The roof of Peloponnese

 

The proud and tallest mountain in Peloponnese is said to have taken its name after Taigeti, Atlas’s daughter. With its highest summit, “Ai-Lia” in 2404 meters, and its alpine zone over 1700m always covered in snow in the winter, Taigetos is ideal for activities for mountain lovers: mount biking, climbing, trekking and cave exploration. What is most amazing, though, is that this is an expanding mountain, earning almost a centimeter each year!

The Greek Mountaineering Society owns a climbing park in the gorge of Great Lagada near Tripi, with routes graded for difficulty, ranging from 5 (Medium) to 8 (Hard). Beginner Climbers prefer the summer months when the meandering route to the top is easy to go.

In Taigetos, apart from the magnificent mount hiking routes, through greenwood or on asphalt roads way up to the top, it is well worth visiting the numerous caves and gorges with their crystal clear springs, like those in Arna, in Tripi and in all the villages perched high up throughout the mountain range. The evergreen fir trees and black pine trees make up the fantastic forests in Taigetos, and the visitor must pick on his way some thyme, green tea and oregano. If not, there will always be some local trader in some small village selling all this mountain goodies. However, food connoisseurs are well advised to try the world renowned “sfella” cheese, made from goat and sheep milk of premium quality. Equally well-known the world over is the wild beef meat of Taigetos, for which experts from Iberia sought to get species for their seed oxen.

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One of the prettiest and most picturesque villages in Laconia, Arna stands out for its central square, where you can see one of the five biggest plane trees in Greece, 13m in girth, 30m tall and 35m in width. Spartia, another village, with its popular tap and the chapel of Prophet Elias, is near Arna. 

Events: 

The “Festival of horse chestnut and tsipouro”, at the end of October.

“Paleologeia”, in the memory of Byzantine Paleologos Dynasty, at the end of May. 

Area Code 27310

 

 

In this little village, apart from the dense pine woods with its magnificent view, it is worth visiting the remains of its castle and the chapel of Little Saint John.

The fete of Saint Paraskevi, on the 26 of July.

Area Code  27350 

Local Municipality of Krokei: -71722

 

 

A stopover in its renowned taverns will satiate your gourmet palate and you will feast your eyes thanks to its beautiful location where it is built. The waters from its springs will quench your thirst after you have visited the formidable cave-precipice of famous Kaiadas and the climbing park of Lagada.

Area Code 27310

Local Municipality of Mystras:  -81866

  

 

Known as “God’s balcony” to many, it overlooks Laconia almost from a thousand meters from above, surrounded by plane trees, chestnut trees, pine trees, firs, cypresses and walnut trees. Its name is historically associated with three brave pilots who fell in battle during the world wars. The Pilots Memorial and a fighter aircraft are there to remind us of their heroic exploits. The church of Saint Athanasios stands out in the homonymous square and it is worth visiting the neighboring villages, Agoniani, with a byzantine church of Saint Nikolaos, and Agios Konstantinos, in Mantaika where there is also an ostrich breeding farm. 

The fete of Saint Panteleimon, on 27 July.

Area Code  27310

Health Center:   -61400

 

 

 

This mountainous village, the headquarters of Pellana municipality, is well known for its gorge, for the springs of Saint John, for the Marble Bridge and its cultural center.

Of special interest to the visitor is the site of ancient Pellana, where excavations brought to light parts of ancient settlements, vaulted graves, a palace with Cyclops wall and a royal tomb of the Mycenae Era. 

The carnival and the fete on Virgin Mary’s Day, on the 8 of September.

Area Code  27310

Local Municipality of Pelana: -57850

Health Center: -57217

 

 

Built 750m high up in the mountain, Loganikos has been linked with its Paleologeio Castle (13^th- 14^th c) and the Old Monastery of Saint George, a byzantine church of the 14^th c. Watermills, taps, stone-built houses and numerous dry stone walls are among the characteristic elements of the village, as well as its post-byzantine monuments. 

The fete Prophet Elia, on the 20 of July.

Area Code 27310

Health Centre: -65274

Local Municipality of Pelana: -57850

 

 

At a distance of 15km from Sparta lies Xirokambi, the headquarters of the municipality of Faris. Built in the east foot of Taygetos, this village of 1000 people, is considered the starting point of many mountain climbing trails, like the one taking you to Pentavli [ Five Pipes], an area of special natural beauty. It also intersects with springs, a waterfall, small lakes, and , of course, the gorge of Anakolo. This gorge of wild natural beauty leads to the Medieval village Koumousta, with marble faucets and its five Byzantine churches. It’s also worth visiting the “Greek Bridge” (100 B.C.), a stone bridge with one arch dating from the Hellenistic years in the cascade of Racine, the holy age-long olive tree of Faris, over 12m in girth, and the monasteries of Golas, Zerbitsa and Koubari, with ---------- katholika ------ built in 17^th c and characteristic fort-like parvises. From the alpine retreat of Taygetos in “Barbara-Dereki”, in 1500m, starts the trail leading to the highest crest of the mountain. 

Church mass at the top of Taygetos on the 20^th July.

Area Code 27310

Greek Alpine Club of Sparta: -22574

Health Centre: -35274

Local Municipality of Faris: -35243