Rhodopi (regional unit)

Rhodopi (Greek: Ροδόπη, Rodópi, [roˈðopi]) is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of East Macedonia and Thrace. Its name is derived from the Rhodope Mountains, which cover the northern part of its territory. Together with the regional units Evros and Xanthi, it forms the geographical region of Western Thrace. The capital of the prefecture is the city of Komotini. The second largest town is Sapes. Most of the Muslims of Thrace, the only officially recognized minority in Greece, are settled in this area, where they form around half of the population.

Name	Kallikratis Index	Population
Rhodopi (regional unit) (Seat: Κομοτηνή, η)	01	112.039
Municipality Arriana (Seat: Φιλλύρα, η)	0102	16.577
Municipal unit Arriana	010202	5.589
Community Agiochori	01020202	226
Agiochori (Αγιοχώρι, το)	0102020201	226
Community Arriana	01020201	1.147
Arriana (Αρριανά, τα)	0102020101	1.147
Community Darmeni	01020203	314
Darmeni (Δαρμένη, η)	0102020301	314
Community Deilina	01020204	307
Deilina (Δειλινά, τα)	0102020401	307
Community Ipio	01020205	265
Ήπι, το	0102020501	265
Community Kinyra	01020206	171
Kinyra (Κίνυρα, τα)	0102020601	171
Community Lykeio	01020207	1.016
Λύκειο, το	0102020701	1.016
Community Mikro Pisto	01020208	433
Μικρόν Πιστόν, το	0102020801	433
Community Mystakas	01020209	419
Mystakas (Μύστακας, ο)	0102020901	419
Community Neda	01020210	246
Neda (Νέδα, η)	0102021001	246
Community Nikites	01020211	94
Nikites (Νικητές, οι)	0102021101	94
Community Plagia	01020212	294
Πλαγιά, η	0102021201	294
Community Skaloma	01020213	318
Skaloma (Σκάλωμα, το)	0102021301	318
Community Strofi	01020214	339
Strofi (Στροφή, η)	0102021401	339
Municipal unit Kechros	010203	1.222
Community Kechros	01020301	1.222
Άνω Καμπή, η	0102030102	23
Βούρλα, τα	0102030103	30
Kampos (Κάμπος, ο)	0102030104	76
Κερασιά, η	0102030105	125
Kechros (Κέχρος, ο)	0102030101	199
Μικρός Κέχρος, ο	0102030106	103
Μοναστήριο, το	0102030107	74
Tsoukka (Τσούκκα, η)	0102030108	65
Χαμηλόν, το	0102030109	84
Charadra (Χαράδρα, η)	0102030110	113
Χλόη, η	0102030111	330
Municipal unit Organi	010204	2.183
Municipal Community Organi	01020401	2.183
Άνω Κάρδαμος ο	0102040102	52
Vyrsini (Βυρσίνη, η)	0102040103	307
Drania (Δρανιά, η)	0102040104	164
Kalyvia (Καλύβια, τα)	0102040105	51
Kardamos (Κάρδαμος, ο)	0102040106	178
Κάτω Βυρσίνη, η	0102040107	77
Kovalo (Κόβαλο, το)	0102040108	58
Kymi (Κύμη, η)	0102040109	306
Myrtiski (Μυρτίσκη, η)	0102040110	385
Organi (Οργάνη, η)	0102040101	496
Σμιγάδα, η	0102040111	109
Municipal unit Fillyra	010201	7.583
