Filoti (in Greek: Φιλώτι or Φιλότι; officially: Φιλότιον) is a semi-mountainous village of central Naxos, Greece, with a population of 1,617 residents (census 2021), located at the foot of Mt. Zas (1,001 m), at an altitude of 400 meters, about from the city of Naxos."Filoti village. Amphitheatrically built on the steep slopes of Mount Zas" from naxos.net. Archived 2017-06-22. Retrieved 2018-12-12. It is located on the slopes of two hills and consists of three settlements, Rachidi, Klefaros and Lioiri. Its stand out is the Orthodox church of Panagia Filotitissa that is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin, a basilica built in 1718 in the place of an old Byzantine church.Stamatelos, Michalis, see Bibl. T.3, p. 378"Panagia Filotitissa" from aegeanislands.gr. Archived 2018-12-12. Retrieved 2018-12-12."Panagia Filotitissa" from naxos.gr. Archived 2018-12-12. Retrieved 2018-12-12. The economy of the village is mainly based on livestock products, secondarily in agriculture and tourism. It has a Primary School (since 1838), a Professional High School, a Multipurpose Regional Doctor, a Citizen Service Center (KEP), a Post office, a dentist and a pharmacy.
Together with Kalandos (pop. 10), constitutes the Municipal Community of Filoti (pop. 1487), which belongs to the municipal unit of Drymalia, of the municipality of Naxos and Lesser Cyclades, of the regional unit of Naxos (of the former county of Cyclades), in the administrative region South Aegean, Greece.
First image
The first image of the visitor approaching the village from the main motorway is impressive because it is built amphitheatrically on two hills. To the left is the settlement of Klepharos and to the right of Rachidi. The latest settlement of Lioiri does not seem because have been developed on a flat site opposite the other settlements and is so called because it was once an olive grove. The next one you meet is the square of the village, dominated by a hundred-year-old plane-tree (since 1912).Tziotis, Antonis. see Bibl. p.18 writes "There, next to the watermill, a carpenter named Nikolaos Stef. Psarras, planted a small plane-tree in 1912 with the help of Primary School's children." The square is called Gefira (in English means "bridge", because many years ago there was a bridge and a stream with waters that ran from the fountains of Kalamos and Agia Irini. Then, there was a watermill fed by a cistern, the remains of which are still preserved.Tziotis, Antonis, see Bibl. p.18, 21"The tower is in the center of the village, you can visit the courtyard you will see the watermill.", Barozzi Tower from tripadvisor.com. Published 2014-07-20. Archived 2018-12-12. Retrieved 2018-12-12. Many years ago this area was not used as a square of the village, there were other places in the two settlements, most known were the historical square of Lachanario, located in the settlement of Klefaros and the squares of Agios Konstantinos and Fasola, located in the settlement of Rachidi. The interior of the two old settlements on the two hills is what more traditional one would expect from an old cycladic village, such as the large historic church of Panagia at Lakanario square, paved labyrinthine streets, arches and steasta (covered walkway). It has been classified since 1988 as a traditional settlement. "Traditional settlements of Naxos" from old.domiki.gr. Archived 2018-09-01. Retrieved 2018-08-31."ΦΕΚ-504Δ-14/06/1988" from ΦΕΚ research. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
Censuses
