LEONIDIO THE PROUD CAPITAL OF TSAKONIA

Text and research by Giota Christoforou, translation by Eva Trombetas

Sometimes the smell of the sea and the smell of the countryside create mixed feelings. It might be called warmth, maybe nostalgia.

Leonidio

Looking forward to taste all of these feelings, the steps of the journey lead you to the beautiful villages of Tsakonia and specifically to its current capital, Leonidio. If you arrive on Holy Saturday night, the sky is full of balloons competing with each other, while the priest is singing "Christ is Risen".

Easter in Leonidio

Rooted in the valley of Daphnonas, the capital of Tsakonia, is divided in two and is overshadowed by the red rocks all around where the monasteries of Panagia of Elona and Agios Nikolaos of Sintza are reverently mounted. The miraculous icon of Panagia Elona is supposed to have been miraculously found inside a rock in 1350. It is solemnly honored on November 21. The people of Spetses and Hydra killed the snake that detered the believers from worshiping the Monastery of Agios Nikolaos of Sintza. It is said that a part of the snake is kept in the Monastery. It is speculated that near the monastery is the cave where god Dionysus was raised. God Dionysus was raised in Leonidio, without a mother since Semeli was found dead in a box that was left to float in the sea.

1) Panagia of Elona
2) Agios Nikolaos of Sintza

Leonidio also honors Agios Lidis (it is called like that in Tsakonika) or Agios Leonidis. The church of Agios Leonidis is built since 1293 in Plaka of Leonidio, on the tomb of Semeli. His memory is honored every April 15th with a majestic ceremony. Saint Leonidis martyred along with seven other women, was horribly killed by the Romans and placed in a larnax found by the inhabitants of Leonidio at Plaka, which is the port of the city.

Agios Lidis, Plaka of Leonidio

The navy for the most part state of Leonidio, has to feature 120 mansions, giving it the title of a monument, while it is characterized by its rich architecture, its pebbled courtyards, hagiatia, painted ceilings, internal stairs and stone cisterns. A typical example is the tower of Konstantinos Tsikaliotis, built in 1808, which now functions as a museum for the public, a marvel of architecture where inside it, with the use of technological means, it shows us the course of the mansion during its life.

tower of Konstantinos Tsikaliotis

The city's shops adorn the picturesque alleys, some of which date back to 1895, for example the historical pharmacy and the unique tailor shop. The city is famous for its famous textiles, handmade rugs and haversacks (tagaria) that are made by people with passion and are a traditional art for the Tsakones. In Leonidio today, carpet weaving workshops are operating. However, there are also delicacies made from the fine products of the place. First and foremost is the Tsakonian eggplant, which is honored with an award from the European community after being included in the protected agricultural species along with 317 other products in March 1996.

Leonidio

Every year a festival is organized in honor of the Tsakonian eggplant, in which is featured the taste and delicacy through well-cooked food. In the fertile plain of Leonidio the production of eggplant finds suitable soil, but also the cultivation of citrus. The plain is also called the garden of Dionysus.

Tsakonian eggplant

The city of Leonidio is considered to be as one of the best Greek climbing destinations on the imposing red rocks, with over 1400 routes of varying difficulty, while every year a climbing festival is held, under the auspices of the Peloponnese region and the Municipality of South Kynouria.

climbing, Leonidio

A route of 160 years of history of the place gives the cultural center called Fabrica of Culture. It operates in order to promote the rural history and the roads of the sea in the Eastern Peloponnese.

Fabrica of Culture

The area of ​​Tsakonia extends from the foothills of Parnonas to the Argolic Gulf and occupies the southeastern edge of the province of Kynouria. The native Tsakonians were forced to abandon the historic and traditional Prastos, which was the capital of Tsakonia. They distinguished themselves as traders in the butter and salt monopoly, conducting their commercial activity by the sea during the second half of the 18th century. Their commercial minds opened the professional horizons to other places too such as Odessos, Propontis where there is a village Prastos, in Varna of Bulgaria, in Romania, in Southern Italy, in Cyprus, but also the inland too.

Leonidio

Throughout the course of their long history, they preserved the customs and traditions, the Tsakonian dance, the Tsakonian costume and the Tsakonian dialect.

ΚΑΟΥΡ ΕΚΑΝΑΤΕ! ΚΑΛΩΣ ΟΡΙΣΑΤΕ! (welcome)

"our language is Tsakonian, ask to get know"
Tsakonika the Doric (ancient greek) dialect that still exists