{{Infobox Greek Dimos | name = Melissia | name_local = Μελίσσια |type = municipal unit | image_map = DE Melission.svg |map_caption = Location in the North Athens regional unit | periph = [[Attica (region)|Attica]] |periphunit = [[North Athens (regional unit)|North Athens]] |municipality = [[Penteli, Greece|Penteli]] | pop_municunit = 23618 | population_as_of = 2021 | area_municunit = 3.956 | elevation = 290 | coordinates = {{coord|38|3|N|23|50|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | postal_code = 151 xx | area_code = 210 | licence = Z | website = [http://www.melissia.gr/ www.melissia.gr] | image_skyline = Melissia Animation b.gif | caption_skyline = The Beehives' Land | city_flag = | city_seal = | districts = }}

'''Melissia''' ({{langx|el|Μελίσσια}}) is a town and a suburb in the northeastern part of the [[Athens#Athens Urban Area|Athens agglomeration]], [[Greece]]. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the [[municipality]] [[Penteli, Greece|Penteli]], of which it is the seat and a municipal unit.<ref name=Kallikratis>{{Cite web|url=http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wGYK2xFpSwMnXdtvSoClrL81-32jgAMSfbnMRVjyfnPUeJInJ48_97uHrMts-zFzeyCiBSQOpYnT00MHhcXFRTsb2fGphpq4MKX2ZkaHobySNnvZCNHXvYVvlf80XevW0Q.|title=ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities|language=el|publisher=[[Government Gazette (Greece)|Government Gazette]]}}</ref> The municipal unit has an area of 3.956&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=stat01>{{cite web|url=http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf |publisher=National Statistical Service of Greece |title=Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation) |language=el |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921212047/http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf |archivedate=2015-09-21 }}</ref> Melissia is situated at the southwestern foot of the [[Mount Pentelicus|Penteli]] mountains, 12&nbsp;km northeast of Athens city centre. It is a [[Sustainable city|green residential town]].

It was part of the municipality of [[Marousi]] until 1946, when it became a separate community. It became a municipality in 1990.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.eetaa.gr/eetaa/metaboles/dkmet_details.php?id=5887 |title=EETAA local government changes |access-date=28 June 2020}}</ref> The population of Melissia was more than 22,000 at the 2011 census. It has six primary schools, two high schools (Greek "Gymnasium"), one lyceum and a modern municipal swimming-pool.

==History== In ancient times Melissia was a rural area that belonged to the administrative boundaries of the ancient municipality of [[Athmonum]]. The areas of the region were used for cultivation, livestock breeding, but also by beekeepers. During the Turkish occupation it served as a hideout with its caves at the foot of the Pendelikos for the inhabitants of [[Marousi]].

According to one view, it took its name from the village of Melissia in Akontion of Boeotia during the years of Frankish rule.

After 1920, the first rudimentary residences began to be built, mainly cottages for the visitors of the Holy Monastery, while after the [[Asia Minor Catastrophe]] of 1922, the mass settlement of Melissia began, on land granted to Asia Minor families by the Holy Monastery.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.melissia.gr/taMelissia/melissiaHistory.cfm/ |title=Municipality of Melissia, Short History of Melissia |accessdate=2004-03-21 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040321213126/http://www.melissia.gr/taMelissia/melissiaHistory.cfm/ |archivedate=2004-03-21 |url-status=dead|language =Greek}}</ref> In order to preserve the Asia Minor Memory, a well-known street was given the name of the first settlers of Melissia, the square next to the Church of St. George is called ‘Square of Asia Minor’, the Association of Asia Minor Melissia ‘Agios Georgios Gioul Baxe’ operates. The Asia Minor refugees who lived in the area, who came from Gioulbaxe in Asia Minor (a village of Vourla in the wider region of [[Smyrna]]) and built the Church of St. George in memory of the homonymous church that was located in Gioulbaxe in Asia Minor.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.keskeki.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=27|title= COMMEMORATING 30 YEARS SINCE THE FOUNDING OF THE AGIOS GEORGIOS GIOULBAXE ASSOCIATION|accessdate= 2014-03-13|author= |date= |work= |publisher= |pages= |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20131009061432/http://keskeki.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=27|archivedate= 2013-10-09|url-status= dead|language=Greek}}</ref> At the same time, the first hospitals-sanatoriums were built for those who suffered from tuberculosis at that time and chose the area as a place of residence and convalescence because of its good climate.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040321213126/http://www.melissia.gr/taMelissia/melissiaHistory.cfm Municipality of Melissia: History of the City] (in Greek). </ref>

Over the years, the population is beginning to grow, while the inhabitants work in various institutions or engage in petty trade. Thus we reach 1990, when, with the settlement pressure around Athens, Melissia is finally recognized as a municipality.

This changed again in 2010, when with the [[Kallikratis Programme]], the city of Melissia was set to be absorbed by the municipality of [[Penteli, Greece|Penteli]].<ref>[https://www.kallikratis.org/dimoi-systasi-dimon-nomos-attikis/ Municipalities. Establishment of municipalities. Attica] (in Greek). </ref>

==Historical population== [[File:Πλατεία Αγίου Γεωργίου Μελισσίων.jpg|thumb|left|Melissia Main Square]] Melissia began to be massively inhabited mainly in the early 1980s and at the end of the 1990s their residential saturation began. The table below shows the population development of Melissia, based on historical data from 1928 and official censuses by decade. {| class="wikitable" ! Year !! Population |- | 1981 || 8,639 |- | 1991 || 13,469 |- | 2001 || 19,526 |- | 2011 || 22,741 |- | 2021 || 23,618 |}

==See also== *[[List of municipalities of Attica]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.melissia.gr/ Official website] {{in lang|el}}

{{Geographic location |Centre = Melissia |North = [[Kifisia]] |Northeast = |East = [[Nea Penteli]] |Southeast = |South = [[Vrilissia]] |Southwest = |West = [[Marousi]] |Northwest = }}

{{Penteli div}}

[[Category:Populated places in North Athens]] [[Category:Penteli, Greece]]