Dafni, Aitoloakarnania

Dafni is a village and a community in the municipality of Nafpaktia, Aetolia-Acarnania, Greece. The community consists of the villages Dafni (also Ano Dafni), Kato Dafni (the largest village of the community) and Trypou, now uninhabited. During the centuries of Ottoman occupation, Dafni was located higher up in the hills in an area called now Old Dafni (Paliodafni); of that settlement only the foundations of a few houses survive. The name Dafni means laurel. It comes either from the laurel plant that is indigenous to the area or from small plants called also dafni that grow in abundance on the banks of the nearby river Mornos (its alternative but rarely used name is Dafnos).

The settlement of Kato Dafni began in the early 20th century and before World War II it had less than 20 houses. Now it is a thriving and rapidly growing part of Nafpaktos. Its landmarks are the impressive St Paraskevi Cathedral, the construction of which is still ongoing, and the Mornos river bridge with its five arches, constructed in 1939 as part of Greece's preparation for the war. The river is now mostly dry; its water is used for farm irrigation but most of it is diverted to the municipal water supply of Athens.

Dafni in general and Kato Dafni in particular, have a rich cultural history. Many locals, most of them retired, gather at its roadside cafes to analyze geopolitical issues and world affairs. Politics and international events receive daily scrutiny by people keeping abreast through radio, television and newspapers. Financial issues, mainly capital markets, are analyzed as well. Nothing escapes the sensitive antennae of these remarkable yet otherwise idle pensioners who have formed closed groups, deep in thought and animated by cultural concerns. Notable among them are retired teachers of all levels of education ranging from kindergarten to university.

Products of the area include olives, figs and oranges; large orange groves dot the picturesque landscape.

Kato Dafni's water was considered to have therapeutic properties and before the cortisone era many used it to treat skin diseases.

Dafni has been visited by many luminaries, including the famous Italian poet and Nobel laureate Eugenio Montale, a towering figure of 20th century poetry. Due to language barriers he was unable to converse with the groups of Kato Dafni's passionate discussants.
References

Ta Nea tis Dafnis, local monthly newspaper, publication currently suspended.
"Dafni" biannual priodical (~200 pages per issue) devoted to cultural issues and local tradition. M. Mentzas, ed.
K. Oikonomou, Nafpaktos - a tourist guide, privately published, ca 1970

Municipal Community Nafpaktos
Nafpaktos (Ναύπακτος, η)
Community Afroxylia
Ano Afroxylia (Άνω Αφροξυλιά, η)
Kato Afroxylia (Κάτω Αφροξυλιά, η)
Community Velvina
Velvina (Βελβίνα, η)
Community Vlachomandra
Vlachomandra (Βλαχομάνδρα, η)
Gefyra Bania (Γέφυρα Μπανιά, η)
Sfikaiika (Σφηκαίικα, τα)
Community Vamvakou
Άγιος Βασίλειος, ο
Vomvokou (Βομβοκού, η)
Λεύκα Βομβοκούς, η
Marmara (Μάρμαρα, τα)
Μονή Αγίου Ιωάννου, η
Community Dafni
Dafni (Δάφνη, η)
Kato Dafni (Κάτω Δάφνη, η)
Community Lygias
Lygias (Λυγιάς, ο)
Community Mamoulada
Kato Mamoulada (Κάτω Μαμουλάδα, η)
Mamoulada (Μαμουλάδα, η)
Community Neokastro
Neokastro (Νεόκαστρον, το)
Παλιάμπελα, τα
Community Xiropigado
Xiropigado (Ξηροπήγαδον, το)
Community Palaiochoraki
Μικρό Παλαιοχωράκι, το
Palaiochoraki (Παλαιοχωράκι, το)
Community Pitsinaiika
Kastraki (Καστράκι, το)
Pitsinaiika (Πιτσιναίικα, τα)
Συκιά, η
Community Rigani
Diasello (Διάσελλον, το)
Poros (Πόρος, ο)
Rigani (Ριγάνιο, το)
Community Skala
Skala (Σκάλα, η)

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