Community Agra	01020102	197
Agra (Άγρα, η)	0102010201	197
Community Ano Drosini	01020103	106
Ano Drosini (Άνω Δροσινή, η)	0102010301	106
Community Aratos	01020104	1.158
Aratos (Άρατος, ο)	0102010401	1.158
Community Ardeia	01020105	27
Αρδεία, η	0102010501	27
Community Archontika	01020106	365
Archontika (Αρχοντικά, τα)	0102010601	365
Community Vragia	01020107	521
Vragia (Βραγιά, η)	0102010701	521
Community Dokos	01020108	970
Dokos (Δοκός, η)	0102010801	970
Community Drosia	01020109	223
Drosia (Δροσιά, η)	0102010901	223
Community Drymi	01020110	302
Drymi (Δρύμη, η)	0102011001	302
Community Esochi	01020111	323
Esochi (Εσοχή, η)	0102011101	323
Community Kato Drosini	01020112	66
Kato Drosini (Κάτω Δροσινή, η)	0102011201	66
Community Lampro	01020113	492
Lampro (Λαμπρόν, το)	0102011301	492
Community Neo Kallyntirio	01020114	241
Νέο Καλλυντήριο, το	0102011401	241
Community Nevra	01020115	158
Nevra (Νεύρα, τα)	0102011501	158
Community Omiriko	01020116	313
Omiriko (Ομηρικόν, το)	0102011601	313
Community Passos	01020117	747
Passos (Πάσσος, ο)	0102011701	747
Community Paterma	01020118	109
Paterma (Πατερμά, τα)	0102011801	109
Community Ragada	01020119	270
Ragada (Ραγάδα, η)	0102011901	270
Community Skiada	01020120	86
Skiada (Σκιάδα, η)	0102012001	86
Community Fillyra	01020101	909
Fillyra (Φιλλύρα, η)	0102010101	909
Municipality Iasmos (Seat: Ίασμος, ο)	0103	13.810
Municipal unit Amaxades	010302	1.773
Community Amaxades	01030201	1.773
Amaxades (Αμαξάδες, οι)	0103020101	1.195
Άνω Αμαξάδες, οι	0103020102	563
Μοναχοί, οι	0103020103	15
Municipal unit Iasmos	010301	5.703
Municipal Community Iasmos	01030101	4.399
Galini (Γαλήνη, η)	0103010102	289
Dialampi (Διαλαμπή, η)	0103010103	469
Iasmos (Ίασμος, ο)	0103010101	2.586
Ιππικόν, το	0103010104	37
Koptero (Κοπτερόν, το)	0103010105	810
Μελίταινα, η	0103010106	15
Mosaiko (Μωσαϊκόν, το)	0103010107	193
Community Amvrosia	01030102	766
Amvrosia (Αμβροσία, η)	0103010201	432
Μικρόν Παλλάδιο, το	0103010202	60
Παλλάδιο, το	0103010203	274
Community Salpi	01030103	538
Γλυκονέριο, το	0103010302	68
Salpi (Σάλπη, η)	0103010301	470
Municipal unit Sostis	010303	6.334
Municipal Community Asomatoi	01030302	2.851
Agiasma (Αγίασμα, το)	0103030201	326
Asomatoi (Ασώματοι, οι)	0103030202	712
Dymi (Δύμη, η)	0103030203	403
Thamna (Θάμνα, τα)	0103030204	513
Ρίζωμα, το	0103030206	287
Πανεπιστημιούπολη, η	0103030205	346
Φωλέα, η	0103030207	264
Community Kerasia	01030303	8
Κερασέα, η	0103030301	8
Community Linos	01030304	411
Linos (Ληνός, ο)	0103030401	411
Community Mega Pisto	01030305	886
