does not have sun for several hours and it is also a ravine in which air currents form and it is easy for anyone who lives there to be infected with fatal diseases (pneumonia, flu, etc.). In the new location, the Vesinai built their houses, their shops and whatever else was useful for their poor life. Tradition says that the wood used to build the houses was cut from the surrounding area ("Rachi", "Agia Triada", "Tselekonia" and "Axampela"). The village in its new location grew, improved, became a community in 1912, and followed the same fate along with other Kalavryto villages.
Administrative development

On 20/04/1835 it was annexed to the then Municipality of Pau[19][20]. On 01/07/1841 it was detached from the Municipality of Pau and annexed to the then Municipality of Aroaneia[19][20][21]. With the Government Gazette 2A of 20/01/1870 it was detached from the then Municipality of Aroaneia and annexed to the then Municipality of Pai[19][20][21]. With the Government Gazette 256A of 28/08/1912 it was detached from the Municipality of Pai and designated as the seat of the community of Vesini[19][20][22]. On 16/10/1940 its name was corrected from the previous Vesini to Vesinion[19]. With the Government Gazette 71A of 27/03/1973 it was detached from the Community of Vesini, which was abolished, and was annexed to the new Community of Pau[19][22][23]. With the Government Gazette 244A of 04/12/1997, in accordance with the "Kapodistrias" Administrative Reform, it was annexed to the Municipality of Pai until 2010 when it was incorporated into the "Kallikratis" Municipality of Kalavryta (Government Gazette 87A - 07/06/2010) based on the "Kallikratis" Administrative Reform[19][23][24].

Community merger

In May 1959, the residents of the village, after a joint finding that they had financial difficulties in opening a community road from the national road "111" to Vesini, decided to request from the Prefecture of Achaia the approval to transfer the village to one of the following locations: "Ag. Konstantinos", "Roziari" or "Isiomata", all of which were located near the national road. The Prefecture accepted the residents' request and after relevant studies carried out by its technical services, the location of "Ag. Konstantinos" was deemed suitable for the transfer of the village. In 1960-1961, the Prefecture's urban planning studies for the reconstruction of the new village began. However, towards the end of 1961, while the studies were still in progress, the first palindrome of many residents of the village appeared, who, with their relevant application, requested the cancellation of the first decision and the approval of the transfer to another location.

While finding a solution acceptable to all, the residents of the villages of Pau (Skoupi) and Dehouni submitted their applications asking the Prefecture to approve the transfer of their own villages to a similar location near the National Road. At this point, the Prefecture examined the issue as a whole and, after relevant studies and recommendations, finally approved the transfer of all three villages to the location "Chaliades"[25] ("Skoupeiko plain") in the region of the Pau community and their unification into a single community. Following the above decision, in 1966 the expropriation of the area (E 200. tD.1966), the distribution of plots by lot and the construction of houses based on 3-4 standard urban development plans took place. In this new village, all the people of Vesina who lived in the upper village built houses and settled. The new community, by virtue of the 16 March 1973 B.D. published in the Official Gazette 77/27.3.1973, received the name "Community of Pau"[23].
Churches

The parish church of the village is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary[8][9][14], which had already been built since the pre-revolutionary years[5][26], and the cemetery church of St. Basil[8]. In the location "Vrytsoulia" the residents built their houses and their church, which was dedicated to the memory of Saint John the Theologian. On May 8 they honored the Saint and held a festival[5][8].

In the territory of the village there were, in 1906, the following chapels: Saint George, Saint John the Theologian, Prophet Elias, located on the top of the mountain of the same name, as well as three ruined temples[5]. Further south towards "Skoupeikos Kampos" there was, at the location "Katholiki", the Byzantine monastery of the Catholic Theotokos which was completely ruined in 1906[3].
Demographic evolution

In 1700 it is mentioned in the Venetian Grimani census as Vesigni and has a population of 25 families (135 inhabitants)[10].

The demographic evolution of the village according to the national censuses[27][28] is as follows:
1828 1835 1844 1848-1851 1861 1879 1889 1896 1907 1920 1928 1940 1951 1961 1971 1981 1991 2001 2011
33 households -
217 kat.[10] 39 households -
218 kat.[10] 248 kat.[10] 45 households -
327 kat.[10] 339 kat.[10] 398[10] 345[10] 362[10][13]
(80 households)[3] 408[10] 388[10] 450[10] 328[10] 266[10] 241[10] 145[10] 31[10] 52[10] 55[10][29] 10[30]
Characterization as a traditional settlement

In 1978, by Presidential Decree published in 594/13.11.1978, Government Gazette, issue D, Vesini was characterized "Traditional Settlement"[1][31] with data ESSYE-13.2.113-01. In 1980, a 4 km road was opened from the Community of Pau and the National Road Patras-Tripoli to the settlement of Vesini, at the expense of the late General Chrys. Zafeiropoulos as well as those residing outside Vesini[32]. In 1983, with a fundraiser among the people of Vesini, and with the participation of the Public Power Corporation in the expense, the old village was electrified[32]. The opening of the road and the electrification were the reason for most of the people of Vesini to repair and renovate their ancestral homes and during the summer (and not only) months, many were able to live there close to the fresh air and healthy climate. Today it is one of the two traditional settlements in the Prefecture Achaia that are officially recognized by the State.

