Messolonghi, also Messolongi, Mesolongi (Greek, Modern: Μεσολόγγι, Ancient/Katharevousa: -on), older forms Messolongio, Mesolongio, Messolongion, Messolonghion is a town of about 12,000 people (as of 1991 census) in central Greece. The town is the capital of Aetolia and Acarnania and is also the second largest town. It is the seat of the municipality of Iera Poli Messolonghiou. Messolonghi is linked and is bypasses since the 1960s with GR-5/E55. The road to Astakos is to the northwest and is also accessed to GE-48 to the east. It is located S of Agrinio, SSW of Karpenisi , WSW od Amfissa , W of the Rio-Antirio Bridge , W of Nafpaktos, E of Aitoliko and SE of Astakos. The town was founded in the 16th century and is located between the Achelous and the Evinos rivers. The town contains a port on the Gulf of Patras (Patra or Patrai). It trades in fish, wine, and tobacco. The Arakynthos mountains lie to the northeast. The town is almost canalized but houses are within the gulf and the swamplands. The Messolonghi Lagoon lies to the west and is also a swampy area. In the ancient times, the land was part of the gulf. The town had a train station which used to link the railway line linking to Ioannina and became abandoned in the 1980s.

Messolonghi was a major stronghold of the Greek insurgents in the Greek War of Independence. Its inhabitants successfully resisted a siege by Turkish forces of the Ottoman Empire in 1822–23 and held out heroically against a second siege from 1825 to 1826, when the Ottoman forces captured the town. The famous English poet Lord Byron, who supported the Greek struggle for independence, died there in 1824. His memory is commemorated by a cenotaph and a statue located in the town.

Historical population

Sites of interest

• Museum of the History and the Art of the Holy City of Mesolongi , website

Other

Messolonghi has a schools, lyceums, gymnasia, churches, banks, a police station, a water tower, a post office, a junior soccer team, and a square (plateia).

External links

• http://www.kavi.gr/greeceinfos/messolongi.htm
• http://www.in-greece.de/ziele/ort.php4?ort_id=101
• projects/acheloos/acheloos3.html The Acheloos delta forms the Messolongi Lagoon
• http://www.ac-strasbourg.fr/pedago/ lettres/Victor%20Hugo/Notes/Missol.htm (in French)
• http://p199.ezboard.com/fgreeceellasfrm94
• http://www.e-city.gr/aitoloakarnania/home/view/1200.php (in Greek)

See also

• Communities of Aitolia-Acarnania