Escape to the mountains of the Peloponnese with enchanting nature and charming villages.
East of Sparta lies Mount Parnon, the mountain that separates Arcadia from Laconia. With stone-built villages of distinctive architecture, some quiet and forgotten by time and others more vibrant and touristically developed, it is a special destination for lovers of mountain nature and tranquility.
Picturesque settlements, dense forests, chestnut, walnut and cherry trees, firs and plane trees, impressive gorges, waymarked trails and Byzantine chapels set the ideal scene for rejuvenating getaways in every season.
Kosmas, Arcadia
Kosmas, known as the «balcony of Kynouria», is a peaceful traditional settlement hidden on the southeastern slopes of Mount Parnon at an elevation of 1,150 m., in a lush landscape with abundant waters and magnificent fir forests. The village is reached either via Leonidio or via Sparta. It features stone-built houses and a beautiful square with enormous plane trees, at whose center stands the imposing Church of Agioi Anargyroi.
The setting is ideal for unwinding over coffee, meze, and traditional galaktoboureko. At the village’s feet, the wonderful chestnut forest offers opportunities for exploration all year round. Using Kosmas as your base, you can take mini excursions to Leonidio and to Geraki with its Byzantine castle-town, as well as day trips to Mystras, Gytheio, Monemvasia and more. Don’t miss the striking Elona Monastery, wedged into a towering sheer rock between Kosmas and Leonidio.
Kastanitsa, Arcadia
Stone-built houses whitewashed with lime, wooden balconies and roofs of local slate, together with whitewashed cobbled streets, give this village, perched on one of Parnon’s steepest slopes, an idyllic yet distinctly Aegean look. Close to the border between the prefectures of Arcadia and Laconia (72 km from Tripoli and 65 km from Sparta), Kastanitsa is one of the most beautiful traditional preserved settlements in the Peloponnese.
Here, the elders still speak the Tsakonian dialect. Stroll the narrow alleys to admire the authentic architecture of homes that have stood for up to three centuries. Around the village stretches a dense forest of firs and chestnut trees. In the northern section, the ruins of the Byzantine tower stand out on the hill with panoramic views over the village and far away to Parnon’s peaks and the Argolic Gulf.
Prastos, Arcadia
Prastos, once the stately capital of Tsakonia, is an exceptionally picturesque village that will charm you with its distinctive architecture, its tall stone tower houses with loopholes and arched gateways, and its churches. Of the village’s notable tower houses, those of Sarantaris, Kalimeris, Merikas, Karamano and Gounelos survive, while remnants also remain of Byzantine churches such as those of Taxiarches, Agios Dimitrios and Panagia.
The village is built amphitheatrically at an elevation of 750 m. and has been designated a traditional settlement. On the road to the village from Agios Andreas you’ll come across the Monastery of Artokosta, while nearby is the Mazias Gorge where there are eight watermills and a fulling mill.
Ano Doliana, Arcadia
Amphitheatrically built at an elevation of 1,050 m., near the road that leads from Tripoli to Parnon and just two hours from Athens, Ano Doliana is a doll-like village with lovely cobbled lanes, well-preserved stone-built houses and wonderful views over the Tripoli plain, Mainalo and Helmos. Set in lush greenery dominated by chestnut, walnut and plane trees, it offers an ideal setting for escapes in the embrace of nature. An idyllic spot, wrapped in green and with panoramic views of the settlement, is that of Ai-Giannis, in the chestnut forest just outside the village, where there is also a little church of the same name.
Agios Petros, Arcadia
Draped in the greenery of Parnon’s slopes, the chief village of Agios Petros, at an elevation of 950 meters, 35 km from Tripoli, is an ideal base for mountain forays. Despite modern interventions, the village still preserves many authentic traditional architectural elements. Its most beautiful houses are found in the upper neighborhood. Sights include the Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul on the square, the Trikalitis Tower, the renovated stone school- an excellent example of the architecture of its era-, the 18th-century Aga’s Tower, the old weaving workshop and the stone-built bridge at «Vythoula tis Annas».
A visit to Agios Petros cannot but be combined with a visit to the famed Malevi Monastery, which was built in 1616 and is encircled by cedars. From Agios Petros, trails lead toMikri Tourla and to Megali Tourla, Parnon’s highest peak, at 1,936 meters.
Vamvakou, Laconia
Vamvakou, Laconia isa small and picturesque village, built at an elevation of 900 meters on the western side of Parnon, just a few kilometers from Sparta and Tripoli and 2.5 hours from Athens. Vamvakou has a very interesting story. A group of young people, with roots and strong bonds with the village, wanted to write a new chapter in Vamvakou’s history. The once-abandoned village came back to life thanks to the group’s initiative, which founded the organization Vamvakou Revival, with moral and financial support from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. Vamvakou is an ideal destination for families with children in every season. The village offers a charming traditional guesthouse, «Rouga tis Vamvakous», a restaurant-café and a traditional kafeneio, while the varied educational and cultural events that take place within the framework of the Vamvakou Revival initiative complete the travel experience. Activities for children include workshops, games, creative engagement and walks in nature.
Tsinzina, Laconia
Hidden among firs in the heart of Parnon, with traditional stone houses built amphitheatrically on three slopes, the village of Tsinzina (also known as Polydroso) conveys a sense of refuge and lends itself to escapes in every season. The settlement is ideal for those seeking relaxation and peace, and thanks to nine waymarked trails of varying difficulty it is an extremely popular base for hikes on Parnon and nature excursions in general. If you feel like exploring, around Tsinzina you’ll discover caves, springs and picturesque little churches. Among the village’s most important sights are the Monastery of Agioi Anargyroi and the church of Ai-Vlasis with frescoes by Fotis Kontoglou.
Karyes, Laconia
On the foothills of Parnon, on the northeastern side of the prefecture of Laconia, you’ll encounter a traditional village with a long history. Karyes stands on the site of the ancient city of the same name, from which the Caryatids of the Erechtheion take their name. This chief village, 35 km from Sparta, is an ideal base for activities on Parnon and tours of its villages, even escapes as far as Mystras and Geraki.
The faithful replica of the Erechtheion’s Caryatids that dominates a high rock at the entrance to the settlement is the village’s symbol. Other sights include the Clock on a rise to the west of the settlement, the arched bridge over the Deiros river and the village’s central square with the Church of Agios Andreas. The European trail E4 passes through the village, starting from the Pyrenees, entering Greece from the north at Florina and ending at Zakros in Crete.
