STEMNITSA .
The village is a beautiful maze of narrow cobblestone alleys,grand stone-built mansions,old stone fountains,and historic Byzantine churches.
What to see &go :
- The castle: A short walk uphill from the square leads to the site of the old medieval castle, offering panoramic views of the village and the surrounding mountains.
- The Menalon Trail : Stemnitsa is the official starting point of the Menalon Trail, a famous 75km certified hiking network that connects various Arcadian villages.
- Lousios River Gorge : The village sits right above this breathtaking gorge,which is ideal for hiking,rafting,and visiting the historic monasteries of Prodromos and and Philosophou that are literally built into the cliff side .
Stemnitsa served as a refuge for many fighters of the Greek Revolution of 1821 in their struggle to liberate the country frome the yoke of the Ottoman Turks.This was facinated by the fact that it is built between gorges on Mount Mainalo .It is important to emphasize that it is located within a short distance from Atthens,making it ideal even for a day trip. However,this fact also represents its weakness for those who love to avoid crowds .Chose to visit on a weekday to truly enjoy its uniqueness.
Do not miss the opportunity to purchase traditional products from the region .