Kladas, Greece 2.1

Kladas is a small village which is located about 5 kilometers north of the town of Sparti and belongs to the municipality of Sparti. Its population was 376 inhabitants and rose to 476 inhabitants after the expansion of the village. It is a place to visit on the way to Sparti, Elafonisos, Skoutari or Kythera.HistoryThere is no exact written date of the arrival of the first inhabitants of Kladas from nearby villages such as Vamvakou, Voutianii, Kalivia, Vresthena and from the town of Sparta. All that is known is that the establishment of the Kladas community happened on 31 August 1912 according to Ioannis Kapodistrias self-government plan. However, 85 years later – on 04/12 1997 – the Kladas community incorporated to the expanded municipality of Sparti.Everyday life and local economyMost inhabitants of the village are growers or breeders and that is the way they make a living. Olive trees are the most common cultivation at cropped lands around the village or around neighboring villages mainly in Theologos (Greek Θεολόγος). Also the people grow tomatoes, pumpkins and other vegetables in their household garden.The village has two coffee shops, one coffee shop - tavern and one restaurant for the travelers -on the national road which connects Athens with Sparti- where the inhabitants but also the visitors gather, relax or discuss about the most recent news. Kladas has also a car station and a factory which packs products that come from the olives but there aren't any commercial stores.