The Stemnitsa spot for the first time one spring before 3-4 years. Completely random. There was in our way when the maiden from a friend in Mountain Gortynia, katevainoume took to the road to the river Lucius. On our path was the surprise diadechontan one another, the beautiful scenery, kataprasines slopes ... and the Stone kefalochori of Stemnitsas!
Before you talk about the Stemnitsa But I must prologiso with any necessary geographical information. For those who have not been found in the mountain village located in Arcadia, half of the 2 hours from Athens, the path to Tripoli, and at an altitude of 1,100 metres. Synapotelei, together with the Greek villages, Syrna, Fish, Palamari, Paflia, and the settlement of Upper Kalyvakia, the municipality Trikolonon. It is the seat.
The purpose of our attitude to Stemnitsa was a quick coffee before continuing to its destination. The "coffee" but eventually evolved to walk, eat, visit the Folklore Museum, climbing the castle and near night. Let's take But from the outset.
In the cafeteria which katsame when protoftasame the village, we had the pleasure of welcoming our hospitable owners, a young couple with two young children. And I am happy, because starting to talk about the village and its origin, the couple has revealed that moved to the village after many years of residence in Athens. Created a relatively profitable company and decided that it will never return back. The words still remember them: "Congratulations Athens you to the happy, enjoyable, such life, but we do not want."
Walking the Stemnitsa, not late to understand why. The calm of the village is peaceful, narrow streets do not allow easy access car, let alone trucks and other motor such as in choke the fumes. The unique natural landscape. Apokrimnes peaks lost in the clouds, kataprasines the slopes of Mainalou conditions, enhanced doses of oxygen.
Inside the village, the picturesque monotony of stone archontikon emvolizoun stubbornly yperaionovia ornaments: platanoi huge, colorful walnut and cherry, stone kefalovrysa. And all kept elegant and agerocha under the weight of a long history, including disasters suffered by the Stemnitsa in the Struggle of'21, apopneontas aroma of genuine culture. This impression, at least, have given us the exhibits that thafmasame in three pyrgospito the Folk Museum.
There omitted, among other things, that the church Zoodohos Pigi took place in May 1821 the First Peloponnisiaki Senate, a result of which was to become the Stemnitsa for three weeks, the first capital of Greece liberalised. Who then to imagine that such a site will endoxos erimone over the years?
Such or similar words should be done by walking in the picturesque cobbled road leading from the square at the height of the Castle, where it now remains only the ruins of a medieval castle. But there is the Virgin Mary and the Bafero a ypovlitiki, Royal pace, church of 12 th century, the church of St. Nicholas, who is listed as the oldest of the village, the Prophet Elias, but also iroo, dedicated to the fighters of'21, many of whom come from Stemnitsa.
In the course of our voltas, noting a consensus on displays of small shops, we found that, like any place, and has the Stemnitsa local product, which prompted (and push) the economy: the craft argyrochrysochoias. A tradition that started around 17 th century, as a result of limited agricultural and livestock development of the site. Thus far, despite the syrriknomeno population of the village (400 people), the Stemnitsa housed argyrochrysochoias public school, attended by about 50 students.
Returning to the central square, kontostathikame briefly beneath the majestic bell tower of St. George, unable to decide whether to continue a conducted tour around our village or whether it will finally katiforizame to Lucius. We won the small tavernaki of plateitsas, fountotes of akakies and the plain, honest food. Mrs Stavroula peripoiithike welcoming us, our local etoimazontas mezedakia cool and bulk wine. The Lousios could wait.
Conscious, indeed, that the tour will not necessarily ended there, discussed whether we should let Lucius for the day, and found a nice hostel to dianykterefsoume. We wanted very much to continue walking, we waited even the fir forest of Mainalou the breeze, with a magnificent view of the Klinitsa, and a lot mikrogeitonies, with cobbled streets, and myrodatous basil. Genuine but city children, agchothikame with the pressure of time and spefsame melagcholika in our cars.
Perhaps if we knew then the choices one has to stay in Stemnitsa, dianykterefame there for a night. Very later learnt their hostels and the amazing newly built hotel. More specifically, the alternative for your stay in Stemnitsa are few and good:
There are 4 hostels four or five rooms, with the most outspoken Thymeli Hostel (tel. 27950 29508) and the guest house Bellaiiko (phone & fax: 27950 81286), and two B 'category, but the Stemnitsa Guesthouse (tel. 27950 81349) and the Guest House (tel. 27950 29505-6), all of which are famous for pentanostimi, traditional cuisine.
More cosmopolitan air, however, was created to give the impressive Country Club Trikolonion (tel. 27950 29500-1, fax: 27950 81512), a unit of 18 rooms, a family member of Luxury Country Hotels, which stands out not only for pioneering -- for the region-benefits (fitness-spa, meeting room, luxury suites), but also for the rich pastry, with very sweet and drinks. They say that this hotel is in itself a reason to visit Stemnitsa.
Both long after, remind me that first trip, and complaints by elderly locals for their place that has lain waste, and realise the opening of this remarkable couple who opened the cafe Turkey settled permanently in the Stemnitsa choosing a more peaceful, healthy, normal - in my opinion-life. I hope that they came well.
