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Tripoli - the heart of Arcadia

11 January 2014 / 17:01:11  GRReporter
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Tripoli is located in the heart of the Peloponnese and is the largest city and capital of the Arcadia region, located at the foot of Mount Menalos at an altitude of 650 metres, in the field of Mantinea.

It has a long history and has been the centre of Morea since the 17th century, home to a lot of craftsmen and a place for trade.

It has been subjected to a lot of damage because of its strategic location. During the Ottoman period the town used to have walls. After the heroic occupation of 23 September 1821, it played a key role in the revolution, but paid a high price - in 1828, Ibrahim Pasha literally burnt it down. The city became a symbol of the revolution - the heroic Tripolitsa which provided a shelter for Kolokotronis and Kefalas.

A modern city

Today, Tripoli is a modern city with significant development in recent years. The city is constantly expanding and has a population of 26,000 inhabitants including the surrounding villages.

There are beautiful parks, squares and chapels, as well as surroundings with lush vegetation. The city is very welcoming. The main reasons why Tripoli attracts a lot of visitors include its location in the heart of the Peloponnese, proximity to the beautiful Mount Menalos and natural beauties combined with a cool climate in the summer.

The central square of the city, Agios Vasilios, is located where the square of Ottoman Tripolitsa used to be. However, the Church of Agios Vasilios has replaced the mosque. The former house of Maliaropoulos hosts the Military Museum of Tripoli, where you can see exhibits from 1821, photographs and uniforms from all Greek wars up to the liberation from the Germans.

The ArchaeologicalMuseum, which is located in a neoclassical building designed by architect Ernestos Tsiller, offers exhibitions of the discoveries from excavations of ancient sites in Arcadia.

If you take a walk along the shopping street, you will see Petrinou Square, where various markets are organized. The neoclassical building which hosts the Municipal Theatre is also located there. You should also see the house of poet Kostas Kariotakis in Tripoli, which is located near Anexartisias Square. The administrative part of the PeloponnesianUniversity is also located there today, as well as the Courthouse.

Have a coffee in the traditional Big Cafeteria (built between 1897 and 1898) in the central square, which was once visited by doctors, lawyers and major retailers.

You will find bars, cafes and restaurants in the pedestrian zone of Deliani and the surrounding streets. You can see the statue of Theodoros Kolokotronis in Areos Square.

Travels in the mountains

You can easily reach the ski resort of Menalos some 30 km from Tripoli. It is located on the Ostrakina Plateau at an altitude of 1,600 metres. You can also enjoy hikes or bike rides along forest paths. You can reach many places in Arcadia from here, as well as from the neighbouring regions of Messinia and Laconia, such as Dimitsana, Stemnitsa, Vitina, Langada, Astros, ancient  Mantinea and Tegea.

More information about Tripoli can be found on the website www.traveltripolis.gr

Tags: Tripoli the Peloponnese Arcadia travel history
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