Μέγα Πιστόν, το	0103030501	886
Community Mischos	01030306	729
Mischos (Μίσχος, ο)	0103030601	729
Community Polyantho	01030307	737
Κρυστάλλη, η	0103030702	9
Πολύανθο, το	0103030701	712
Τρίκορφο, το	0103030703	16
Community Sostis	01030301	712
Σώστης, ο	0103030101	712
Municipality Komotini (Seat: Κομοτηνή, η)	0101	66.919
Municipal unit Aigeiros	010102	3.493
Community Aigeiros	01010201	1.207
Αγροτικόν Ορφανοτροφείο, το	0101020102	45
Aigeiros (Αίγειρος, η)	0101020101	924
Μεσσούνη, η	0101020103	238
Community Arogi	01010202	9
Arogi (Αρωγή, η)	0101020201	9
Community Glyfada	01010203	136
Glyfada (Γλυφάδα, η))	0101020301	136
Community Kallisti	01010204	122
Kallisti (Καλλίστη, η)	0101020401	122
Community Meleti	01010205	497
Μελέτη, η	0101020501	497
Community Mesi	01010206	183
Mesi (Μέση, η)	0101020601	183
Community Nea Kallisti	01010207	391
Νέα Καλλίστη, η	0101020701	391
Community Paralia Mesi	01010208	6
Παραλία Μέσης, η	0101020801	6
Community Porpi	01010209	452
Porpi (Πόρπη, η)	0101020901	452
Community Fanari	01010210	490
Fanari (Φανάριο, το)	0101021001	490
Municipal unit Komotini	010101	60.648
Municipal Community Komotini	01010101	54.272
Ifaistos (Ήφαιστος, ο)	0101010102	1.706
Komotini (Κομοτηνή, η)	0101010101	50.990
Μέγα Κρανοβούνιο, το	0101010103	149
Μεσοχώρι, το	0101010104	119
Μικρόν Κρανοβούνιο, το	0101010105	159
Paradimi (Παραδημή, η)	0101010106	434
Σχολή Αστυνομίας, η	0101010107	335
Υφαντές, οι	0101010108	380
Community Anthochori	01010102	82
Anthochori (Ανθοχώρι, το)	0101010201	82
Community Gratini	01010103	365
Gratini (Γρατινή, η)	0101010301	365
Community Thrylorio	01010104	1.910
Θρυλόριο, το	0101010401	620
Roditis (Ροδίτης, ο)	0101010402	1.018
Φύλακας, ο	0101010403	272
Community Itea	01010105	77
Ιτέα, η	0101010501	77
Community Kalchas	01010106	1.160
Ιάμπολις, η	0101010602	173
Kalchas (Κάλχας, ο)	0101010601	634
Μεγάλη Άδα, η	0101010603	9
Μύτικας, ο	0101010604	5
Σαρακηνή, η	0101010605	40
Tychiro (Τυχηρόν, το)	0101010606	299
Community Karydia	01010107	357
Karydia (Καρυδιά, η)	0101010701	357
Community Kikidio	01010108	610
Κηκίδιο, το	0101010801	610
Community Kosmio	01010109	922
Κόσμιο, το	0101010901	922
Community Pandrosos	01010110	394
Νυμφαία, η	0101011002	35
Πάνδροσος, η	0101011001	115
Σύμβολα, τα	0101011003	244
Community Sidirades	01010111	199
Sidirades (Σιδηράδες, οι)	0101011101	199
Community Stylari	01010112	300
Stylari (Στυλάριο, το)	0101011201	300
Municipal unit Neo Sidirochori	010103	2.778
Community Agioi Theodoroi	01010302	491
Agioi Theodoroi (Άγιοι Θεόδωροι, οι)	0101030201	491
