thumb|The Iosifogleion building, used as a child shelter since the 1930s, at Nea Smyrni

Nea Smyrni (, Néa Smýrni, "New Smyrna") is a municipality and a town in South Athens, Greece. At the 2021 census, it had 72,853 inhabitants. Its built-up area is continuous with those of central Athens and the neighboring suburbs. It is the second-most densely populated municipality in Greece, following Kallithea, and one of the most densely populated cities in the world. The main thoroughfare is Andrea Syngrou Avenue, which forms the northwestern border of the municipality and connects it with central Athens and the coast.

Alsos Neas Smyrnis

Alsos Neas Smyrnis (Alsos meaning 'grove' or 'small wood') has an area of fifty acres and is bounded by Eleftheriou Venizelou, Ephesou, Kordeliou and Patriarchou Ioakeim III Avenues. The Alsos consists mainly (20%) of woodland trees (Aleppo pine, stone pine, cypress etc.) and ornamental trees (20%). In addition, most of this green space is covered in shrubs (cranberry, velvetleaf, myoporum and pyracantha). Today, conifers make up about 60% of the plant capacity. The plant material of the Alsos consists mainly of monoculture and introduced plants planted in very high density. Two fountains complete the architectural makeup of the area. The whole park is surrounded by iron railings.

Climate

Nea Smyrni, owing to its proximity to the Athens Riviera, has a hot semi-arid climate. According to the National Observatory of Athens station (type C), Nea Smyrni has mild winters and hot summers, with particularly warm summer nights. The driest months are July and August while the rainiest period is during November and December. Nea Smyrni falls in 10b hardiness zone.

Sporting teams

The sport clubs based in Nea Smyrni are Panionios G.S.S., multisport club founded in Smyrna, in 1890 and AONS Milon, multisport club founded in 1928.

{|class="wikitable"

|-

!colspan="4"|Sport clubs based in Nea Smyrni

|-

!width="100"|Club

!Founded

!Sports

!Achievements

|-

|Panionios||1890||Football, Basketball, Water Polo, Track and Field and other sports||Panhellenic titles in football, basketball, basketball women and other honours.

|-

|AONS Milon||1928||Basketball, Volleyball and other sports||Panhellenic titles in volleyball, earlier presence in A1 Ethniki basketball

|}

Sites of interest

  • Nea Smyrni Stadium, built in 1939, renovated in 1988. Panionios F.C. plays in the stadium.
  • Nea Smyrni Indoor Hall, holds up to 1,832 persons.
  • Nea Smyrni Square (Greek: Πλατεία Νέας Σμύρνης Platía Néas Smýrnis).
  • Nea Smyrni Park, a 5-hectare centrally located park with about 40% trees.
  • Estia Nea Smyrni, a cultural association.

Neighbourhoods

  • Faros
  • Agia Fotini
  • Alsos
  • Kendro (Center)
  • Chrisaki
  • Agia Paraskevi
  • Mitilineika
  • Loutra
  • Ano Nea Smyrni (Upper Nea Smyrni)

Churches

thumb|180px|Belfry of Agia Foteini church, Nea Smyrni

  • Agia Fotini
  • Agia Paraskevi
  • Agioi Anargiroi
  • Agios Charalambos
  • Agios Andreas
  • Agioi Theodoroi (Greek Old Calendarists)
  • Taxiarches (cemetery church)

Nea Smyrni is the seat of a similarly-titled metropolitan diocese. The current Metropolitan bishop of Nea Smyrni is Simeon Koutsas.

Twin towns – sister cities

Sisian, Armenia (since 2004)

Historical population

{| class="wikitable"

! Year !! Population

|-

| 1928 || 210

|-

| 1933 || 6,500

|-

| 1940 || 15,114

|-

| 1951 || 22,074

|-

| 1961 || 32,865

|-

| 1971 || 42,512

|-

| 1981 || 67,408

|-

| 1991 || 69,749

|-

| 2001 || 73,986

|-

| 2011 || 73,076

|-

| 2021 || 72,853

|}

See also

  • List of municipalities of Attica

References