Wondering where the name Argyroupoli comes from? The name itself holds a clue to its past. We are standing in Argyroupoli a town and a suburb. It is in the southern part of the Athens agglomeration in Greece.
Argyroupoli gets its name from the Greek words for silver and city. The older form of the name was Argyroupolis. Refugees from Gümüşhane Turkey gave the settlement its first name. It was called New Argyroupolis. Gümüşhane means silver house in Turkish.
After the Greco-Turkish war of 1919 to 1922 many refugees fled to Attica. This was part of a population exchange between Greece and Turkey. In 1926 refugees from Argyroupolis in northeastern Turkey arrived. The site was then named Ktima Geroulanou. These refugees renamed their new home Nea Argyroupolis. This was in remembrance of their old hometown.
The settlers found a resemblance between the two towns. Argyroupoli is built on a plain. The Hymettus mountain is to its north. Gümüşhane is also built on a plain. The Pontic Alps are to its north there. One of the first things the settlers did was build a church. It is named Agia Varvara. This is after the patron saint of Gümüşhane.
During World War II the Germans used Argyroupoli. They protected ammunition and airplanes here. The airplanes were stationed in a nearby airfield. On December 6 1943 the British Royal Air Force bombed the settlement. There were reportedly no casualties. However the settlement was razed to the ground.
Argyroupoli was part of Kalamaki until 1949. Then it became a separate community. In 1972 it gained municipality status.
Argyroupoli sits on the southwestern foot of Mount Hymettus. It is six miles south of Athens city center. The municipality covers an area of about three square miles.
Argyroupoli borders several municipalities. These include Ilioupoli Alimos Elliniko and Glyfada. Vouliagmenis Avenue runs through the city. This connects Athens with its southern suburbs. Kyprou Avenue M Geroulanou Avenue and Vouliagmenis Avenue are major shopping areas.
Buses connect Argyroupoli with Athens center and Glyfada. The Argyroupoli metro station and Alimos metro station serve the suburb. Argyroupoli has a mild climate. The sea and mountain affect it. Snow is rare but rain is common. Summers can be very hot.
Since 2011 Argyroupoli is part of the Elliniko-Argyroupoli municipality. It is the seat and a municipal unit of this municipality. Today Argyroupoli is a bustling suburb. It is known for its cafes restaurants and bars.
Argyroupoli is twinned with two cities. These are Castanet-Tolosan France and Moncalieri Italy.
Think about the journey of the refugees as you explore Argyroupoli. They came from a silver city. They built a new life here. They created a bustling community that thrives today.