Thinking of coastal towns evokes images of quaint harbors. Drapetsona is one such town. It is a suburb in the Piraeus regional unit. We are standing in Drapetsona. It is a place with a rich and varied past.
Drapetsona’s story stretches back centuries. Its history is intertwined with the sea and industry. The town sits on the north side of the inlet to the Port of Piraeus. This location has shaped its identity. Drapetsona lies a mere 2 km west of Piraeus. It is also 10 km southwest of Athens city center.
In 1805, a significant event occurred. The first church, Saint Dionysios, was built. This marked a turning point for the area. In the 1830s people from Greek islands moved here. They settled near Saint Dionysios church. This area was known as Vourla.
However, in 1834 part of Drapetsona was given to Piraeus. It became a cemetery. This was under the term of churches’ reconstruction. A less savory development occurred in 1873. Many brothels were established west of Saint Dionysios.
The 20th century brought significant changes. After the 1922 Asia Minor Catastrophe, the population grew. Drapetsona became an important industrial area. The Vasileiadis Shipyard was founded in 1898. Other industries followed. These included fertilizer plaster and cement factories. Petroleum companies like Shell Mobil and BP also set up installations.
Drapetsona was once part of Piraeus. In 1950 it became a separate community. It gained municipality status in 1951.
Today Drapetsona faces new horizons. There are plans to redevelop a large section of the seafront. This area once housed the Greek Company of Chemicals and Fertilisers. The Kanellopoulos Institute of Chemistry and Agriculture is also here but now abandoned. The redevelopment aims to create a hub for tourism business and water sports. A maritime business center a convention center and a technology museum are planned. There will also be two marinas.
Drapetsona is more than just a place. “Drapetsona” is a popular rebetiko song. Grigoris Bithikotsis performed it in 1961. The song captures the spirit of the town. It reflects its history and its people. Drapetsona a town of industry history and song looks forward to a bright future.