Historical population All informations are from Hellenic Statistical Authority."Censuses from 1859 to 2001". Retrieved 2018-12-13. Census of years 1835 to 1991 refers to de facto population, while 2001 to 2021 refers to permanent population. Year1835187918891896190719201928194019511961197119811991200120112021Population1130154115701753179621222098207319471669147514741576150314771617References "ΦΕΚ Α4/1835" p. 31 and 38 (p. 3 and 10 of pdf ) at EETAA. Retrieved 25 July 2022. "Population 1879", Part three p. 97 (p. 182 of pdf), from Hellenic Statistical Authority. Archived 2017-04-25. Retrieved 2018-01-08. " Population census of the 15th-16th April 1889", p. 110 (p. 133 of pdf), from Hellenic Statistical Authority. Archived 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2018-01-08. "Statistical results of population census of 5-6 October 1896 ", p. 125 (p. 232 of pdf), from Hellenic Statistical Authority. Archived 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2018-01-08. "Statistical results of the general population census in 27th October 1907", p. 409 (p. 412 of pdf), from Hellenic Statistical Authority. Archived 2017-11-07. Retrieved 2018-01-08. "Population of Kingdom of Greece in the census of 19 December 1920", p. 183 (p. 204 of pdf), from Hellenic Statistical Authority. Archived 2015-06-07. Retrieved 2018-01-08. "Population of Greece in the census of 15th-16th May 1928", p. 217 (p. 237 of pdf), from Hellenic Statistical Authority. Αρχειοθετήθηκε 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2018-01-08. "Population of Greece of the census of 16 October 1940", p. 244 (p. 268 of pdf), from Hellenic Statistical Authority. Archived 2017-04-25. Retrieved 2018-01-08. "Population of Greece of the 7th April 1951 census", p. 121 (p. 121 of pdf), από Hellenic Statistical Authority. Archived 2017-03-04. Retrieved 2018-01-08. "Population - housing census results of 19th March 1961", Table 1, p. 276 (p. 346 of pdf), from Hellenic Statistical Authority. Archived 2017-03-06. Retrieved 2018-01-08. "Population of Greece of the March 14, 1971 census", p. 115 (p. 115 of pdf), from Hellenic Statistical Authority. Archived 2014-10-24. Retrieved 2018-01-08. "Population - housing census results of April 5, 1981", p. 449 (p. 449 of pdf), from Hellenic Statistical Authority. Archived 2018-01-08. Retrieved 2018-01-08. "De facto population of Greece in the census of March 17, 1991", p. 149 (p. 151 of pdf), from Hellenic Statistical Authority. Archived 2017-08-20. Retrieved 2018-01-08."Census of permanent population, March 18, 2001", p. 269 and p. 417 "Δ.Δ.Φιλοτίου" (p. 271 and 419 of pdf), from Hellenic Statistical Authority. Archived 2017-07-29. Retrieved 2018-01-08.
More information
Census 2011. The municipal community extends to 92.79 km2. "Table of results of permanent population by urbanity, mountainousness, extent" from Hellenic Statistical Authority where writes in Greek «Πίνακας αποτελεσμάτων ΜΟΝΙΜΟΥ Πληθυσμού κατά αστικότητα, ορεινότητα, έκταση». Excel file, row 18341, writes in Greek «Δημοτική Κοινότητα Φιλοτίου», that means in English "Municipal community of Filoti". Retrieved 13-12-2018 Census 2001. The municipal apartment extended to 92.57 km2.
The municipal community or apartment includes the settlements Filoti and coastal Kalandos (). The municipal community of Filoti has the largest acreage in Naxos. In population comes second after the municipal community of Naxos where the city of Naxos (Chora) belongs. The village itself is the most populous village of the island."This village is the largest in population (and in area, too-Y.N.) on the island.". Nakamura, Yoshikazu. (July 1979) σελ. 18 (σελ. 2 του pdf)
Administrative changes
In 1835, with 1,130 inhabitants (291 families), it is annexed to the newly established Municipality of Apeiranthos of the province of Naxos, based in the settlement of Apeiranthos.Δ. Απειράνθου, EETAA local government changes In 1840, the ten municipalities of the province of Naxos are reduced to seven; and Filoti is detached from the municipality of Apeiranthos and annexed to the municipality of Tragaia, based in Chalkeio. «ΦΕΚ 22Α 18/12/1840» p. 104 and 115 (p. 2 and 13 of pdf), from EETAA. Retrieved 25 July 2022.