How did Korydallos get its name? This town and municipality in the Piraeus regional unit has a history stretching back to ancient Athens. Today we will explore Korydallos.
Korydallos is located in the southwestern part of the Athens agglomeration. It sits 7 km west of central Athens. It is also 4.5 km north of Piraeus.
In ancient times, Korydallos was one of the 100 municipalities of Athens’ democratic system. This was at the end of the 6th century BC. The philosopher Theophilos Corydalleus lived here in the 16th and 17th centuries. He lived from 1563 to 1646.
Interestingly, Korydallos hasn’t always been called that. Two hundred years later, it was known as Koutsoukari. This name came from Emmanouil Koutsikaris, who owned property in the area. After that, it was renamed Pachy after the next owner, Pachinas. Finally, in 1923, the town was renamed Korydallos. It went back to its ancient name.
The population of Korydallos in 1928 was 2,500. Until 1931, Korydallos was part of the municipality of Athens. From 1931 to 1934, it belonged to the municipality of Piraeus. In 1934, it became a separate community. In 1946, it was elevated to municipality status. The city now has a population of over 60,000. Some estimates even say 100,000.
Korydallos is situated southeast of Mount Aegaleo. The municipality covers an area of 4.324 square kilometers. The main street is Taxiarchon. It has become a well-known shopping center. Many fashion shops and boutiques line the street.
The Korydallos metro station is on line 3. Buses also serve the city. These are operated by OSY.
Historically, farming used to be the main activity here. Much of the area remains deforested. The western part of Korydallos is rocky. Today, urbanization covers the south, central, west-central, and eastern areas.
Korydallos also has its own football teams. Proodeftiki FC and Aetos Korydallou both call this city home.
Korydallos has grown from an ancient municipality. It has transformed over the centuries. It has changed names and grown in population. Today, Korydallos is a vibrant part of the Athens metropolitan area. It blends its historical roots with modern urban life.