Leonidio

Leonidio Λεωνίδιο
Leonidio
Location within the regional unit 250x250px
Coordinates:
Country	Greece
Administrative region	Peloponnese
Regional unit	Arcadia
Municipality	South Kynouria
Government
• Mayor	Haralambos Lysikatos
• Municipal unit	102.7 km2 (39.7 sq mi)
Elevation	40 m (130 ft)
Population (2011)
• Municipal unit	3,826
• Municipal unit density	37/km2 (96/sq mi)
Community
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code	223 00
Area code(s)	27570
Vehicle registration	AΡ
Website	www.leonidio.gr

Leonidio (Greek: Λεωνίδιο) 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. Population 6,294 (2001).

Landscape

Leonidio, with a population of 6,294 (according to the 2001 census), 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.

File:Moni Agiou Nikolaou Sintzas 2.jpg

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; the well-known Greek comedy writer Dimitrios Psathas once recommended the virtues of passing: "..carnival in Patras, and Easters in Leonidio".

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 areas's plain, which proves fertile and very important for the local economy, with its high level of agricultural employment. Apart from citrus fruit, 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.

File:Leonidio Panorama.jpg

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, Agios Vasileios, Kounoupia, Mari, Paliochori, Peleta, Pigadi, Platanaki, Poulithra, Pragmatefti, Tsitalia, and Vlisidia.

External links

• Information about Leonidio (Greek)
• Info and news about Leonidio (Greek)