Municipality of Tetrafilia
The County of Arta was created in the free Greek State on 24 June 1881, when the region of Arta was added to the Greek State, this region being east of the Arachthoos river. The County included the districts (electoral regions) of Arta and Tzoumerkon. With a State Order which was published on 31 March 1883, the district of Arta was further subdivided into four municipalities: Arta, Peta, Irakleia, and Tetrafilia, whilst the district of Tzoumerkon was divided into four municipalities: Theodorias, Aganaton, Pramanton, and Kalariton.
The villages of Upper Radoviziou formed the municipality of Tetrafilia. Specifically, these villages were Vrasitsa (Kastania), Vrestenitsa (Piges), Katavortha (Astrohori), Mesounda, Miliana, Botsi (Megalohari), Seklitsa (Elati), Soumerou (Mesopirgos).
The population of the Municipality of Tetrafilia had a population of 2813 citizens in 1883. Initially, the seat of the Municipality was the village of Vrestenitsa (Piges), afterwards, though, with Royal Decree of 18 December 1887 the seat was transferred to the village Botsi (Megalohari).
With a Royal Decree of 17 February 1908, the seat was transferred to the village of Miliana.
In the region of Upper Radoviziou, and specifically between the hamlets of Mesopirgos and Pigion, is the site of the ancient city of Tetrafilia, which was surrounded by four Greek tribes. it is believed that these tribes were the Athamanes towards the north, the Thessaloi towards the East, and the Driopes and Dolopes towards the South. Thus the city was named Tetrafilia (Four tribes). Tetrafilia was near the ancient city of Argithea. The Municipal Council proposed, and this was accepted in the Royal Decree of 31 August 1883, that the symbol of its stamp be a cockerel over a river bridge. This symbolised the 'cockerels' bridge which connected the Municipality of Tetrafilia with the neighbouring one of Argithea, and thus the Region of Epirus with the Region of Thessaly.
This was built with the funding and efforts of Saint Vissarion, Archbishop of Larisa, and had the appearance of a cockerel to those who stood underneath it, owing to its great height.
The Municipality of Tetrafilia was dissolved in 1912, and each its component villages were recognised as Communities.
With the law 2539 of 1997 (otherwise known as the Ioannis Capodistrias plan for local government), the Communities were dissolved and regrouped into Municipalities. The villages of Upper Radoviziou formed again the Municipality of Tetrafilia. Specifically, these villages are, in alphabetical order, Astrohori (which is the capital), Elati, Kastania, Megalohari, Mesopirgos, Miliana, and Piges. The area of the Municipality covers 159,823 stremmata (one stremma is approximately one quarter of an acre), and its population in the census of 2001 is 3779 citizens.
In this region there are many ancient remains.
There exist also substantial Byzantine and post-Byzantine edifices and notable churches.
Especially important are the Holy Church of Seltsou (1697), with its Assumption, a recognized Byzantine monument, where the heroic martyrdom of the Soulites is remembered every 23rd August.
The Church in Megalohari is a recognised monument built in the middle of the seventeenth Century. The Church of the Assumption in Mesopirgos was built in 1781 and has great wall paintings.
There are some sporadic remains of the ancient city, especially in the area of St. Basil's, near Pigion. The most important remain is a sarcophagus in the small plain.
Archaeological remains have been found, and are being found, by chance by the citizens of the area, when they are tending their crops. These remains usually consist of building materials, ceramics, ancient tombs, coins, bones, etc.
Opposite to the currently operational medicinal spa Vraggianon and near to the hamlet of Grevia there were ancient medicinal spas, which, with the passing of time, became covered with earth.
Before the war, near Mesopirgos, was found by chance, a small copper statue of the Goddess Artemis which is today in the 'Karapanou' galley of the National Museum in Athens.
Unfortunately, because of the war, professional excavations have not taken place, so that more archaeological finds could be uncovered.
Finally, having included many facts about our Municipality, this text is concluded with the Composition of our Council, which was elected in the local government elections of 11 October 1998.
After the Results were determined, Mayor of Tetrafilia was elected
Mr Athanasios Grevias.