Community Mega Doukato	01010303	418
Mega Doukato (Μέγα Δουκάτο, το)	0101030301	418
Community Neo Sidirochori	01010301	1.327
Αδριανή, η	0101030102	144
Καλαμόκαστρο, το	0101030103	342
Μαυρομμάτιο, το	0101030104	137
Μικρόν Δουκάτο, το	0101030105	137
Neo Sidirochori (Νέο Σιδηροχώρι, το)	0101030101	567
Community Pagouria	01010304	542
Παγούρια, τα	0101030401	542
Municipality Maroneia - Sapes (Seat: Σάπες, οι)	0104	14.733
Municipal unit Maroneia	010402	6.350
Municipal Community Amaranta	01040202	1.918
Amaranta (Αμάραντα, τα)	0104020201	624
Βάκος, ο	0104020202	432
Isalo (Ίσαλο, το)	0104020203	490
Καλλιθέα, η	0104020204	137
Πάμφορο, το	0104020205	235
Municipal Community Xylagani	01040201	1.575
Εργάνη, η	0104020102	347
Νέα Πέτρα, η	0104020103	48
Xylagani (Ξυλαγανή, η)	0104020101	1.180
Community Imeros	01040203	276
Ampelakia (Αμπελάκια, τα)	0104020302	6
Imeros (Ίμερος, ο)	0104020301	270
Community Maroneia	01040204	570
Agios Charalambos (Άγιος Χαράλαμπος, ο)	0104020402	3
Ano Askites (Άνω Ασκητές, οι)	0104020403	49
Askites (Ασκητές, οι)	0104020404	68
Maroneia (Μαρώνεια, η)	0104020401	427
Πλατανίτης, ο	0104020405	23
Community Mirana	01040205	1.250
Βέννα, η	0104020502	619
Mirana (Μίρανα, τα)	0104020501	286
Σαλμώνη, η	0104020503	345
Community Pelagia	01040206	44
Pelagia (Πελαγία, η)	0104020601	44
Community Proskynites	01040207	717
Αλκυών, η	0104020702	6
Κρυονέρι, το	0104020704	50
Λεύκες, οι	0104020705	14
Οικισμός προσωπικού ΔΕΗ, ο	0104020703	16
Proskynites (Προσκυνητές, οι)	0104020701	597
Προφήτης Ηλίας, ο	0104020706	34
Municipal unit Sapes	010401	8.383
Municipal Community Sapes	01040101	4.988
Aetokoryfi (Αετοκορυφή, η)	0104010102	87
Arsakeio (Αρσάκειο, το)	0104010103	660
Βέλκιο, το	0104010104	329
Κασσιτερά, τα	0104010105	17
Protato (Πρωτάτο, το)	0104010106	278
Sapes (Σάπαι, οι)	0104010101	3.351
Τσιφλίκιο, το	0104010107	87
Χαμηλόν, το	0104010108	179
Community Amfia	01040102	359
Amfia (Αμφία, τα)	0104010201	359
Community Arisvi	01040103	1.054
Arisvi (Αρίσβη, η)	0104010301	1.054
Community Evrinos	01040104	455
Evrinos (Εβρίνος, ο)	0104010401	455
Community Iasio	01040105	83
Iasio (Ιάσιο, το)	0104010501	83
Community Kizario	01040106	45
Κιζάριο, το	0104010601	45
Community Krovyli	01040107	416
Krovyli (Κρωβύλη, η)	0104010701	129
Παλαιά Κρωβύλη, η	0104010702	277
Πετρωτά, τα	0104010703	10
Community Lofario	01040108	528
Αετόλοφος, ο	0104010802	39
Λοφάριο, το	0104010801	489
Community Nea Santa	01040109	188
Nea Santa (Νέα Σάντα, η)	0104010901	188
Community Strymi	01040110	267
Dioni (Διώνη, η)	0104011002	166
Strymi (Στρύμη, η)	0104011001	101

