History:
Ancient Haleion
Modern Galaxidi is built on the site of ancient Haleion, a city of western Locris. Traces of habitation are discernible since prehistoric times with a peak in the Early Helladic Period (Anemokambi, Pelekaris, Kefalari, islet of Apsifia). A significant Mycenaean settlement has been located at Villa; the hill of St. Athanasios also revealed a fortified Geometric settlement (ca. 700 BC). In the Archaic and Classical
periods (7th-4th centuries BC) was developed the administrative and
religious centre at the modern site of Agios Vlasis. It seems that in
ca. 300 BC the present site was settled and surrounded by a
fortification wall; it is the period of the expansion of power of the Aetolian League. Haleion flourished throughout the Hellenistic and Roman periods until the 2nd century AD.
Middle Ages
Galaxidi is mentioned for the first time in the late 10th century (981 or 996), when it was destroyed in a raid by the Bulgarians under Tsar Samuel. The inhabitants fled to the offshore islands, and the town was not settled again until 50 years later. The most important harbour of the Gulf of Itea alongside Krissa, the town was again devastated by the Norman invasions of 1081 and 1147.
After the Fourth Crusade (1204) it came under the control of the Frankish Lordship of Salona, but was recovered by the Greek Despotate of Epirus in 1211. The town remained under Epirote control until the division of the realm in c. 1268, when it passed under the rule of John I Doukas, ruler of Thessaly. In 1311 it was conquered, along with Salona, by the Catalan Company. It was captured by the Ottomans in 1397, but was regained shortly after by the Despotate of the Morea under Theodore I Palaiologos. In 1403 it was ceded briefly to the Knights Hospitaller. In 1447/8 it was refortified by Constantine Kantakouzenos, but this did not prevent its final capture by the Ottomans shortly after.
Ottoman period and maritime trade
Ottoman
presence in the settlement was minimal, the majority of the inhabitants
consisting of Orthodox Christians. The city flourished due to the
development of maritime trade in the 18th century. The commercial
exchanges with the West, particularly for the agricultural products of Corinthia and the Corinthian Gulf
in general triggered the development of a local commercial fleet,
taking advantage also of the exquisite natural port of Galaxidi.
Particularly after the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca (1774), many of the ship owners of Galaxidi operated under the Russian flag.
Greek Independence
Despite their privileged position, the inhabitants joined immediately
the forces of the revolutionaries (especially naval) during the Greek War for Independence
and their city was destroyed twice by the Ottoman army, namely in 1821
and in 1825-6. It recovered, however, and in the course of the 19th
century it thrived as a commercial and maritime centre, a fact attested
also by the spacious and luxurious houses of the traditional settlement.
Until the late 19th century, Galaxidi had a sizeable merchant
marine fleet and was a prosperous commercial centre. This is reflected
in the size and style of the local buildings and mansions. Preservation
of the traditional architecture has facilitated the growth of tourism in
recent decades. The marine museum contains exhibits from this period.
In recent years commercial fish farming has been developing.
(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
