Theres a reason why 44% of Greek migrants to Australia choose to live in Melbourne. It is heavily concentrated in the city of Melbourne, which boasts the largest Greek-speaking population outside of Athens. Going back to the earliest Greek writings, there are. The worst train disaster in Greek history has claimed the lives of at least 40 people with dozens of people still unaccounted for. According to the latest estimates of the General Secretariat of Hellenes Abroad, today there more than 5,000,000 people of Greek origin that live outside of the Greek borders, scattered in 140 countries across the globe. Read on to learn the ways Latin is used in modern life (and the benefits of learning it). He studied English literature and linguistics at New York University, but spent most of his time in college working for the student paper. In particular, Torontos Danforth Avenue has been named by locals as the largest Greek neighbourhood in North America, where all things Greek can be found, such as restaurants, shops and Greek street festivals. As a port city and important commercial hub, Patras is often referred to as the 'Gate to the West'. [24] According to the World Council of Churches, the Ecumenical Patriarchate has a membership of 600,000 in the US and Canada who are still Greek Orthodox;[25] however, many Greeks in both countries have adopted other religions or become secular. On the one hand, some people argued that Demotic Greek made more sense as the official language, because it was what people actually speak. Highlights The state of Massachusetts has the 4th largest Greek population in the USA, but it became the very first place that Greek immigrants settled in, when they moved to America. [21] Annually, the teams compete in the Hellenic Cup. The Australian Bureau of Statistics(ABS) has today revealed the top suburbs in each state/territory for Greek ancestry: QLD- Carindale (750) NSW- Earlwood (4,020) ACT- Kaleen (170) VIC- Reservoir (3,700) TAS- Sandy Bay (270) SA- Prospect (940) WA- Dianella (660) NT- Leanyer (310) Last edited on 24 February 2023, at 14:56, American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, "2016 Census of Population and Housing: T08. Republic of Bulgaria: National Statistical Institute: According to the Association of Greek Communities in the Czech Republic quoted by the Office of the Czech Republic Government: State Statistical Office of the Republic of North Macedonia: Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia: Eparchy of Nossa Senhora do Paraso em So Paulo, Greeks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, "Growth of the Greek Colonies in the First Millennium BC (application/pdf Object)", "The Aromanian-Romanian national movement (1859-1905): an analytical model", "The "old" diaspora, the "new" diaspora, and the Greek diaspora in 18th-19th century Vienna", Three Centuries of Hellenic Presence in Bengal,", "The Genocide of Ottoman Greeks, 19141923", "SELECTED POPULATION PROFILE IN THE UNITED STATES 20102012 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates", "Ecumenical Patriarchate World Council of Churches", "Ethnic Origin (279), Single and Multiple Ethnic Origin Responses (3), Generation Status (4), Age (12) and Sex (3) for the Population in Private Households of Canada, Provinces and Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2016 Census 25% Sample Data", "Nossa Senhora do Paraso em So Paulo (Melkite Greek)", "Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East World Council of Churches", "Total ancestry categories tallied for people with one or more ancestry categories reported 2011 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates", "Statistical Service Population and Social Conditions Population Census Announcements Preliminary Results of the Census of Population, 2011", "Ya Grubu, Milliyet ve Cinsiyete Gre Srekli kamet Eden(De-jure) KKTC Vatanda Nfus", "Population in private households 2021 by migration background", "Foreign Population by age group and selected citizenships on 31 December 2021", "Foreign population by place of birth and selected citizenships on 31 December 2021", "Auswrtiges Amt Griechenland: Beziehungen zwischen Griechenland und Deutschland", "Population by sex, age group and citizenship", "Data table for Cultural diversity summary", "2011 Census: QS211EW Ethnic group (detailed), local authorities in England and Wales (Excel sheet 2009Kb)", "Population of the UK by country of birth and nationality", "OMONIA's Census: Greek minority constitutes 10% of population in Albania", "Albania Announces Greek Population Census", "UN Data Foreign-born population by country/area of birth, age and sex", "Bilateral Relations Between Greece And South Africa", "Population by country of birth and country of Origin, 31 December 2021, total", "Foreign citizens by year and country