Geography

Rhodope borders on the regional unit Xanthi to the west and Evros to the east, and on Bulgaria's Kardzhali Province to the north. The Aegean Sea lies to the south. The eastern Rhodope Mountains cover the northern part of the regional unit. Apart from the mountainous areas, the territory consists mainly of farmland, forests and grasslands.

The southern and the central part have a mainly Mediterranean climate, and the northern part a mainly continental climate with cold winters.
Administration

The regional unit Rhodope is subdivided into 4 municipalities. These are (number as in the map in the infobox):[1]

Arriana (2)
Iasmos (3)
Komotini (1)
Maroneia-Sapes (4)

In 2015 this regional unit has three seats in the Hellenic Parliament.
Prefecture

Rhodope was established as a prefecture in 1930 (Greek: Νομός Ροδόπης), when the former Thrace Prefecture was divided into the Rhodope and Evros prefectures.[2] In 1944 Xanthi Prefecture was created from the western part of Rhodope Prefecture. Since the 1990s Rhodope cooperated with Evros in the Rhodope-Evros Super-prefecture.

As a part of the 2011 Kallikratis government reform, the prefecture was transformed into a regional unit within the East Macedonia and Thrace region, with no change in its boundaries. At the same time, the municipalities were reorganised, according to the table below.[1]

New municipality	Old municipalities	Seat
Arriana	Arriana	Fillyra
	Kechros
	Organi
	Fillyra
Iasmos	Iasmos	Iasmos
	Amaxades
	Sostis
Komotini	Komotini	Komotini
	Aigeiros
	Neo Sidirochori
Maroneia-Sapes	Maroneia	Sapes
	Sapes

Provinces

Province of Komotini - Komotini
Province of Sapes - Sapes

Note: Provinces no longer hold any legal status in Greece.
Sites of interest

The ancient city Anastasioupolis - Peritheorion with the medieval towers south-east of Amaxades.
The Imaret of Komotini, one of the oldest Ottoman monuments in Thrace from 1360 - 1380.
The Papikio mountain with the ruins of early Christian monasteries.
The trip route from Arriana to the east, as far as the borders with Evros (regional unit), within the forest.
The suburban forest of Nymphaea, north of Komotini.
The ancient Maronia.
The "Thracian Meteora" - scenic landscape with wild nature and wild horses north of Iasmos.
The circumcenter temple of 11th - 13th century of Maximianoupolis - Mosynoupolis few km west of Komotini.
Archaeological Museum of Komotini.
Folklore Museum of Komotini.
Byzantine Museum of Komotini.
Carathéodory's museum, dedicated to Constantin Carathéodory, in Komotini.
Thracian, Ethnological, Historical and Cultural museum, in Komotini.

Beaches and resorts

Petrota beach
Synaxi beach
Marmaritsa
Agios Charalampos' beach
Kangeles, near Maronia
Platanitis
Alkyona
Proskynites' beach or Kryoneri
Profitis Ilias
Imeros' beach
Karousmilou
Molyvoti
Chrysophora islet
Glyfada's beach
Paralia Mesis (with Blue flag 2014)
Arogi's beaches (1 of them with Blue flag 2014)
Fanari beaches (2 of them with Blue flag 2014)
Transport

GR-2/E90, Egnatia Highway, old and new, W, Cen., E, SE
GR-53

See also

List of settlements in the Rhodope regional unit

References

"Kallikratis reform law text" (PDF).
Law, Gwillim (1999). Administrative subdivisions of countries: a comprehensive world reference, 1900 through 1998. McFarland. p. 152. ISBN 978-0-7864-0729-3.

Regional units of Greece
Attica	North Athens • South Athens • West Athens • Central Athens • Islands • East Attica • Peiraias • West Attica
Epirus	Arta • Ioannina • Preveza • Thesprotia
Ionian Islands	Ithaki • Kefalonia • Kerkyra • Lefkada • Zakynthos
Crete	Chania • Heraklion • Lasithi • Rethymno
Central Greece	Voiotia • Evoia • Evrytania • Fokida • Fthiotida
North Aegean	Chios • Ikaria • Lesvos • Limnos • Samos
East Macedonia and Thrace	Drama • Evros • Kavala • Rhodopi • Thasos • Xanthi
Peloponnese	Argolida • Arkadia • Korinthia • Lakonia • Messinia
South Aegean	Andros • Kalymnos • Karpathos • Kea-Kythnos • Kos • Milos • Mykonos • Naxos • Paros • Rhodos • Syros • Thira • Tinos
Thessaly	Karditsa • Larissa • Magnisia • Sporades • Trikala
West Greece	Aitoloakarnania • Achaia • Ilia
West Macedonia	Florina • Grevena • Kastoria • Kozani
Central Macedonia	Chalkidiki • Imathia • Kilkis • Pella • Pieria • Serres • Thessaloniki