Vathi village

Fast facts

Population  2021: 3.767
Older Censuses 2011: 3.026, 2001: 2.025, 1981: 2.365, 1961: 3.322,  1928: 5.677, 1828: 4.060, 1678: ~700 inhabitants (~400 houses).
Population density per km²  86 persons
Village altitude  50 m
Region averege altitude 76 m, mountainous
Village land area  0,19 km²
Region land area 43,63 km²
Parish churches, 3 Orthodox the Hesodia tis Theotokou (Entrance of Virgin) from the end of 18th century, the Kimisi tis Theotokou (Dormition of the Virgin), a three-aisled basilica with dome, erected in 1802 and Metamosfosi tou Sotiros (Transfiguration of jesus), erected in 1834.
Economy relies mainly agricultural (olives, vegetables). Oldest wide production of tobacco. During the 19th century it produced good wine, raisins, almonds, citrus fruits, silk and very good figs, the Samian “buknes” or “Harpkounes”, a variety of fig that grows only on Samos and resembles San piero variety.

Description

Vathi village, (Greek: Βαθύ=deep) formerly Pano Vathi (=upper Vathi), located at northwestern part of Samos island, in depth of Vathi bay, built amphitheatrically, on the slopes of the Koutsomilos and Varela hills, with north orientation and beautiful sea view to the bay.

The distances: it’s just next to Samos town (with which are almost united), 11 km from Pythagorio town,  30 Km from Karlovasi town and 43 Km from Marathokampos village. 

Administratively consists the municipal community of Vathi, which belongs to Vathi municipal unit, of East Samos Municipality, with Samos city capital.

The beautiful traditional houses of the village are built very close to each other, thus creating a labyrinth of streets, which was a way of defense against pirate attacks.

The village preserves elements of the local traditional architecture and has been characterized as settlement of special natural beauty, by the Greek Ministry of Culture decisions since 1974, 1976 and 2002 (39803/593/30-8-1974, 36284/3035/8-5-1976 and 4754/30- 4-2002), which include many restrictions on the construction and repair of new buildings.

Unfortunately, the village suffered a lot of damage, from the catastrophic earthquake of 6.7 R scale, that struck Samos on October 30, 2020.

History & name

The name “Vathi” (=deep), comes from the large bay, at the depth of which is built the village, on the ruins of ancient city, that was probably “Ipnus”, and was inhabited from antiquity until the desolation of the island (1476), according to author E Kritikidis.

Vathi is one of the first village in Samos island , after the recolonization of the island (1549). According to the author E. Kritikidis, the first settlement of Vathi was “Chiotika” (=from Chios island) which was inhabited in 1550, by descendants of “Chiosamians”, ie Samians who had taken refuge to Chios island, at the desolation of the island in 1476.  However, the great increase at the population of Vathi took place in the middle of the 18th c., after the conquest of Peloponnese (or Morean) by the Othoman Turks in 1718, and its abandonment by the locals Greeks, who sought safer areas to settle, such as Samos after the recolonization of the island (1549) and the privileges to the new settlers.   During this period (middle of 18th c.), “Moraitochori” (=Morean+village) the second settlement of Vathi was created, which took its name from the place of settlers origin (Peloponnese which was also called Morean). According to Ep. Stamatiadis, the origin of the Peloponnesian settlers was mainly from Gythio, Megalopolis, Monemvasia, Argos, and Nafplio, as evidenced by the icons of Panagia Nafpliotissa (=Virgin Mary from Nafplio) and Agios Georgios Argitis (=St. George from Argos), that sattlers brought with them.

Initially, both settlements were created behind the hills, in a rich (then) pine forest, invisible from the sea, to be protected by the pirates. Over the years, Chiotika settlement expanded and created the current village of Vathi, while Moraitochori remained isolated and did not merge with the rest of the settlement.

The Seaport of Vathi was Gialos, or Limen Vatheos (=port of Vathi), or Kato Vathi (=down Vathi), at present Samos city, which until the beginning of the 19th c., had only a few warehouses for the needs of trade, then the first houses were built and at 1854, by decision of the ruler Ion Gika, it became the capital of the island, taking the scepter from Chora village.

