Ireon settlement

• Fast facts

Village altitude  10 m
Village land area  0,19 km²
Region averege altitude —
Region land area ^—
Population  2011: 776, 2001: 495 inhabitants.
Area per person  247 m² per person.
Economy relies mainly on tourism and less on fishing & agriculture (olives trees).

• Description

Ireon settlement (Greek: Ηραίον) is located at the south part of the island, in the south-west end of the “Chora village plain”, just 7,5 km from Pythagorio town, 22 Km from Samos town, 31 Km from Karlovasi town and 28 Km from Marathokampos village.

Administratively it belongs to the municipal community of Pagonda village and municipal unity of Pythagoreion.

Administratively consists, the settlement of “Ireon”, which belongs to municipal community of Pagonda, of Pythagorio municipal unit, of East Samos Municipality, with Samos city capital.

Ireon Settlement was the seaport of Pagondas and Mili villages. The old settlement consisted of a few fishermen’s huts, built on the beachfront. They came here, mostly during the summer months for fishing, and the winter moved to the villages Pagondas and Mili, which are a little higher at the northwest.

• History & name
  

The area changed character during the 80s, with the rapid growth of tourism in the area, because of antiquities which existed there and especially the Temple of Hera. This resulted for the state to create a new urban plan, rapid construction, with many new buildings intended  mainly for tourism.  At the beachfront of the settlement some of the old huts still remain. Most of which have now been converted to restaurants and bars or other tourist businesses.

The name “Ireon” comes from the ancient site of the Temple of Hera (or “Kolona” =column, as is known by the Samians), which is 1 km away from the settlement .

• Tips

• Visit the archaeological site the Temple of Hera
• Visit the picturesque villages of Pagonda (6,5 Km distance) and mili (3,5 Km distance)
  
• During August the “Ireon Music Festival” takes place. It’s a three-day rock music festival,with famous artists, Greek and foreign, as Peter Hook & the Light (Joy Division/New Order), Stranglers, Stereo MCs, Scorpions, Locomondo, N.Portokaloglou and more each year.