Description of Arcadia

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The region of Arcadia occupies much of the central mountainous Peloponnese. The name of Arkadia has been equivalent to the wild beauty of the deep forests of the area where Pan used to play with nymphs. Nowadays, the mountainous villages of Vytina and Dimitsana are popular among outdoor-loving Greeks and increasingly, like-minded tourists with traditional hotels and guesthouses. It also has an unspoilt coastline facing the Argolic Gulf with pretty towns like Astros and Leonidio with lovely restaurants.

Geography of Arcadia

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Arcadia is a region situated in the central and eastern part of the Peloponnese and its neighbouring regions are Argolida to the northeast, Corinthia and Achaia to the north, Ilia and Messinia to the west and Laconia to the south. The region spans an area of 4.419 sq. km. and a total population of 86.820 inhabitants. The capital city of the region is Tripoli. The highest mountains are Mainalo, Taygetos and Parnonas.

History of Arcadia

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Arcadia has shared its past with the neighbour city of Sparta, although Arcadians broke their League and allied with the city-states of Thives and later Arcadia became a part of the Achaean League. Arkadia was occupied by Romans and then became part of the Byzantine Empire, until 1460. In the 15th century, Arcadia fell under the Ottoman Turks and after nearly 400 years of occupation, Arcadia was one of the centres of the Greek War of Independence with victorious battles like the one in Tripoli. After joining the newly-created Greek state, Arcadia saw economic growth but later in the 20th century suffered from emigration abroad, as a result of the economic decline after the Second World War.

Sightseeing in Arcadia

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On the mountain of Mainalo at an altitude 1981 meters, there is the Ski Centre of Ostrakina where visitors can enjoy nature and skiing within trees. Mainalo Ski Centre has three ski lifts, ski runs and a guest lounge. The central part of Arcadia is the heart of the region is the area with some of the most breathtaking scenery in the Peloponnese, with a tangle of medieval villages and lush vegetation beneath the slopes of the Menalon Mountain. Dimitsana, Vytina, Karytena are only some of the popular winter resorts of the region, well-known for the outdoor activities in nature.

Useful Phone Numbers in Arcadia

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Police: +30 2710 230548
Hospital: +30 2710 238542-4
Bus Services: +30 2710 224314
Railway: +30 2710 241696
Ski Center of Mainalon: +30 27960 22211