In the middle of the 18th c. the Ottoman administration decided to build large ships at the area Tabakiaka of Samos city, by using the rich and quality timber from the large pine forests around Vathi settlements, which reached the sea. The inhabitants, in order to prevent the plans of Turks but also to avoid oppression and forced labor, burned the forests and deforesting completely the area, preventing the construction of ships.

At the end of the 19th c. Vathi had 940 houses, 2 municipal offices, 1 primary school and 6 churches, while its economy was based on 570 farmers, 41 merchants, 5 landowners, 85 sailors, 304 craftsmen, 10 priests, 3 teachers and 1 doctor.

Vathi has 3 parish churches, “Isodia tis Theotokou’ (Presentation of Virgin Mary), “Kimisi tis Theotokou” (Assumption of the Virgin) in 1802, and “Metamorfosi tou Sotiros” (Transfiguration of the Savior) in 1834. The oldest church of the settlement is probably the former parish church of Agia Matrona (St.Matrona), which must have been built at the end of the 16th c., with the arrival of the first settlers from the island of Chios (descendants of Chiosamians, and Chians), which with their arrival, brought from Chios and the cult of Osia Matrona.

Settlements

Eighteen (18) settlements belong to Vathi village,
>> Agia Zoni settlement, at Vlamari area 3,5 Km east of village with 128 inhabitants,
>> Agia Markela settlement, 4,7 Km  northwest of village with 7 inhabitants,
>> Agia Triada settlement 4,2 Km east of village with 46 inhabitants,
>> Agios Thanasis settlement 6,8 Km  south of village with 21 inhabitants,
>> Varela settlement at 2 Km south-east of village with 106 inhabitants,
>> Drosia settlement 3 Km south-east of village, with 66 inhabitants,
>> Zervou settlement 4 Km south-west from village, with 34 inhabitants,
>> Zoodohos Pigi settlement 7,5 Km north-east from village, with 6 inhabitants,
>> Kamara settlement at Vlamari area 4,5 Km north-east from village, with 259 inhabitants,
>> Kedros settlement 6,5 Km at the sea side, north-west from village, with 105 inhabitants,
>> Koumarionas settlement 2 Km at the west of the village, with 109 inhabitants,
>> Mesokampos settlement 6 Km at the south-west from village, with 109 inhabitants,
>> Moraitochori settlement 1,5 Km at the south-west from village, with 30 inhabitants,
>> Nikola settlement 3 Km at the east from village, with 145 inhabitants,
>> Panaitsa settlement 2,5 Km at the north-east from village, with 19 inhabitants,
>> Platanos settlement 4,5 Km at the south-west from village, with 23 inhabitants,
>> Tourkomilonas settlement 8,5 Km at the south from village, with 16 inhabitants and
>> and Floka settlement 3,5 Km at the north-west from village, with 21 inhabitants.

Vlamari area, 5 km northeast of Vathi, is the largest plateau of the community area and one of the largest on Samos island, with an area of ​​1.2 km2, at altitude 110 m. It is the most important ​​agricultural production area of Vathi, with mainly annual crops and vineyards. Its name comes from the paraphrase of the words “Vigla mari!” (=hey you, look!) (~Viglamari), which according to tradition, shouted the mother who worked in the field, to her daughter, to draw her attention, who supervised the area from above, for possible pirate attacks.
In the southern part of Vlamari is the Agia Zoni and the homonymous settlement, while in the northern part is Kamara settlement .

Tips

• Browse the picturesque and winding streets of the village, and enjoy the traditional architecture of the settlement.
• Admire the stunning architecture, neoclassical building, of “Astiki Sxoli Vatheos” (=Urban School Vathi, today primary school of Vathi), build at 1901 by the hegemonic government.
• Visit the impressive two-aisled church of Ai Giannakis, with the four domes, built in 1799, and enjoy the panoramic see view to the large natural bay.
• Visit the monasteries of Agia Zoni (4.5 Km northeast) and Zoodohos Pigi (7.5 Km northeast).
• Follow hiking route # 27, with many pictures in and around the city of Samos, and Vathi, panoramic views, route to the pine forest and visit to Agia Zoni monastery.
• Follow hiking route # 28, and get to know the monasteries of Agia Zoni and Zoodohos Pigi. This hiking trail can be combined with the previous one.

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