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The city of Filiatra
Filiatra: Postcode GR-24300, Dialling code 2761,
Population 6,592.
The town is built on green plain
of olive groves and it is a large agricultural and commercial centre.
Filiatra is one of the relatively recent towns of the Prefecture of
Messinia in Peloponnisos. However, life here has its roots deep in the
past and numerous traces of habitation dating to the prehistoric era can
be seen in the area. A Neolithic stone axe was found at Gournospilies
and ruins of an ancient building and a Mycenaean tomb were discovered at
Armakadia. Ancient Erana is now believed to have been
located in the area of Agia Kyriaki, as and it is believed that Arene
and Aliartos also stood nearby. Principal P.Papachristopoulos has
singled out the ruins of an ancient temple, thought to have been
dedicated to Poseidon Eranalos and an early Christian church was built
over it in the fourth century. Various opinions have been expressed
concerning the name of the town. But the most widely accepted is that
the name Filiatra is due to the many wells (Greek: freata) that
were in the area of the first Filiatra settlement. At the entrance of
the town there is a small version of the Eiffel Tower which was built by
Mr Fournarakis.
There is a hotel at Limenari
and rooms to let in the town. There are sandy beaches at Langouvardo, Agia Kyriaki,
Stomio and Agrili. In Agrili
there is the Panagia Church and the Castle of Fairy
Tales (built by Fournarakis).
Useful Telephone Numbers: Filiatra
dialling code (27610)
Town Hall: 32220, Police: 32563,
Buses and Taxi: 22666, Post Office: 32237
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