Sykies

Sykies (Greek: Συκιές) or Sykeai (Συκεαί) is a suburb of the Thessaloniki Urban Area and was a former municipality in the regional unit of Thessaloniki, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Neapoli-Sykies, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit.[2] The municipal unit population is 37,753 (2011 census). Its land area is 7.982 km².[3]

Sykies Συκιές
View of Sykies district with Heptapyrgion
Sykies Location within the regional unit
Coordinates: 40°39′N 22°57′E
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Central Macedonia
Regional unit	Thessaloniki
Municipality	Neapoli-Sykies
Government
• Mayor	Simos Danielidis
• Municipal unit	7.982 km^2 (3.082 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Municipal unit	37,753
• Municipal unit density	4,700/km^2 (12,000/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)

History

Sykies was mostly built after settling of refugees from Asia Minor in 1922. The refugees were mostly from Rodochori of Asia Minor. The new residents built a new church that dedicated to patron saints from their origin places.[4]

A part of the district is named Varna built by Greeks from Varna, modern Bulgaria. Other areas include Kallithea, Riga Feraiou and Heptapyrgiou.

In 1934 the municipality of Thessaloniki was divided in smallest administrative units, so Sykies became a separate community. In 1954 the community of Sykies changed to municipality.[5] Today it is part of Neapoli-Sykies municipality.

Culture

Sports

Sykies is the seat of many clubs.[6] The most famous of them is VAO, a long-standing club with achievements in several sports.

Sport clubs based in Sykies
Club	Founded	Sports	Achievements
V.A.O.	1926	Basketball, Volleyball, Handball	Panhellenic title in handball, earlier presence in A1 Ethniki basketball
Phoebus Sykeon	1982	Handball	Presence in A1 Ethniki Handball
Panathlitikos Sykeon	1988	Basketball	Presence in A1 Ethniki women

Part of the municipality of Sykies

A choir at the Sykies Theatre

References

1. "Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
2. Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (in Greek)
3. "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece.
4. "Ι.Ν.Υψ.Τιμίου Σταυρού & Αγ.Δημητρίου Συκεών". imnst.gr. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
5. "Η πόλη μας χθες και σήμερα". dimosneapolis-sykeon.gr. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
6. "Αθλητικοί Σύλλογοι". Municipality of Neapolis-Sykeon. Retrieved 7 April 2015.