Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WORTH A TRIP
KARITENA ΚΑΡΊΤΑΙΝΑ
If tiny medieval villages are your thing, then it's worth popping into Karitena (kar-
eet-eh-nah), a tiny settlement that sits high above the Megalopoli-Andritsena
road. You can climb the stepped path up to the 13th-century Frankish castle,
perched atop a massive rock. En route is the delightful Byzantine church,
Agios
Nikolaos
. The castle was captured by Greek forces under Kolokotronis early in the
War of Independence and became a key stronghold as the war unfolded.
Before the advent of the euro, Karitena was known as the home of the wonderful
arched stone bridge over the Alfios River that adorned the 5000 drachma note.
The old bridge now sits beneath a large modern concrete bridge.
One daily bus plies the route between Karitena and Tripoli (€6, one hour) via Me-
galopoli. One bus continues to Andritsena (€2.60) - check the schedule at Café
Vrenthi. (Note: some buses arrive/depart from the crossroads below the village,
from where it's an arduous walk to the village.)
TOP OF CHAPTER
KynouriaΚυνουρία
Kynouria is the coastal region of Arkadia. It covers a narrow strip of territory that
stretches south from the tiny village of Kiveri, 41km east of Tripoli, to Kosmas, perched
high in the Parnonas Mountains. Much of the land is incredibly rugged, with a narrow
coastal plain and very little fertile ground.
In ancient times the region was contested by Argos and Sparta - the Argives held sway
in the north and the Spartans controlled the south. The easiest access is from Argos.
Leonidio Λεωνίδιο
POP 3200
Leonidio, 76km south of Argos, has a dramatic setting at the mouth of the Badron Gorge.
The village is famous for its Tsakonian aubergines (eggplants) and summer
Aubergine
Festival
. Its tiny Plateia 25 Martiou is an archetypal, unspoilt, whitewashed Greek vil-
lage square. If you are lucky, you might find an elder who still speaks Tsakonika, a
highly distinctive dialect dating back to the time of ancient Sparta.
There are some reasonably pleasant beaches to be found at the nearby seaside village
of
Plaka
, 5km from Leonidio. If this tiny fishing port takes your fancy, you can dig in for