of citizenship", "Population by year and country of birth", "Number of Greek citizens in European Union", "Population; sex, age, generation and migration background, 1 January", "Population; sex, age and nationality, 1 January", "Chapitre 2 - Migrations en Belgique: donnes statistiques", "Population rsidante permanente trangre selon la nationalit, de 1980 2021", "Population rsidante permanente et non permanente selon le canton, la nationalit, le pays de naissance et le sexe", "Immigrs par pays de naissance dtaill", "Italy, regions, provinces - Country of citizenship", "Bevlkerung nach Staatsangehrigkeit und Geburtsland", "Foreign population by country of nationality, age (five-years groups) and sex", "Foreign population by country of birth, age (five-years groups) and sex", "Population by nationality, communities, sex and year", "Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents, 1 January 2020", "05183: Immigrants and Norwegian-born to immigrant parents, by country background, year and contents", "Population par nationalits dtailles au 1er janvier", [https://web.archive.org/web/20221022043126/https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/11942/VE Archived, "As Greek community in Romania grows, education becomes a concern", ": "" ", "A MAGYARORSZGI GRGK MLTJRL S JELENRL", Report on the Situation of National Minorities in the Czech Republic in 2001, "From Denying Human Rights and Ethnic Identity series of Human Rights Watch", "2013 Census totals by topic Statistics New Zealand", http://pxnet2.stat.fi/PXWeb/pxweb/fi/StatFin/StatFin__vrm__vaerak/statfin_vaerak_pxt_029.px/table/tableViewLayout2/?rxid=726cd24d-d0f1-416a-8eec-7ce9b82fd5a4, " , 2011. ", Total population, households and dwellings according to the territorial organization of the Republic of North Macedonia, 2004, Census of population, households and housing 2002, Democratic Republic of Congo: The Greek Community, "Bilateral Relations Between Greece And Ireland", "Cultural Relations and Greek Community - UGANDA", Greece and the International Monetary Fund, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Greek_diaspora&oldid=1142448767, Articles with Spanish-language sources (es), Articles with dead external links from September 2022, Articles with dead external links from September 2019, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Instances of Lang-el using second unnamed parameter, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, 40,000 Greek citizenship holders (2011 census). [6] Furthermore, the World Council of Hellenes Abroad maintains a presence in the city. Almost all of Ukraine's ethnic Greeks, most of whom have resided in Ukraine for many generations, live in areas currently under Russian occupation, specifically the Donetsk Oblast. Who wrote "The Apology of Socrates"? Greece has by far the most Greek speakers of any country in the world. As a result of the economic crisis, many Greeks are leaving their homeland in search of work. They have the largest Greek population of anywhere in the world except Greece. Whats the difference between a mushroom and a toadstool? Because Greece is part of the European Union, Greek is one of the 24 official languages of the organization. Anyone who is ethnically Greek and born outside Greece may become a Greek citizen through naturalization if they can prove that a parent or grandparent was a Greek national. Ancestry by Country of Birth of Parents", https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/greece/greece-country-brief, "Neos Kosmos - Greek New, Culture, Entertainment, Lifestyle and Sport", AHEPA Australasian Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, "Australasian Hellenic Educational Progressive Association", "Finding the Hidden Hellenism in Melbourne", "NGV CONTEMPORARY: AUSTRALIA'S NEW HOME FOR CONTEMPORARY ART AND DESIGN", "Celebrating 200 Years Of Greek Independence tate-", Siew-Ean Khoo, Bob Birrell, Genevieve Heard, "INTERMARRIAGE BY BIRTHPLACE AND ANCESTRY IN AUSTRALIA", "Report: Greek-Australian Short Film Festival seeks new submissions", "A Celebration of Fresh Vision at Greek-Australian Short Film Festival | Greek Reporter Australia", "Michalis Hatzigiannis Thrills Melbourne", "Nick Kyrgios and Stefanos Tsitsipas storm into Round 2 of the Australian Open", "Melbourne's Greek community laments World Cup loss to Costa Rica", "Calling all Greek football clubs: Hellenic Cup Tournament set to return after hiatus", "The Hellenic Initiative's Virtual Gala Raises $1.6 Million for Greek Causes", "The Hellenic Initiative. Rhodes - 115,490 population - 541 square miles. Others resettled in search of new opportunities in trade, mining, farming, the church, the military, and the bureaucracy of the Russian Empire. 