Leonidio (Greek: Λεωνίδιο, Katharevousa: Λεωνίδιον, Tsakonian: Αγιελήδι) is a town and a former municipality in Arcadia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality South Kynouria, of which it is a municipal unit.[2] The municipal unit has an area of 418.65 km2, the community 102.67 km2.[3] It is considered a traditional settlement.
The town of Leonidio, with a population of 3,826, emerges from a spectacular landscape, bound by two abrupt mountainsides enclosing the town from the north and south. The River Dafnon passes through the town, and its banks are linked with three bridges. The town is capital of the Tsakonia region, notable for its cultural and linguistic particularities, and the settlement itself offers striking and picturesque architecture; now a protected architectural site, there are very strict regulations for building within the town's limits.
Plaka
Plaka is the picturesque port of Leonidio, situated 4 km from the town. It functions mainly with the help of tourism, but a small fishing fleet is also to be found; a well-regarded beach lies 4 km across the shore. The port takes in a number of taverns and bars immediately adjacent to the sea, while every August, it also hosts the "Tsakonian Eggplant Festival", attracting well-known chefs from across Europe and achieving ever-growing popularity.
History
"Our language is Tsakonian", bilingual (Tsakonian and Standard Greek) sign in Leonidio.
Monastery Agiou Nikolaou Sintzas, a short distance to the west of Leonidio.
Leonidio is situated near the ancient city of Prasiae, which was an important harbour for Sparta until its ruin by the Athenians during the Peloponnesian War. The ancient Greek traveller Pausanias describes the area as the "garden of Dionysus", because of the fertility of its plain, and in ancient myth the young Dionysus was found on its beach and later brought up in a cave emerging from it. There is also a second variant of the story, influenced by Christian tradition, recounting the finding of the relics of Saint Leonides atop the beach of Leonidio, where a church was to be built in his honour, remaining to this day; this is a common suggestion for the derivation of the area's name. During the Middle Ages, Leonidio found itself used only as a winter refuge for the inhabitants of Prastos, the former capital of Tsakonia. When Prastos was burned to the ground by Ibrahim Pasha during the Greek Revolution, however, its refugees found shelter in Leonidio, protected by the morphology of the landscape. In ensuing years the town flourished and thrived, counting among its residents wealthy merchants and seamen, closely associated with Constantinople and Odessa; during this period beautiful neo-classical house and tower house structures were built within its limits, including the "Tsikaliotis Tower". On January 21, 1949, a major battle of the Greek civil war took place in the town.
Modern Era
Today, Leonidio is a lively and colourful town, especially in summer months, as a result of newly developing tourism. Agriculture, nevertheless, remains a main source of income for its residents, and the benefits of the exploitation of the plain are irreplaceable. The town is also famous for its unusual Easter celebration, when the custom of aerostata (air balloons) attracts spectators. Greek comedy writer Dimitrios Psathas once recommended the virtues of passing: "..carnival in Patras, and Easters in Leonidio".[citation needed]
In late years it has become a well known tourist destination for rock climbing.[5]
Geography
The municipality is situated on the eastern coast of the Peloponnese and, although coastal, opening on to the Myrtoon Sea, it is also mainly mountainous, punctuated by the Parnon. Leonidio town itself, however, is to be found on the area's plain, which proves fertile and very important for the local economy, with its high level of agricultural employment. Apart from citrus fruit, pears, tomatoes and olives, the area's most famous and widely distributed product is the Tsakonian eggplant, characteristic in its sweet taste, and acknowledged and protected by the European Union. Three old windmills overlook the town.
Panorama of Leonidio.
Geology
Thanks to its position on the mountain of Parnon, the Leonidio municipality is home to a number of stunning geological formations, such as the Peleta Sinkhole, and the Propantes pothole (a vertical cave).
Demographics
Newly developing tourism is also a vital part of the area, with its scenic, clean beaches and breathtaking mountain scenery. Notably, the area is part of Tsakonia, and the Tsakonian language is still spoken in some areas. Its communities take in the following: Leonidio, Vaskina, Agios Vasileios, Kosmas, Kounoupia, Mari, Paliochori, Paliochora, Peleta, Pigadi, Platanaki, Poulithra, Pragmatefti, Tsitalia, and Vlisidia.
^ ab"Απογραφή Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2011. ΜΟΝΙΜΟΣ Πληθυσμός" (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority.
^"ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
^(PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-21.
^*Nicholas, Nick. (2019). "A critical lexicostatistical examination of Ancient and Modern Greek and Tsakonian". Journal of Applied Linguistics and Lexicography. 1 (1): 18–68. doi:10.33910/2687-0215-2019-1-1-18-68.. Page 19.
^"Leonidio rock climbing and sport climbing". Climb Europe – Rock climbing and walking in Europe and around the World. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leonidio.
