Sparta is the capital of the county of Lacedaimona
and the prefecture of Lacony
with 14.000 inhabitants. It is situated in the north west of the prefecture, to
the east of the mountain of Taigetos
at an altitude of 210m. The modern city in a fertile area of the valley of Evrotas,
was founded in the same spot as ancient Sparta
by enactment of the first king Othon in 1834. Its street layout is exceptional
with wide streets and spacious squares. The climate is Mediterranean and the average
yearly temperature 17.4 degrees Celsius while average yearly rainfall, even present
during summertime, is 817mm. Because of the particularity of the climate and the
fertile territory, the economy is mostly self - supported. The region's farming
and cattlerearing products are gathered and processed in the city's own industrial
units. Famed for its glorious historical past, Sparta has exquisite tokens of
civilization involving all periods of its long - lasting history. But as a modern
urban centre the city is a developing cultural power expressing its multidimensional
self through the organization and realization of a number of local events.