3 mins. What is fact however, is that the Greek community of Melbourne is the largest Greek-speaking population outside of Greece and Cyprus. Beyond these, Greek pops up in places all over the world. The state of New York has the largest Greek population in America (around 300,000 Greeks), the majority of which is located in the New York Metropolitan Area and specifically the town of Astoria. About 50,000 Greeks immigrated to Brazil from Greece and Cyprus, with 20,000 in the city of Sao Paulo. Bentleigh East (VIC). This language was spoken by Alexander the Great, and it was also the language that the New Testament of the Christian Bible was written in. The Greek community of Melbourne (Greek: ) is one of the largest Greek diaspora communities in the world and Melbourne hosts the largest Greek-speaking population outside of Greece and Cyprus. Greek immigration to Australia has been one of the largest migratory flows in thehistory of Australia, especially afterWorld War IIandGreek Civil War. If a Cranberry Bounces, is that Good or Bad? [12], Every year, the Greek community of Melbourne holds the Antipodes Festival at Lonsdale Street's Greek Precinct. Melbournes Antipodes Festival has been running since 1987. According to the US Department of State, the Greek-American community numbers about three million and the vast majority are third- or fourth-generation immigrants. Even if youve never taken a single lesson, you kind of already speak Greek. The others are Sydney, Toronto, New York City, Chicago and Boston. According to a City of London Corporation sponsored report, there are more than 280,000 Greek citizens that live in the Greater London area, the majority of which moved there for work opportunities or academic studies. The Greek language has been around for a very long time. There are 5 ethnic groups in Germany: German, Turkish, Greek . GREEK GREEK GREEK [2], As a result of the extensive historical and cultural ties between the Greek community of Melbourne and their Greek homeland, Melbourne is a sister city to Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city and one of Europe's most important cultural centres. Homer. As such, 88% of Greek Australians (regardless of country of birth) speak Greek and 91% are members of the Greek Orthodox Church. [13] As markets changed, some families became shippers (financed through the local Greek community, with the aid of the Ralli or Vagliano Brothers). Is the human voice a kind of musical instrument? Films are judged by a panel of prominent Greek figures in entertainment. The Greek diaspora defends Greek interests, particularly in the US. Today, the latest census results show that up to 400,000 Australians have Greek ancestry, with Melbourne home to the largest population of Greek people outside of Greece. After 191923, most of these Pontic Greek and Caucasus Greek communities resettled in Greek Macedonia or joined other Greek communities in southern Russia and Ukraine. [17] Greeks in Asia Minor fled to modern Greece, and the Russian Empire (later the USSR) was also a major destination. While some lost their native tongue over time, theres still a strong Greek-speaking population. Many Pontic Greeks fled their homelands in Pontus and northeastern Anatolia and settled in these areas to avoid Ottoman reprisals after supporting the Russian invasions of eastern Anatolia in the Russo-Turkish Wars from the late 18th to the early 20th century. A regular publication for kids which is educational but also fun. Additionally, the census found that Greek is the 20th most commonly spoken language in the Toronto area. How Many People Speak Greek In Other Countries? 1 March 2023. Little did they know that it would become one of the largest and most historical Greek Diaspora Community organisations in the world. Mythos. [citation needed], Hellenic student organisations are present at all seven universities located in Melbourne and maintain a high participation rate by Greek students. Greek merchant families had contacts in other countries; during the disturbances, many set up home bases around the Mediterranean (notably Marseilles in France, Livorno, Calabria and Bari in Italy and Alexandria in Egypt), Russia (Odessa and St. Petersburg), and Britain (London and Liverpool) from where they traded (typically textiles and grain). Most of these Greeks settled in Venice, Florence, and Rome. Leros - 7,917 - 28.6. In the end, however, Demotic Greek won out. The Greek community of Melbourne is well known among the Greek diaspora for its passion and longing for Greece, and for maintaining the Greek language and traditions in their entirety. The most important centers of Greek diaspora are the cities of New York, Boston, and Chicago in the US, as well as London (UK), Melbourne and Sydney (Australia), and Montreal, and Toronto (Canada). Later on, the construction of the University of Illinois campus and the huge highway of the city, displaced the Greeks