The village

The village

A settlement frozen in time..

History

History

The settlement of Romiri, located in the region of Messinia in the Peloponnese, northeast of Pylos, lies at an altitude of 556 meters and covers an area of 7 square kilometers. Its geomorphological relief is characterized by steep slopes, with 320 hectares of cultivable land and 190 hectares of forested area.

The first inhabitants, mainly shepherds, settled in the area around 1500 AD, during the First Ottoman occupation. In 1650, they relocated to the site of the present-day settlement, taking advantage of a natural spring. At this spring, a well was constructed, and next to it a church was built, dedicated to Saints Anargyroi. The choice of location was based on three factors: the abundance of drinking water, the fertile land suitable for livestock farming, and the geographical isolation that provided protection from external threats.

During the 18th century, Romiri’s population grew significantly, reaching 500 inhabitants by 1896. In the 1846 census, the settlement ranked second in size within the Municipality of Voufrados, with its main economic activities being agriculture (cultivation of cereals, vineyards, olive groves) and animal husbandry.

After the establishment of the modern Greek state in 1823, the settlement experienced remarkable economic growth. The need for housing and public buildings led the inhabitants to hire craftsmen from the region of Arcadia to construct private and public structures, such as schools and churches. Most of the village’s buildings date from this period.

Gradually, however, during the 20th century, Romiri followed the fate of many rural settlements in the Peloponnese, entering a period of decline. The wars of the early century, World War II, and the Civil War caused a significant decrease in population. In the 1960s, the state authorities deemed the electrification and road connection of the settlement economically unviable, and by decision no. Ε15119/3652/67 of the Ministry of Public Works, the remaining 87 inhabitants were relocated to the Community of Mesopotamos. As a result, the settlement was abandoned, and its buildings fell into ruin.

The Association

The Association

In recent years, the Cultural Association of Romiri has undertaken initiatives for the preservation and restoration of the settlement. Through volunteer work, the four churches have been reconstructed, the traditional footpaths maintained, and a central cobblestone walkway (kalderimi) created. At the same time, cultural festivals featuring sports and artistic activities are organized, bringing new life to the village. Within this framework, the association proposes the reconstruction of the two public buildings (the old and the new school) located in the central square, with the aim of reopening them for community activities and events.

File

Arts