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Some Mesolongi topics of interest
 Mesolongi is a town of 18.000 people in central Greece, between Acheloos and the Euenos rivers and contains a port on the Gulf of Patras.
The town is the capital of Aetoliacarnania. The town owns it name from the italian words "mezzo" and "langhi" which means "in the middle of lakes". Indeed the town is located in the middle of a salt lagoon. The area is know for its active participation in the war of Independance in 1821. Mesolongi revolted against the Turks but lost 30.000 men.
Due to the heroic stance of the population and the subsequent massacre of its inhabitants by the Turkish-Egyptian forces, that followed, the town of Messolonghi received the honorary title of Hiera Polis (the Sacred City), unique among other Greek cities. Today, Mesolongi is a quite little town and very typical of mainland towns. Most of the town is pedestrian which allows visitors to walk peacefully in the center.
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:: The Beaches
 There are a couple of beaches in the area of Mesolongi. They are mostly situated 5 km away from the town.
They do not usually get crowded and because of the lake, they consist great spots for bird-watching.
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Trying to gain the city back, the Sultan sent an army to suppress the revolution. His first attempt in 1822 failed and in 1825 he sent an even stronger army. The residents of Mesolongi, from inside the walls, fought the turkish army with courage but the siege lasted for a whole year.
The Turks had circled the area and the Greeks could not get food supplies; people started dying from famine and diseases and the other Greeks were unable to help them.
In the end, the exhausted residents of Mesolongi decided to secretly exit their city in the night of April, 10th, 1826, cross the turkish camp and hide themselves in the mountains and the close by villages.
However, their plan was betrayed to the enemy and when the Greeks opened the gates in the middle of the night, the Turks attacked them and killed all women and children and most of the soldiers; only 1,300 men finally managed to save their lives.
The Exodus is considered to be a great act of courage and it is celebrated every year in Mesolongi. |
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