who lived in Greektown, and forced them to move away and settle in other cities. How many clocks do you have in your house? While some lost their native tongue over time, theres still a strong Greek-speaking population. According to the SBS, Greeks in Australia have a higher level of church attendance than Greeks in Greece. In the 1920s, there were flows of Greek immigrants trying to find a better life for . The Greek populations generally remained in these areas of the Caliphate and helped translate ancient Greek works into Arabic, thus contributing to early Islamic philosophy and science (which, in turn, contributed to Byzantine science). There live many doctors and so on . : Germany, with a total population of 82.4 million is made up of My son is really enjoying the magazine. The food was great, the people were pretty friendly, and the area was well kept, clean and safe. Available census figures indicate about three million Greeks outside Greece and Cyprus, but the SAE estimates about seven million worldwide. The United States is home to the largest number of Greeks outside of Greece, followed by Cyprus and Australia. Turkish is also an official language, but in name only, as over 80 percent of the population speaks Greek. Heads-Up for Issue 26 all about Computers, Its possible all your best ideas are in the bin, Think the Impossible to See where it Takes You, Its always a good idea to sketch out your ideas, The Beautiful but Endangered Snow Leopard. The Greek population of Australia is one of the latter country's most significant immigrant communities. Canada is home to nearly 300,000 people of the Greek diaspora Canada is also home to a thriving Greek community, mainly centered in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. Its specifically Demotic Greek (the language spoken by modern Greek people), because for a long time there was an argument over which version of Greek should be made the official national language. For a detailed timeline of Greek immigration to Australia, click here. The winning design is that of Greek Australian architect Angelo Candalepas. Learn to play an instrument and boost your brain power! The western city of Patras is Greece's third-largest city, with a population of 213,984. In the 2016 census in Canada, it was reported that there are approximately 300,000 people of Greek descent in the country, 60,000 of which are located in Toronto. Polish, Russian, Serbo-Croatian and Others. The suburbs, within these regions, with the most Greek Australians include Oakleigh, Clayton, Doncaster, Templestowe, Northcote, Coburg, Preston, Brunswick, and Thomastown. . Australia is the smallest of all the continents. Wanting to Win (a great quote from Vince Lombardi). It's no news Australia has a well-established Greek diaspora, with Melbourne reportedly being home to the largest Greek population outside Greece. Kos - 33,387 - 112. With such a large . Today, Athens is the largest city in Greece, with a population of over 650,000. Government promises to fix ailing rail system as protests continue to sweep the country. According to the 2016 census, there were 397,431 Greeks and Greek Cypriots (by ancestry) living in Australia and 93,740 Greeks born in Greece or Cyprus. 67,245 (2011 census, born in Greece),[43] 720,000[27]. The Greek community of Melbourne is making efforts to send medical supplies to the Ukrainian Greeks and provide logistic support for their evacuation to Greece and integration into Greek society as refugees. While there was an individual immigration to Mexico, the Mexican government looked to start olive production in the Pacific Coast so thousands were taken to the state of Sinaloa where the Greeks found fortunes in the tomato production instead. It's a nice, not too time consuming boardwalk type area to check out the giant sponge diving boats, learn about the history and preservation of the sponges, view wildlife, and experience the largest Greek population outside of Greece in the world! Melbourne has a Greek community of about 400,000 people, has been holding the title of the 3rd largest Greek city for decades and is justifiably considered as the city with the largest Greek-speaking population outside Greece. Additionally, many of Melbourne's landmarks feature prominent Greek designs including Parliament House, the Shrine of Remembrance and the State Library. A young . The western city of Patras is Greece's third-largest city, with a population of 213,984. [citation needed] Children born to mixed-marriage Greek families more often than not embrace their Hellenic heritage and the appeal of Greek culture in these instances creates an opportunity for the community to grow in number rather than diminish. [8], Additionally, the new gallery NGV Contemporary (expected to be completed by 2025) is set to become Melbournes international iconic