The blue of the sea, the green of Parnon and the red of the impressive vertical rocks meet in Leonidion.
Leonidio or Agieliidi, in the Tsakonian dialect, is a town and capital of the Municipality of Southern Kynouria. It was named after the church of St. Leonidis, which was built on its beach. Leonidion spreads in the fertile valley of Dafnona, while the imposing and impressive red rocks rise above it.
Land of Tsakonia and Tsakones, the immediate descendants of the Dorians described in Byzantine texts as elite bodyguards, the impressive Leonidion has a long history.
Leonidion is a traditional settlement. Typical examples of Tsakonian architecture are the downtown market, with its main street and many beautiful mansions scattered throughout the city, some of which are tower-like. These houses are impressive and have been preserved. They were built before 1800, but there are buildings of the neoclassical style of the mid-19th century.
In Leonidion today, three of the most magnificent pre-revolutionary monuments in the Peloponnese are preserved, such as the Tower of Tsikaliotis (1808), the Mansion of Polytimos (1816), and the Mansion of Katsikoggianis (1807), located on the north end of the settlement.
There are several churches in Leonidion, such as the Cathedral (of the Virgin Mary), St. Catherine, St. Kiriaki, the Holy Taxiarches, St. John, St. Basil, St. Charalambos, and the Virgin Hatzaliou. Above a green hill south of the city is the chapel of Prophet Elias which celebrates with a festival in the summer. Three typical old windmills survive on a hill overlooking the city.
The seaport of Leonidion is Plaka, a small seaside settlement with a picturesque harbor and a nice sandy beach. In the same place was the ancient port of Leonidio. On the left side of Plaka begins a nice beach that stretches 4 km to the settlement Lakko.
Easter in Leonidio is unforgettable. Visitors take part in the celebration and locals build balloons flying in the sky on the night of the Resurrection. During the last decade, Melijazz has been established, a colorful, unique festival that takes place in Leonidion in July. The celebration of Tsakonian Eggplant, the region’s famous product, attracts visitors. At the same time, Leonidion has been established as a place of alternative tourism, as the Leonidion climbing festival has been successfully organized for the last 4 years in the climbing park.
