.

Keratea (Greek: Κερατέα) is a town in East Attica, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Lavreotiki, of which it is a municipal unit.[1]

Keratea is linked with a highway to Glyka Nera and Sounio. Keratea is located approximately 41 km southeast of Athens, South of the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport and the Attiki Odos (numbers 6 and 62), North West of Cape Sounio and South of the Hymettus Ring.

Keratea was founded between 700 and 500 BC, according to ancient sources.

1904 : Statue of a kouros. Pentelic marble. Found in Keratea, Attica.

The mountains dominate the Southern and Northern parts of the municipality. Panion, in the South, consists of rocks and grasslands, with forests in the valley areas. In the center of the region is a valley which is connected with Mesogeia.

Until the 1960s and the 1970s, agriculture was the main industry of Keratea. Later, Keratea attracted many small businesses and light industrial enterprises, as it became part of the Athens Metropolitan Area. Suburban housing arrived in the 1970s and 1980s and new construction continues to this day. A small part of the population are still leading a rural existence. In the 1980s, a bypass was constructed 500 m north of Keratea which is partially situated on an abandoned rail link between Lavrio and Kifissia. This new 4-lane highway cuts journey times from central Athens to about an hour and it is very convenient for Athens's new airport. Also, the harbour of Lavrio has been upgraded and many ferries to the Greek Islands depart from there. These developments have attracted many Athenians to the area, some of whom built their second homes on the attractive coast of South Attica.

Other features include a soccer field hundreds of metres west and a hydrogen factory in Keratea.

Other

Keratea has schools, lyceums, gymnasia, banks, churches, a post office and squares (plateies).
Historical population
Year Town population Municipality population
1981 7,511 -
1991 6,512 9,715
2001 7,472 11,205

See also

List of municipalities of Attica

References

^ Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (Greek)

Municipalities of Athens