Sykies (Greek: Συκιές) or Sykeai (Συκεαί) is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Neapoli-Sykies, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit.[2] The municipal unit population is 35,545 (2021 census). Its land area is 7.982 km².[3]

Sykies
Συκιές
View of Sykies district with Heptapyrgion
View of Sykies district with Heptapyrgion
Sykies is located in Greece
Sykies
Sykies
Location within the regional unit
Coordinates: 40°39′N 22°57′E / 40.650°N 22.950°E / 40.650; 22.950
CountryGreece
Geographic region Macedonia
Administrative regionCentral Macedonia
Regional unitThessaloniki
MunicipalityNeapoli-Sykies
Area
 • Municipal unit7.982 km2 (3.082 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Municipal unit
35,545
 • Municipal unit density4,500/km2 (12,000/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC 2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC 3 (EEST)

History

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Sykies was mostly built after settling of refugees from Asia Minor in 1922. The refugees were mostly from Rodochori of Asia Minor. The new residents built a new church that dedicated to patron saints from their origin places.[4]

A part of the district is named Varna built by Greeks from Varna, modern Bulgaria. Other areas include Kallithea, Riga Feraiou and Heptapyrgiou.

In 1934 the municipality of Thessaloniki was divided in smallest administrative units, so Sykies became a separate community. In 1954 the community of Sykies changed to municipality.[5] Today it is part of Neapoli-Sykies municipality.

Culture

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Sports

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Sykies is the seat of many clubs.[6] The most famous of them is VAO, a long-standing club with achievements in several sports.

Sport clubs based in Sykies
Club Founded Sports Achievements
V.A.O. 1926 Basketball, Volleyball, Handball Panhellenic title in handball, earlier presence in A1 Ethniki basketball
Phoebus Sykeon 1982 Handball Presence in A1 Ethniki Handball
Panathlitikos Sykeon 1988 Basketball Presence in A1 Ethniki women
 
Part of the municipal unit of Sykies
 
A choir at the Sykies Theatre

References

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  1. ^ "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
  2. ^ "ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
  3. ^ "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
  4. ^ "Ι.Ν.Υψ.Τιμίου Σταυρού & Αγ.Δημητρίου Συκεών". imnst.gr. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Η πόλη μας χθες και σήμερα". dimosneapolis-sykeon.gr. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  6. ^ "Αθλητικοί Σύλλογοι". Municipality of Neapolis-Sykeon. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
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