landmark. Greek speakers also pop up in a few other countries around Europe and the Middle East. Preston (VIC) 1,919 5. As a port city and important commercial hub, Patras is often referred to as the 'Gate to the West'. Gradually, more and more Greeks started working in education, architecture and sciences, and the ones that distinguished themselves in their fields, were given the ultimate honour from their communities, as numerous streets in Australia were named after them. [14], Melbourne began hosting the Greek Film Festival in 1993 which has continued every year since. According to the 2016 Australian census, Melbourne has the largest Greek population in Australia with 173,598 Greeks, making up 3.87% of Greater Melbourne's population. During World War II and the Greek Civil War, hundreds of thousands of Greeks moved to the United States. According to a 2016 census, there are 271,405 Canadians of Greek descent in the country, and an estimated 62,715 Greek-born residents living in Canada. Better to put cash into a Bank or a Piggy Bank? The Phanariots helped administer the Ottoman Empire's Balkan domains in the 18th century; some settled in present-day Romania, influencing its political and cultural life. Sweden also admitted large numbers of Greeks, and over 17,000 Greek-Swedish descendants live in the country. The Greek language has been around for a very long time. So bear with us. Greek schools, churches, shops, entire neighbourhoods, traditions and festivals, are very much present in Melbourne, while distinguished politicians, scientists, professors and doctors in the city, are of Greek descent. Do you know how many people speak Greek who dont live within that Mediterranean nations borders? Because Greece is part of the European Union, Greek is one of the 24 official languages of the organization. [29], About 250 Non-Jewish Greeks immigrated to Ottoman Palestine and Mandatory Palestine for the service of the Greek-Orthodox church in the country between 1850 and 1920, mostly residing in Jerusalem and Nazareth City. Many years ago, a Greek painted the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York, for many millions, and in the end he left it under the pressure of the Mafia. The Greek ancestor's birth and marriage certificates and the applicant's birth certificate are required, along with birth certificates for all intervening generations between the applicant and the person with Greek citizenship. [19] During the World Cup, Greek restaurants and taverns tend to run watch-party events with extended outdoor seating and large screens. Here are a few with the most according to Ethnologue, in descending order of speaker population: Italy (20,000), Ukraine (5,830), Turkey (3,600), Romania (2,560) and Hungary (1,870). It is also the flattest, the lowest and the driest. Greek-born population in the U.S. since 2010 (ACS 1 Tear Estimates): Year Number 2010 135,639 2011 138,269 2012 134,956 2013 137,084 2014 136,906 2015 A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? Melbourne, Victoria has a large number of people with Greek heritage. The Pontic Greek refugees who settled in Georgia and the southern Caucasus assimilated with preexisting Caucasus Greek communities. The Greek community of Melbourne has supported the newly arrived Greeks, with well-established support services and networks. What are the Physical devices used to construct memories? This language was spoken by Alexander the Great, and it was also the language that the New Testament of the Christian Bible was written in. Before we get to how many people speak Greek, a brief history, then, is in order; and its going to have to skim over quite a few details. The largest waves of Cypriots to Melbourne came as a result of the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, however Cypriots have been emigrating to Victoria since the Gold Rush. According to the Catholic Church,[28] the Eparchy of Nossa Senhora do Paraso em So Paulo (Melkite Greek), the Eparchia Dominae Nostrae Paradisis S. Pauli Graecorum Melkitarum had a 2016 membership of 46,600. On the other hand, some people wanted to use K. , a version of Greek that is much closer to Ancient Greek (though not exactly the same, as it was invented in the 18th century). We're not 100% sure of the total number of Greeks living outside Greece and Cyprus. . How many 5 letter words can you make from Cat in the Hat? Like Athens, Thessaloniki also has many ancient monuments; its Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the city also has monuments that date back to Roman and Ottoman Empires. Thomas grew up in suburban Massachusetts, and moved to New York City for college. According to the latest US census, more than 180,000 Greeks live in New York City today, and their lives, culture and tradition have become the subject of numerous successful