Lowest elevation 186 m (610 ft) Postal code 240 03 Local time Friday 10:16 AM Municipal unit Aetos | Highest elevation 195 m (640 ft) Time zone EET (UTC+2) Vehicle registration KM Area code 27650 | |
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Weather 13°C, Wind NW at 3 km/h, 54% Humidity | ||
Kopanaki (Greek: Κοπανάκι, also: Kopanakion) is a small but scenic town and a community in northwestern Messenia, Peloponnese, Greece. It was the seat of the former municipality of Aetos and now it belongs to the municipality of Trifylia. Agriculture, specifically olive farming, is the main economic activity in the village. The community Kopanaki also includes the small villages Agios Dimitrios and Rizochori. Being the geographical and economic center of upper Trifylia, Kopanaki is well known for "pazari" (bazaar) or "agora", that takes place in the central square every Sunday since 1900 and attracts further population. The messenian tradition of baking "gournopoula" (pig) and selling it on the edge of the street started from this location, initially only on Sundays, for the visitors from far away, so they could have a hearty meal and the power to do the return trip. Today in many places of the region lying on main road someone can find (no matter the day) grilled gournopoula.
Contents
Map of Kopanaki 240 03, Greece
Geography
Kopanaki is situated in the valley of a tributary of the small river Peristeri, between Tetrazio and Kyparissia mountains. It is 12 km east of Kalonero (on the Ionian Sea coast) and 39 km northwest of Kalamata. It is situated on the main road from Pyrgos and Kyparissia to Kalamata and on the metre gauge railway from Kalonero to Zevgolateio.
History
The ruins of a very ancient agricultural settlement near Kopanaki have been excavated in 1980. During the Second World War Kopanaki was one of the first places where the Greeks began an organized resistance against the Nazi invaders.