Foinikounta (Greek: Φοινικούντα, before 1930: Ταβέρνα - Taverna[2]), also known transliterated as Finikounda, Finikounta, or Finikous, is a seaside village and a community in the municipality of Pylos-Nestor, Messenia, Greece. It is situated in the southwestern tip of the Peloponnese peninsula, 9 km east of Methoni and 37 km southwest of Kalamata. It is most notable for its beautiful beaches which attract mostly Greek and other European visitors during the summer months. The community consists of the main village Foinikounta, the small villages Anemomylos, Chounakia, Grizokampos and Loutsa, and the island of Schiza.

Foinikounta
Φοινικούντα
Settlement
Foinikounta is located in Greece
Foinikounta
Foinikounta
Coordinates: 36°48.5′N 21°48.4′E / 36.8083°N 21.8067°E / 36.8083; 21.8067
CountryGreece
Administrative regionPeloponnese
Regional unitMessenia
MunicipalityPylos-Nestor
Municipal unitMethoni
Elevation
19 m (62 ft)
Population
 (2021)[1]
 • Community
573
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code
240 06

Population

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Year Village Community
1981 519 -
1991 588 -
2001 559 626
2011 592 677
2021 500 573

History

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Finikounta

It is believed to have been founded by the Phoenicians.[3] The ancient town Phoenicus (Φοινικούς) was mentioned by Pausanias as a port west of Cape Akritas.[4] It is believed that it was a small commercial port where the fishers of murex trunculus (a sea snail from which a known indigo dye is produced) could trade their product and has vanished in our days. The name most likely refers to the sea snail that the Greeks called Phoenikus (Φοινικούς).[citation needed]

The present village was founded in the 1840s by inhabitants of Lachanada, that had fled from Crete and Arcadians from Crisovitsi. It was initially called Taverna, after a tavern in the village. It received its present name in 1930.[2] The main resources of the inhabitants are agriculture and tourism, which has flourished since the 1980s. Each of the three long sandy beaches in Foinikounta has been rated a Red Flag beach.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b 1st and 2nd name change
  3. ^ Γ. Δ. Κούβελα, Φοινικούντα: Ιστορία και Ζωή, Καλαμάτα: 1997 (σσ. 21-28)
  4. ^ Pausanias Description of Greece 4.34.12
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