People

Efstathios Lampsas (~1850-1923)

See also

Alepochori (traditional settlement)
Vesinaiika
Dehouni (abandoned)
Hotsa Castle of Vesiniou
Paos (formerly: Skoupi) (abandoned)
Palaios Paos (formerly: Neos Paos)

References

Christopoulos 1984, p. 17
Nouchakis 1901, p. 564
Papandreou 1906, p. 200
Papandreou 1906, pp. 200-201.
Papandreou 1906, p. 201
Papandreou 2011 (2nd ed.), p. 368
Papandreou 1906, p. 202
Papandreou 2011 (2nd ed.), p. 369
Louloudis 2010, p. 662
Louloudis 2010, p. 660
Nouchakis 1885, p. 67
Nouchakis 1901, p. 563
Koryllou 1903, p. 145
Tourist guide of the Prefecture of Achaia - Route 8: Tripotama - Agios Vasileios - N. Paos - Paos - Dehouni - Vesini - Vesinaika - Daphne, nea.gr. Retrieved from the archived original: 04/09/2016.
It is reported that the "Skoupeiko River" originates from the location "Kefalovryso" in the area. Nouchakis 1901, p. 564.
These numbers had increased to 1928. Papandreou 2011 (2nd ed.), p. 368.
The original location of the village is reported as "Dragata". Papandreou 1906, p. 201
Louloudis 2010, p. 661
E.E.T.A.A. - Administrative changes of Vesini Achaias, eetaa.gr. Retrieved: 24/09/2016.
E.E.T.A.A. - Administrative changes of the Municipality of Pai (Paos) (1835-1841, 1870-1912), eetaa.gr. Retrieved: 03/09/2016.
E.E.T.A.A. - Administrative changes of the Municipality of Aroaneia (1835-1912), eetaa.gr. Retrieved: 03/09/2016.
E.E.T.A.A. - Administrative changes of the Community of Vesini, Achaia, eetaa.gr. Retrieved: 23/09/2016.
E.E.T.A. - Administrative changes of the Community of Pau, Achaia, eetaa.gr. Retrieved: 17/09/2016.
E.E.T.A. - Administrative changes of the Municipality of Pai (1997-2010), eetaa.gr. Retrieved: 03/09/2016.
Christopoulos 1984, p. 13, 17
In the past, many residents would raise their flocks higher in the summer, where the village is today, and spend the summer, because the area was forested with abundant water and cool air. In this place, these summer visitors initially built small huts, which later formed the core of the new village with the same name. These residents, with a fundraiser they made among themselves, built a small chapel near their huts, on a rock, and dedicated it to the sacred memory of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
Digital library of E.S.Y.E./EL.STAT., dlib.statistics.gr. Retrieved: 12/09/2016.
E.E.T.A.A. - Administrative changes in the T.A. - Census publications, eetaa.gr. Retrieved: 12/09/2016.
Resident population: 15 inhabitants. See. E.S.Y.E. - Resident Population of Greece. Census 2001
EL.STAT. - Resident Population of Greece. Census 2011
Aphrodisias Mountain: The Forgotten Villages of "111"[dead link], text: Germain Alexaki, photos: Thodoris Athanasiadis. ethnos.gr. 16/05/2013. Retrieved: 20/09/2016.

Christopoulos 1984, p. 20

Sources

Results of the Population-Housing Census 2011 concerning the Resident Population of the Country, Government Gazette of the Hellenic Republic, vol. 2, p. 3465 (December 28, 2012).
N.S.Y.E. - Resident Population of Greece. Census 2001, Athens 2004. ISBN 960-86704-8-9.
Christos P. Koryllou, Geography of Greece. A'. Prefecture of Achaia, From the Printing House of "Anesti Konstantinidou", Athens 1903.
Greek Geography: Geography, History, Population and Distance Statistics compiled and published by Ioannou Emm. Nouchakis, Third Edition, Publisher Spyridon Kousoulinos, Athens 1901.
New geographical table. Compiled and published with the approval of the Ministry of Military Affairs by Ioannou E. Nouchakis, adjutant of the Infantry, from the Printing Office of the Ministry of Military Affairs, Athens 1885.
George Papandreou, History of Kalavryta, edited by Dimitris S. Avramidis, Published by the Public Benefit Municipal Enterprise for Cultural and Social Development and Quality of Life of the Municipality of Kalavryta (DEPAPOZ), Kalavryta 2011, Second Edition. ISBN 978-960-89356-3-1. (pp. 368-369) (first edition: 1928)
Papandreou, Georgios (1906). Kalavrytine Yearbook: a treatise on the historical province of Kalavryta. Athens: Michael I. Saliveros. pp. 200-202.