Hollywood movies. Reservoir (VIC) 2,614 3. The Greeks or Hellenes (/ h l i n z /; Greek: , llines) are an ethnic group and nation indigenous to Greece, Cyprus, southern Albania, Anatolia, parts of Italy and Egypt, and to a lesser extent, other countries surrounding the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea.They also form a significant diaspora (omogenia), with many Greek communities established around the world. What are the 4 major sources of law in Zimbabwe? [citation needed], Most Greek Canadians live in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Located on next to the Greek Precinct and extending down Lonsdale Street in Melbournes CBD, the festival is also sometimes referred to as Lonsdale Street Greek Festival. Copyright Greekcitytimes 2022 All Rights Reserved. The largest chain of ice cream stores, named Carvel, has a Greek mastermind behind it, and it all started at the beginning of the last century. Australia has 252,000 Greek speakers, which is the largest population outside of Europe. Greek Community Center of Melbourne will celebrate the Greek bicentennial in a series of events in 2021. Credit:Facebook/Greek Community of Melbourne Celebrating the fact that the Australian state of Victoria has the largest Greek population in the world outside Greece , some of Melbourne's top landmarks will be lit up in blue and white to . Those who settled in Ukraine and southern Russia became a sizable proportion of cities such as Mariupol, but generally assimilated with Christian Orthodox Russians and continued to serve in the Tsarist army. In addition, there are 8 monasteries as well as schools, theological colleges and aged care centres. Soon afterwards, the Arab-Islamic Caliphate seized the Levant, Egypt, North Africa and Sicily from the Byzantine Greeks during the ByzantineArab Wars. All Rights Reserved. Poseu-vos en contacte amb nosaltres si voleu traduir aquesta revista al catal. [23] Assimilation and loss of the Greek language influence the definition of the Greek diaspora. [24] There are many more Australian-born Greek Cypriots. For decades now, Melbourne has been called the 3rd largest Greek city in the world, after Athens and Thessaloniki, due to the large number of Greek Australians that live there. Sample page from the upcoming second issue, The first print run for CUBiC Magazine is here, Sample spread from Issue #1 of CUBiC Magazine, CUBiC Magazine is printed on 100% FSC Certified paper. Financial assistance from overseas was channeled through these family ties, providing for institutions such as the National Library and sending relief after natural disasters. Neighboring Albania has 15,200 Greek speakers, and its a working language in a few of the southern regions of the country. How many keys are there on a piano keyboard? The Neos Kosmos newspaper serves the community. This symbolic relationship recognises the large and dynamic Greek community of Melbourne and helps to reinforce the many similarities between these two great port cities. According to official data, Melbourne is the seventh largest Greek city (in terms of Greek speaking population) in the world, behind Athens, Thessaloniki, Piraeus, Patras, Nicosia, and Limassol. [27] The majority of Greeks in Australia (over 90 percent) are Greek Orthodox and many attend church weekly. Before we get to how many people speak Greek, a brief history, then, is in order; and its going to have to skim over quite a few details. A larger-scale movement of Greek-speaking peoples in the Ottoman period was Pontic Greeks from northeastern Anatolia to Georgia and parts of southern Russia, particularly the province of Kars Oblast in the southern Caucasus after the short-lived Russian occupation of Erzerum and the surrounding region during the 182829 Russo-Turkish War. [citation needed], The United States has the largest ethnically-Greek population outside Greece. Use a timer, especially for task you dont really want to do! This predominantly ethnic Aromanian settlement historically had an important Greek influence. Greek words still play a major role in science, math, literature and. Demotic Greek is also the official language of Greece. Marrickville (NSW) 1,849 6. In the early 20th century, Australians encouraged Europeans to move to their country, and many did. After World War I, most Pontian and Anatolian Greeks living in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) were victims of Muslim Turkish intolerance for Christians in the Ottoman Empire. Known as the cradle of Western civilisation, Greece has thousands of islands in the Ionian and Aegean seas and is known for its beautiful beaches and landscapes, as well as for being the birthplace of democracy and Western philosophy. The city is a key economic center in southeastern Europe and is also the southernmost capital on the European mainland.