Rafina () is a suburban port town located on the eastern coast of Attica in Greece. It has a population of 14,620 inhabitants (2021 census). Since the 2011 local government reform it has been part of the municipality Rafina-Pikermi, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. The municipal unit has an area of 18.979 km2. It is part of the Athens metropolitan area.
Geography Rafina lies on the Aegean Sea coast, east of Mount Pentelicus and northeast of the Mesogaia plain. It is north of Artemida, south of Nea Makri and east of Athens city centre. The municipal unit of Rafina contains, besides the city itself, a large portion of the surrounding area, which is mostly woodland and farmland. The only other town is Kallitechnoupoli.
Rafina is a port town serving ferries to the southern part of Euboea as well as most of the Cyclades. Its port acts as the second port of Athens, after the Athens' port of Piraeus.
History
Rafina suffered damage from a forest fire in July 2005 and again in 2018.
Historical population Year Town population Municipality population 1981 4,994 – 1991 8,282 8,611 2001 10,173 10,701 2011 12,168 13,091 2021 13,604 14,620
Culture Sports Rafina is the seat of two football clubs with presence in third national division (Gamma Ethniki), Triglia Rafina club founded in 1932 by refugees, and Thyella Rafina club founded in 1957. Sport clubs based in RafinaClubFoundedSportsAchievementsTriglia Rafina F.C.1932Football Presence in Gamma EthnikiThyella Rafina F.C.1957 Football Presence in Gamma Ethniki
Notable residents Robert Pires (French footballer) Kostas Karamanlis, former Greek prime minister Simon Rrumbullaku Albanian-Greek football player.
International relations
Rafina is twinned with:
Pano Lefkara, Cyprus Tirilye, TurkeyZeytinbağı (Trilye) Rum Misafirlerini Ağırladı Triglia, Chalkidiki
See also List of municipalities of Attica Panagia Pantobasilissa church, Rafina
References
External links Official website triglianoi.gr e-rafina.gr