Right above the banks of Lousios River in Arcadia, Stemnitsa is a traditional settlement with an exceptional character. The stone houses and aristocratic mansions, the verdant surroundings and the imposing views to mount Mainalo, these are all small details composing a dreamy destination. Whether as part of a “village hopping” vacation or as your sole visit in Greek mainland, Stemnitsa will definitely make your heart beat faster!
The village has been built where Ypsos city was founded in antiquity. Ypsos is a direct reference to Stemnitsa’s altitude, which is 1,100 meters above sea level! So you can imagine the views and a mere example is those pictures that we share on the article. There is a hill called Kastro or the Castle, offering the best vistas from above. As for its current name Stemnitsa, it derives from the Slavic language and is related to a verdant, forest-filled region. And the tall trees all around do it justice, obviously. Cherry trees and pine trees, fir trees and almond trees are all there, providing their generous shade and giving fruit to locals. This is why one of the finest traditional delicacies in the area is none other than the almond pie.
Among the most impressive and noteworthy attractions in the area feature the Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi and the Church of Saint George, the Watermill of Tsagkourou and the Folklore Museum. As you are walking past the historic neighborhoods of the village, you will come across various timeless, elegant mansions and stone houses built to perfection. Everything seems to blend with nature most wonderfully, without the slightest sound of cacophony.
Tradition plays an important role in Greek mainland, including Stemnitsa village. It is perfectly understandable why locals have fought hard to maintain tradition and revive customs from old times. And Stemnitsa Silvery School is a great example of that endless connection between the past and the present…with a never-ending cycle that also shapes the future!