History of Neοs Marmaras
The history of Neos Marmaras dates back to the 1920s when Greek refugees from Asia Minor settled in the area, bringing with them their culture and traditions.
The history of the expulsion of the Marmaras’ people (Marmarinians) from their homeland begins in the mid-1910s.
In June 1915, under orders from the Turkish government, the residents of Marmara were forced to leave their homeland (the first exile), with stops in Oxi-Yol, Apollonia, and Kremasti in Asia Minor. After three harrowing years, in 1918, the Marmara inhabitants returned to their island, only to find their homes, structures, and properties severely damaged by Turkish and German troops (allies during World War I 1914-1918).
In October 1922, during the Great Exile of Hellenism from Asia Minor, the residents of the islands of Propontis were ordered to evacuate their homes. The departure of the inhabitants of Marmara from the island was carried out using maritime means, either privately owned or chartered by the Greek government.
Some of the residents of Marmara settled in Kavala and Pella (Kali Pella), but the majority of the Marmara refugees (around 4,000) arrived at Limni Euvoias.
The area could not accommodate the significant population increase, primarily due to a lack of arable land. Various regions in Greece were suggested to the Marmarinians for establishing a new settlement, including Heraklion in Crete and Oropos, among others.
The proposal that prevailed, primarily due to the nature and main profession of the Marmarinians (fishing, maritime trade), was Balabani in Halkidiki, a place that was to be named New Marmara.
On August 1, 1924, approximately 2,000 refugees arrived by ship for the first time at Balabani, disembarking in what is now the beach area. Until then, the only residents were the monks from the Metochion, monastic dependency to the Monastery of Grigoriou on Mount Athos. The marshy land and frequent deaths due to malaria led many families to permanently settle in other areas, such as Limni Euvoias in Euvoia, Ammouliani, and Pyrgadikia, while the inhabitants from Marmara and Klazaki remained in Balabani.
From the Grigoriou Metochion to the current area of Paradisos, there was a difficult path through dense vegetation. In what is now the Paraschou Square, there was a small stream surrounded by reeds. The area where Porto Carras is located was marshy and swampy, posing the main health threat to the new residents. The Balabani region had rich fauna, primarily consisting of deer, roe deer, wild boar, wolves, jackals, and foxes.
The first residents settled both in the Grigoriou Metochion and in tents supplied by the Greek government, later moving into prefabricated houses. Over time, the inhabitants engaged in fishing as well as cultivating the fields belonging to the monasteries until the definitive land distribution to the refugees in 1936. In 1925, a German construction company was commissioned to build permanent homes, known as the Settlement Houses or refugee houses.
The area of Neos Marmaras was not connected to the rest of Halkidiki by a road network, so transportation to Thessaloniki or Nea Moudania was done by sea twice a week. Over the years, Neos Marmaras has developed into a popular tourist destination, while still retaining its authentic character and historical charm.
[SOURCE]
Newspaper “Ta Marmarina Nea” (News Of Marmaras historical newspaper)
[PHOTOS]
Houli Nitsa
Petridis Konstantinos
Paraschos Simon