Hiking in Dimitsana and Ancient Gortyna, Peloponnese

Dimitsana is a historical village of northern Arcadia, built on west Menalo at 946m altitudes. In the place of today’s Dimitsana, there used to be the ancient Arcadian town Teuthis, which had taken part in the Trojan war and in colonizing Megalopolis. Characterized as a traditional settlement, it is stretched on two hills with stone tower houses, impressive mansions, and cobbled alleys, offering a unique architectural construction.

Itinerary

The path heading to the ancient town of Gortys starts from the open-air Water Power museum which projects pre-industrial techniques that use water as the main source of power for the production of several products.

After the visit to the museum, the guests can continue their tour to Lousios gorge following the route which leads to the traditional bridge of Monoporis. This bridge connects the east side of the gorge with the west, where it is built the new monastery of Philosopher. The monastery was founded in the middle of the 17th century, it owns a remarkable wooden-sculptured icon screen, and the murals decorating the temple are of Cretan technique and are credited to painter Victor.

A short distance from Philosophou's new monastery, there is the Old monastery of Philosopher. A narrow path with carved steps on the rocks ends up to the complex of the old monastery. It is the oldest monastery in Arcadia and one of the oldest Byzantine monuments in Greece. It was founded in 963 BC by Ioannis Lampardopoulos from Dimitsana, also called “philosopher”, who was the secretary of the emperor Nikiforos Fokas.

The route goes on with one more monastery visit, the monastery of Saint Prodromos. The monastery was founded in the 12th century BC by the monks who lived in nearby recluse places. The monastery is built in the cavity of a cliff, causing awe to the visitor-pilgrimage. From the balcony, the visitors can enjoy the magical view of the Lousios gorge.

The last stop of our route is the archaeological site of Ancient Gortynos which is located at the exit of the gorge. The ruins from the advanced, for that period, of bathing and healing facilities, the so-called “Asklipia” of the 4th-3rd centuries BC, continue to draw the visitors’ amazement, in an exquisite place that combines the beauty and the tranquility by the river Lousios.

Route Description

• Start and finish: Dimitsana- Ancient Gortys
• Max altitude:950m
• Min altitude: 480m

General information:

• In case the participants wish to travel by their own means, let us know.
• In case of bad weather conditions or other causes beyond our own responsibility, we reserve the right to modify or postpone the outdoor activity.