(in Greek)
Info and news about Leonidio (in Greek)
Info about rock climbing in Leonidio
January 13, 2023
leonidio, greek, Λεωνίδιο, katharevousa, Λεωνίδιον, tsakonian, Αγιελήδι, town, former, municipality, arcadia, peloponnese, greece, since, 2011, local, government, reform, part, municipality, south, kynouria, which, municipal, unit, municipal, unit, area, commu. Leonidio Greek Lewnidio Katharevousa Lewnidion Tsakonian Agielhdi is a town and a former municipality in Arcadia Peloponnese Greece Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality South Kynouria of which it is a municipal unit 2 The municipal unit has an area of 418 65 km2 the community 102 67 km2 3 It is considered a traditional settlement Leonidio LewnidioLeonidioLocation within the regional unitCoordinates 37 10 N 22 51 E 37 167 N 22 850 E 37 167 22 850 Coordinates 37 10 N 22 51 E 37 167 N 22 850 E 37 167 22 850CountryGreeceAdministrative regionPeloponneseRegional unitArcadiaMunicipalitySouth Kynouria Municipal unit418 7 km2 161 7 sq mi Elevation40 m 130 ft Population 2011 1 Municipal unit5 869 Municipal unit density14 km2 36 sq mi Community 1 Population3 826 2011 Area km2 102 7Time zoneUTC 2 EET Summer DST UTC 3 EEST Postal code223 00Area code s 27570Vehicle registrationARWebsitewww leonidio gr needs update Contents 1 Name 2 Landscape 2 1 Plaka 3 History 3 1 Modern Era 4 Geography 4 1 Geology 5 Demographics 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksName EditIn the local Tsakonian language the only surviving descendant of Doric Greek the town is called Agie Lidi 4 Landscape Edit Yard and storage of Tsikalioti museum The town of Leonidio with a population of 3 826 emerges from a spectacular landscape bound by two abrupt mountainsides enclosing the town from the north and south The River Dafnon passes through the town and its banks are linked with three bridges The town is capital of the Tsakonia region notable for its cultural and linguistic particularities and the settlement itself offers striking and picturesque architecture now a protected architectural site there are very strict regulations for building within the town s limits Plaka Edit Plaka is the picturesque port of Leonidio situated 4 km from the town It functions mainly with the help of tourism but a small fishing fleet is also to be found a well regarded beach lies 4 km across the shore The port takes in a number of taverns and bars immediately adjacent to the sea while every August it also hosts the Tsakonian Eggplant Festival attracting well known chefs from across Europe and achieving ever growing popularity History Edit Our language is Tsakonian bilingual Tsakonian and Standard Greek sign in Leonidio Monastery Agiou Nikolaou Sintzas a short distance to the west of Leonidio Leonidio is situated near the ancient city of Prasiae which was an important harbour for Sparta until its ruin by the Athenians during the Peloponnesian War The ancient Greek traveller Pausanias describes the area as the garden of Dionysus because of the fertility of its plain and in ancient myth the young Dionysus was found on its beach and later brought up in a cave emerging from it There is also a second variant of the story influenced by Christian tradition recounting the finding of the relics of Saint Leonides atop the beach of Leonidio where a church was to be built in his honour remaining to this day this is a common suggestion for the derivation of the area s name During the Middle Ages Leonidio found itself used only as a winter refuge for the inhabitants of Prastos the former capital of Tsakonia When Prastos was burned to the ground by Ibrahim Pasha during the Greek Revolution however its refugees found shelter in Leonidio protected by the morphology of the landscape In ensuing years the town flourished and thrived counting among its residents wealthy merchants and seamen closely associated with Constantinople and Odessa during this period beautiful neo classical house and tower house structures were built within its limits including the Tsikaliotis Tower On January 21 1949 a major battle of the Greek civil war took place in the town Modern Era Edit Today Leonidio is a lively and colourful town especially in summer months as a result of newly developing tourism Agriculture nevertheless remains a main source of income for its residents and the benefits of the exploitation of the plain are irreplaceable The town is also famous for its unusual Easter celebration when the custom of aerostata air balloons attracts spectators Greek comedy writer Dimitrios Psathas once recommended the virtues of passing carnival in Patras and Easters in Leonidio citation needed In late years it has become a well known tourist destination for rock climbing 5 Geography EditThe municipality is situated on the eastern coast of the Peloponnese and although coastal opening on to the Myrtoon Sea it is also mainly mountainous punctuated by the Parnon Leonidio town itself however is to be found on the area s plain which proves fertile and very important for the local economy with its high level of agricultural employment Apart from citrus fruit pears tomatoes and olives the area s most famous and widely distributed product is the Tsakonian eggplant characteristic in its sweet taste and acknowledged and protected by the European Union Three old windmills overlook the town Panorama of Leonidio Geology Edit Thanks to its position on the mountain of Parnon the Leonidio municipality is home to a number of stunning geological formations such as the Peleta Sinkhole and the Propantes pothole a vertical cave Demographics EditNewly developing tourism is also a vital part of the area with its scenic clean beaches and breathtaking mountain scenery Notably the area is part of Tsakonia and the Tsakonian language is still spoken in some areas Its communities take in the following Leonidio Vaskina Agios Vasileios Kosmas Kounoupia Mari Paliochori Paliochora Peleta Pigadi Platanaki Poulithra Pragmatefti Tsitalia and Vlisidia See also EditList of settlements in Arcadia List of traditional settlements of GreeceReferences Edit a b Apografh Plh8ysmoy Katoikiwn 2011 MONIMOS Plh8ysmos in Greek Hellenic Statistical Authority FEK B 1292 2010 Kallikratis reform municipalities in Greek Government Gazette Population amp housing census 2001 incl area and average elevation PDF in Greek National Statistical Service of Greece Archived from the original PDF on 2015 09 21 Nicholas Nick 2019 A critical lexicostatistical examination of Ancient and Modern Greek and Tsakonian Journal of Applied Linguistics and Lexicography 1 1 18 68 doi 10 33910 2687 0215 2019 1 1 18 68 Page 19 Leonidio rock climbing and sport climbing Climb Europe Rock climbing and walking in Europe and around the World Retrieved 2022 01 05 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leonidio Information about Leonidio in Greek Info and news about Leonidio in Greek Info about rock climbing in Leonidio Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Leonidio amp oldid 1074683453, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
