The Peloponnese countryside, only a few hours from central Athens, is an alluring destination year-round, even more so during the cooler months when you want a quick and rewarding getaway on the mainland. Exploring this region you’ll discover lush landscapes, scenic traditional villages with interesting architecture, flavoursome cuisine and plenty of outdoorsy adventures.
Here are four lesser-known, but no less charming Peloponnese mountain villages for you to explore when you next fancy a break from Athens. These villages are less fashionable than Trikala ‘Corinthia’ or some of the more well-known destinations in mountainous Arcadia such as Dimitsana but are just as attractive and they make for great bases to exploring the area from.
Kastanitsa, Arcadia
Kastanitsa, named after the chestnut forest that surrounds it (“kastano” means chestnut) is at an altitude of 840 metres on the lush slopes of Mt Parnonas, the Peloponnese’s biggest mountain range. At first glance, the village looks geographically idiosyncratic, as its whitewashed houses could easily have been plucked out of a Greek island village and plonked in this part of the country.
The village is made up of around 250 stone houses, most of which are two-storey buildings, all whitewashed with lime and topped with a gray slate roof. A small number o old three-storey houses, hundreds of years old, can also be seen here. Well-maintained gardens filled with flowers and whitewashed pathways that snake through the village are other local features that add to Kastanitsa’s charm. The village has a well-organised and tidy guest house and a traditional taverna famous for its delicious local pork dish with chestnuts.
Chestnuts are one of the region’s key products. An annual celebration honouring the region’s chestnut bounty is staged on the last weekend of every October. Kastanitsa is ideal for leisurely nature walks and high-energy trekking, with several paths of varying degrees of difficulty and lovely views. Several trails run through the village or start from it. Don’t miss the opportunity to head up a hill where the remains of an old Byzantine tower lie. From here you can enjoy a fantastic 360-degree view of the village, dense forestland with pines, fir trees and chestnut trees, and the Argolic Gulf.
Andritsena, Ilia
The Ilia region in the western Peloponnese is known mostly for its magnificent beaches and the major archaeological site of ancient Olympia, but its mountainous part also has its special charms. Andritsena, on the slopes of Mt Lykaion, at 700m above sea level, could well be the prettiest of this region’s alpine villages and provides the best tourism infrastructure in the area. Its stately buildings, ornate village fountains, fresh mountain springs and scenic cobbled pathways make it especially appealing.
The amphitheatrically shaped village is surrounded by gorges, mountains and forests. Visit its village square, where a tall plane tree stands in its centre, and enjoy the local vibe sipping a Greek coffee and trying a homemade-style spoon sweet (glyko tou koutaliou). Action sports aficionados are bound to enjoy rafting or canoeing in the Lousios river during spring and summer, trekking in the Neda gorge, climbling and mountain biking. There are several adventure tourism organisations that can help you plan the perfect excursions. If you’d like to enjoy an archaeological outing, don’t miss the Temple of Apollo Epicurius, one of the most impressive temples of antiquity that’s also known as the Parthenon of the Peloponnese, around 20 minutes’ drive from Andritsena.
Zarouhla, Achaia
Zarouhla, a leafy village at an altitude of around 1,100m above sea level on Mt Krathis, is blanketed in trees – fir, chestnut and black pine trees – and is near the Kalavryta Ski Centre (https://www.kalavrita-ski.gr/) (at a distance of 22 km). Zarouhla started attracting tourism after the renovation of the Zarouhla Tower, which was repurposed as a guest house. The tower’s striking reincarnation inspired the refurbishment of other tower houses in the area, raising the village’s appeal. Zarouhla now attracts a fair number of visitors during weekends, the high-quality food served at its tavernas being an additional draw.
Even if skiing is not your thing, Zarouhla has much to offer. Trekking is one of the most popular activities to enjoy there, as there are several paths that will reward you with exciting views and natural scenery.
One moderately challenging trail, which takes around five hours to hike up, begins from Zarouhla and reaches the Livadaki peak, (an altitude of 1,836m), where the panoramic view is spectacular. Another must-see spot is the blue-green Lake Tsivlou, around 13 km from the village, which often surprises visitors who stumble upon it, and is nice to swim in when the weather is warm. It is at an altitude of 800m and there is a good taverna a little further above it.
Leontari, Arcadia
Leontari, situated roughly 600 metres above sea level on the lush northeastern side of the Taygetus mountain range, has a prominent past, as indicated by its larger-than-expected variety of attractions. At the northeastern side of Leontari lie the ruins of a castle from the period of Frankish rule. The castle was destroyed when the village was conquered by the Ottomans in 1460.
Agion Apostolon, the 14 th -century Church of the Holy Apostles the, is considered one of the leading architectural works of the late Byzantine period. Constantine Palaiologos, Bishop of Mystras, was ordained Emperor of the Byzantium at this church. Another local attraction is the old train station, around 120 years old, which is one of the finest made in the Peloponnese.
Read also:
Cosmopolitan Greek destination for autumn escape into nature
A water paradise in Greece created by a disaster
The trails of mountainous Arcadia – Stunning routes among the fir trees
