In the 16th century, inhabitants of Southern Almyros and Ancient Alos, due to plague, came and settled here in Platanos, thus growing the village. After the suppression of the 1821 revolution, our region’s entire village was burned down by the Turks. In 1833, it was burned again by the bandit Valatsos. During the Thessalian uprising of 1854, the entire village was burned for the third time by the Turks. In the 1878 revolution, all of Platanos was destroyed. In August 1881, Platanos was liberated. In 1897, during the Greco-Turkish War, many houses were burned by the Turkish army. On August 15, 1943, the entire Platanos was burned by the Italians. In 1960, the abandonment of the village by its inhabitants began, moving to the new village of Platanos.
VILLAGE OF PLATANOS
Inscription on a plaque placed in the village, dating from 1978.
Old Platanos is one of the oldest villages in the Almyros region, and its history is lost in time. Various versions speak about its origin, the most accepted being: a) that it was first inhabited by shepherds from Aspropotamos and later received inhabitants from the plains, and b) that it was created from scratch by residents of coastal Almyros and the surrounding plains. Today, it has been abandoned by its inhabitants, who between 1953 and 1962 established New Platanos in the middle of the plain along the national road.
In modern history, Platanos paid a heavy price in destruction in its struggle to gain or maintain its freedom. During the general uprising of 1821, along with all the inhabitants of Almyros, Platanos revolted and paid for it with the burning of the village during the suppression of the revolution.
Unfortunately, with the definition of the borders of the first Greek state (Pagasitikos – Ambrakikos), Platanos was left outside Greece, whose borders passed through the middle of the Sourpi plain and the peaks of Othrys.
Half the village was destroyed by fire during a bandit raid in 1833. In 1854, during the Thessalian uprising, it was completely burned down by the Turks. In the last Thessalian attempt for independence in 1878, the village was burned again—twice within two weeks.
On August 15, 1943, the village was burned by the Italians in retaliation for an attack they suffered from the partisans. This was its last destruction, as the inhabitants decided to abandon it, which they did as mentioned earlier.
Archive of Konstantinos Zoupis
Today, the village has 865 inhabitants and is a Local Community of the Municipality of Almyros, with a vibrant cultural life. Through its associations, such as the Platanos Cultural Association “I Proodos” and the Platanos Monument Restoration Association, efforts are being made to preserve and restore the old village.