| Avlonas | |
| Name Local: | Αυλώνας |
| Type: | municipal unit |
| Periph: | Attica |
| Periphunit: | East Attica |
| Municipality: | Oropos |
| Pop Municunit: | 3244 |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Area Municunit: | 106.092 |
| Elevation: | 120 |
| Coordinates: | 38.25°N 65°W |
| Postal Code: | 190 11 |
| Area Code: | 22950 |
| Licence: | ZB-ZY |
Avlonas (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Αυλώνας,[1] before 1927: Σάλεσι - Salesi[2]) is a town and a former municipality in Attica, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Oropos, of which it is a municipal unit.[3] The municipal unit has an area of 106.092 km2.[4] [5]
Avlonas is situated in the northwestern part of East Attica, at the northern edge of the Parnitha mountain range and 10 km south of the South Euboean Gulf coast. It is 30 km north of Athens city center. Motorway 1 (Athens - Thessaloniki) passes north of the town. Avlonas has a station on the railway from Athens to Thessaloniki. The municipal unit Avlonas also includes the village Asprochori (pop. 151). Avlonas has three pre-school facilities, one elementary school, one lyceum/middle school and one gymnasio/high school.
Avlonas has a Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa) with strong continentality. The town experiences hot summers, cool winters and a wet climate by Attica's standards. The highest temperature was 46.2 °C and was recorded in July 26 2023 and the lowest -9.8 °C recorded in January 9 2019. [6] [7]
Avlonas (Greek: Αυλώνας) is often called Avlona (Αυλώνα), however the masculine Avlonas should be used rather than the feminine Avlona. The ancient Greek Avlon (Αυλών) is also masculine. It appears that the name Αvlon is connected with the worship of Dionysus according to an ancient slab that was found in the area, dedicated to Διονύσῳ Αὐλωνεῖ (Dionysos of Avlon).
| Year | Town population | Municipality population | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 5,215 | - | |
| 1991 | 6,346 | 6,441 | |
| 2001 | 4,980 | 5,085 | |
| 2011 | 5,744 | 5,895 | |
| 2021 | 3,109 | 3,244 |
Avlonas has historically been an Arvanite settlement.[8]