Krestena

Krestena (Greek: Κρέστενα), is a city located in the Prefecture of Ilia. It is the seat of the municipality of Skillounta The city is connected with three paved roads. Distance from Pyrgos is about 22 km SE, 2.5 km E of GR-9/E55, S of Olympia, about 43 km NW of Andritsaina, 88 km NW of Megalopolis and N of Kyparissia. Its neighboring communities and villages are Kallikomi and Raches to the west, Ladiko to the northwest, Makrissia to the north, Grillos to the east and Vrina and Krouni to the south.

The city has a kindergarten school, schools, a lyceum, a gymnasium or a high school, a church, restaurants, banks, a post office, a bus station and a square (plateia). The city is situated near small mountains while the western part is flat. and is covered with pine trees almost surrounding Krestena. GR76 (unofficially) bypasses Krestena for Andritsaina. Its nearest reservoir at the Alpheus is about 3 km north. It supplies water for the Pyrgos, central and southern Ileia areas. It is also a flood control dam. A small creek runs south of Krestena and follows GR-76 to its southeast up to W of Andritsaina. Its main street is Agiou Georgiou Street. Its city's population is 5,783 (2001)

In 1999, GR-76 1.5 km SE of Krestena was cut off with a minor mudslide. It was later repaired along with road repairs and fully connected with two lanes again in about 2000.

Communities of Skillounta:

• Ladiko
• Makrissi
• Samiko

Communications:

• Eleftheri Radiofonas Krestenas (Krestena Free Radio) - 101.6 FM
• Mini FM

Population history

• 1981: 3,539
• 1991: 5,422 (city), 14,449 (municipality)
• 2001: 5,883 (city), 15,931 (municipality)

External link:

• GTP - Krestena (http://www.gtp.gr/LocPage.asp?id=4665)
• http://www.fallingrain.com/world/GR/39/Krestena.html
• Krestena guide (http://www.unterkunft.de/directory/region__Peloponnes/country__Griechenland/city__Krestena/) (in German)
• Krestena homepage (http://hellas.teipir.gr/prefectures/greek/Hleias/Krestena.htm)
• Weather for Krestena (http://www.naftemporiki.gr/weather/city.asp?id=GR0179)

(in Greek)

See also:

• Communities of Ilia, List of municipalities in the Prefecture of Elia