Δ. Τραγαίας, EETAA local government changes In 1912, it is decided that settlements with more than 300 inhabitants and elementary school, to become autonomous communities. So the settlement of Filoti is being detached from the municipality of Tragaia, which is abolished and the community of Filoti is established which is based in the village of Filoti. «ΦΕΚ 261Α 31/8/1912» p. 1514 (p. 2 of pdf), from EETAA. Retrieved 25 July 2022. In 1991, the census recognizes the settlement of Kalantos and is annexed to the community of Filoti. "ΦΕΚ 87Α - 07/06/2010", from EETAA. Retrieved 25 July 2022.Κ. Φιλοτίου, EETAA local government changes In 1997, with the implementation of the Kapodistrias reform (Law 2539/97), the settlement of Filoti is annexed to the newly established municipality of Drymalia, located in the settlement of Chalkeio. "ΦΕΚ 244Α - 04/12/1997" p. 8815 (p. 27 of pdf ), from EETAA. Retrieved 25 July 2022. In 2010, with the implementation of the Kallikrates program (Law 3852/2010), Filoti settlement is annexed to the newly established municipality of Naxos and Lesser Cyclades. "ΦΕΚ 87Α - 07/06/2010" p. 1791 (p. 7 of pdf ), from EETAA. Retrieved 25 July 2022.Δ. Νάξου και Μικρών Κυκλάδων, EETAA local government changes
Today, together with Kalandos (pop. 10), it constitutes the Municipal Community of Filoti (pop. 1487), which belongs to the municipal unit of Drymalia, of the municipality of Naxos and Lesser Cyclades, of the regional unit of Naxos (of the former prefecture of Cyclades), in the administrative region South Aegean.
History Near the village there is the Cave of Zas ()[photo], where from the finds of excavations in the years 1985-6 and 1994 appears the cave to have a continuous human presence from the newer Neolithic period (4300-3200 BC).Zachos, Kostas L.. Douzougli, Angelika. "The data of Kastri phase in the Cave of Zas on Naxos" from aegeussociety.org. Published 2017-11-04. Archived 2018-12-13. Retrieved 2018-12-13."Mount Zas and its Cave" from naxos.gr. Archived 2018-12-13. Retrieved 2018-12-13. "Σπήλαιο Ζα" from Ministry of Culture and Sports. Archived 2018-12-13. Retrieved 2018-12-13. In the exact location of the present village settlements (Klepharos and Rachidi) no important archaeological finds have been revealed, but scattered fragments of black-figure potteries of the classical and Hellenistic period. It is probable that there will be a prehistoric cemetery west of the settlement of Rachidi, at Matouli position and a cemetery of historical times at the beginning of Rachidi near the central square and east of the motorway.Isaias, Ioannis, see bibl., p. 36 The only evidence of the existence of an ancient settlement in today's place is its location for the following reasons:Isaias, Ioannis, see bibl., p. 35-36
Natural fortification, because it is surrounded by mountain ranges that facilitate the monitoring of the area, giving the inhabitants time to abscond with their flocks in the mountains. Fertile area with abundant running waters at that time. It has always been the easiest and safest passage to move from one end of Naxos to the other. For passers-by it would be a safe resting place.
Apart from the cases it is known that in the Neolithic and Archaic period, the greatest activity is observed mainly in the coastal settlements (as in Grotta of Naxos town (), Apollonas (), Kastraki (), Spedos (), Panermos () and Kalantos) and less in mountainous.Isaias, Ioannis, see bibl., p. 20
Byzantine period Filoti population is rising in the 7th to 10th centuries because of the abandonment of coastal settlements, from the fear of piratical raids, especially the Saracen pirates, which are based on Crete, drowning horror on the coasts of Naxos and the other Aegean islands.Isaias, Ioannis, see bibl., p. 23 At the end of the early Byzantine period (500-650 AD) many churches were built in Naxos in the early Christian basilica architecture.Isaias, Ioannis, see bibl., p. 37 It is estimated that at this time the earlier and small church of the Virgin Mary of Filotitissa was built.Isaias, Ioannis, see bibl., p. 75 In the following years, the Byzantine Empire slowly diminishes, and turmoil and uncertainty prevail throughout the island.
Frankish period