6 – 9 July, Leonidio

Monastery of Agios Nikolaos Sintzas

The monastery of Agios Nikolaos Sintzas is located six kilometres northeast of Leonidio, the capital of the region of Tsakonia. Situated in the fertile valley of the Daphnon stream, Leonidio succeeded the ancient city of Brasies or Prasies, one of the eighteen cities of the League of the Free Lakonians, with sanctuaries of Asklepios and…

Monastery of Panagia Elonis

The majestic and imposing monastery of Panagia Eloni stands on a huge rocky crag of Mount Parnon, halfway between Leonidio and Kosmas, 14 kilometres from the former and 107 kilometres from Tripoli. The crag rises inside the Dafnon gorge, one of the many steep, wild gorges carved by the Dafnias River, ancient Selinountas. Following the…

Monastery of Panagia Orthokosta

The monastery of Panagia Orthokosta (or Artokosta), one of the earliest and most characteristic of Kynouria’s monastic centres, retains its traditional appearance. Located twelve kilometres from Agios Andreas, 52 kilometres from Leonidio, and 21 kilometres from Astros, the monastery was built on a truly “pleasant and appropriate site”, as stated in a 1617 sigillion, surrounded…

Monastery of Agios Nikolaos Karyas

Agios Nikolaos Karyas, the monastic heart of Kynouria, in the province’s very centre, is a typical fortified Post-Byzantine Peloponnesian monastery. It is located 2-3 kilometres beyond the Artokosta Monastery, on the road to Prastos, 879 metres above sea level, between two heights, the medieval castles of Oriontas and Paliochora. The names Prasies, Brasies, Prasioi Topoi,…