Sacred City of Messolonghi
Messolonghi is the capital of Etoloakarnania county. The city lies in the south west side of the county and is surrounded by the complex of the Messolonghi and Etolikou lagoon. Distance 30 km from the city of Agrinio, 50 km from the city of Patras and Nafpaktos and 250 kilometers from capital of Greece, Athens. Its population encounters 18,000 inhabitants according to the last census.
Messolonghi is a historic city with continuous activity and progress for around 500 years in an area with a rich history since was inhabited for the first time and since then continuously for hundreds of years plays a major role. Paleolithic and Neolithic signs, historical discoveries of Greek revolution, Byzantine monuments and the surroundings demonstrate the intense and continuous activity of the city during the ages. According to historical sources Messolonghi is the village which was created by the emigration of the inhabitants of ancient Plevrona and Alikyrnas cities.
Messolonghi has always been a maritime power with intense shipping activity and trade which was mentioned in ancient texts of Homer and Plato. The port of Messolonghi played a role in the development of the city during the Middle Ages as the locals traded salt and fish which were supplied from the main source of wealth of the area, the Messolonghi-Etoliko lagoon.
The holy city of Messolonghi is perhaps the only city which has linked its name worldwide with the struggle of the Greeks revolted against Turks during the Greek Revolution of 1821. Messolonghi is the only city in the world that has inextricably linked its name with the concept "Revolution", "struggle for freedom" and "sacrifice", through the heroic “Exit”in 1826.. The year 1825-1826 began the long siege of Messolonghi. Turkish troops under Kioutachis besieged Messolonghi by land and sea.
The city defended body under the command of Thanasis Razikotsika, Noti Botsari and Kitsos Tzavelas), Macedonians, Ionian and others, and many philhellenes. Their last big win against multiple enemy forces were in the island of Kleisova on March 25, 1826 which representation takes place every year at the same place and the area gets flooded by visitors. The besieged having reached the extreme exhaustion, they decided to leave the town and cross battling enemy camps. The old men, the women, the sick and wounded, were left behind to burst with Christos Kapsalis and Joseph Rogon, setting fire to gunpowder while enemies were close enough in order not to catch them captive and kill the most. Messolonghi was released in 1829.
Following the global wave of philhellenism Messolonghi recognized as an international symbol of freedom, which was confirmed by the Greek State, declaring it as the "Sacred City" by royal decree in 1937.
The city of Messolonghi highlighted 5 prime ministers: Spyridon Trikoupis Charilaos Trikoupis Zinovios Valvis, Dimitrios Valvis and Epaminondas Deligiorgi, tuple writers: Kosti Palama, Miltiades Malakasis Antonis Traflantoni, George Drosini, Riga golf etc. and many other political and intellectual personalities.
The "National Park of Messolonghi-Etoliko lagoon" is protected by the international Ramsar Convention, the European Network of the Natura, EU Directives and the Greek Law. The "National Park" includes:
• Cluster six lagoons to the main Messolonghi – Etoliko lagoon
• The forest of Ash Lesini
• Two salt marshes: the Great Salt Lake Finikia, the country's largest, and the municipal saltmarsh Tourlida.
• Two delta ecosystems: the Acheloos and Evinos.
• The island group of Echinades islands.
• Louros islands
• Varassova Mountain (917m. Altitude), the natural eastern border of the "National Park".
• Arakinthos or Libra Sierra (984m. Altitude) is the link of ecological wetland with mainland mountainous zone.
