Stemnitsa

Stemnitsa (Greek Στεμνίτσα ( f sg ), formerly Graeco Ypsous Ύψους, in ancient times Hypsous Ὑψοῦς ) is a mountain village in the central highlands of Arcadia. It belongs to the municipality Trikoloni the community Gortynia.

The small town is situated at 1100m, surrounded by high mountains and deep valleys, such as that of Lousios River. In the southwestern distance (about 20 km ) revealed well- located in the 400 m, large plain of Megalopolis. The whole area, mountains and valleys, and partly also the level are densely forested. Water are plentiful - even in the dry summer - from ever- flowing springs and streams.

In the summer, always a few degrees cooler, it has become a summer resort and winter sports attraction. Although Arcadia, especially the highlands, very green and densely forested (to be also clearly seen on the satellite photo of the Peloponnese peninsula ), topology and climate but still could have only shepherds and pastoral economy.

On the way from the west coast about Olympia, or of the two centers Megalopolis and Tripoli from the typical Arcadia places and Dimitsana Stemnitsa despite ( from ) built roads to reach only with difficulty even today. After the Second World War, a rural exodus (after Athens and abroad ), so that now only about 100 live permanently of the once 4,000 inhabitants in Stemnitsa. Many of the massive stone houses stood empty then though; However, uses for secondary residence, a modest summer and winter tourism, founded in 1978, a gold and Siberschmiede school with artisanal and industrial environment provide an intact impressive appearance of the place.

Stemnitsa and Dimitsana were in the time of the Greek struggle for liberation from the rule of the Ottomans not only for their freedom Idol ( cf. Theodoros Kolokotronis and Greek Revolution) important places of refuge. In the towns up here and down the monasteries in the canyon of Lousios be kept permanently even the Greek language, as they could no longer be spoken or lived in the Ottoman occupied Peloponnese. Down in the canyon, in Philosophou monastery (see Lousios Gorge ), which was beyond the reach of the Turkish occupiers, Greek language and culture were also taught and handed down.

Stemnitsa was for Arcadia from the 17th to the 20th century an important center of the craft. Of the sunken crafts bell foundry, tin, copper, brass processing, leather processing, silver and goldsmiths testifies that opened in 1992 " Stemnitsa Folk Museum ".

To the picturesque market, there are a couple of tavernas, restaurants and accommodation options.