The village has a dramatic setting as it is nestling underneath impressive red cliffs, with beautiful views of the fertile Dafnonas valley and the surrounding mountains. Leonidio has become famous as a climbing destination. Thousands of people attend the famous Night of the Balloons, on Holly Saturday, as well as the Melitzazz multinational Festival during summer.
Leonidio has a dramatic setting nestling underneath impressive red cliffs and with beautiful views of the fertile Dafnonas valley and the surrounding mountains. It’s one of the Tsakonian villages, meaning that it has a cultural and linguistic heritage which is distinct from the rest of Greece.
Considerable efforts are being made to conserve this heritage, and if you want to find out more about it head to the Fabrica of Culture exhibition.
You’ll enjoy the interesting display, and the building itself is a traditional building dating from 1859. (https://www.fabbricaofculture.gr/en/).
Additionally, the Tsakonian Archive, an "ark" of knowledge about folk culture and the Tsakonian dialect, is housed in a stone-built Tsakonian building in the village. The Tsakonian language is also taught in Leonidio, along with the art of weaving, and the lessons are open to people of all ages.
The old neighbourhood of Leonidio is a labyrinth of alleys and old houses, with the Agia Kyriaki church at its heart. If you’re exploring the village, keep an eye out for the old tower houses from the beginning of the 19th century, especially the outstandingly restored Tsikaliotis Tower with its stained-glass windows. It was built in 1808 and now functions as an exhibition space. The Polytimos and Skarbounis mansion houses are also good examples of local architecture. Leonidio was designated as a Traditional Settlement in 1977, and is the administrative capital of South Kynouria and Tsakonia.
One of the more unusual sites in Leonidio is the early 20th century steam-roller. It’s a favourite with children and was used to build the Leonidio-Plaka road. There are not many of these left in Europe.
Climb in Leonidio. In recent years, thanks to its impressive rocks, Leonidio has become a popular climbing destination. There are more than 1,000 routes, with different degrees of difficulty. There is a Climbing Festival in November when Leonidio is filled with climbers from all over the world. The festival is organized by the Region of Peloponnese and the Municipality of South Kynouria (https://climbinleonidio.com).
Since the summer of 2011, the fascinating multinational Festival of Tsakonia called Melitzazz, has been held in Leonidio. It combines a large programme of events with the culinary tradition of Tsakonia and musical sounds from all over the Mediterranean. The star of the local cuisine is, of course, the aubergine, cooked in all sorts of delicious ways. Music from all over the world - jazz, latin, ethnic, Greek folk and rebetika- "blend" with the flavours and invite you to join the dancing and singing. You’ll get to see the traditional Tsakonian dance, which is considered to have its roots in antiquity (https://www.melitzazz.gr/en/).
The Tsakonian aubergine. The microclimate of the Leonidio area makes it the perfect place for the sweet Tsakonian aubergine. It is one of the 107 Greek products which have been awarded protected designation of origin (PDO). No matter how these aubergines are cooked they are delicious -in moussaka, aubergine salad, baked vegetables, cooked with meats or fried.
The port connected to Leonidio is the beautiful harbour town of Plaka, with its long beach on the coastline of South Kynouria, facing the Aegean.
Leonidio is famous for its Night of the Balloons. On Holy Saturday, as soon as the Resurrection bells ring, illuminated colourful balloons rise into the sky from all the parishes in the city. The sight is spectacular.
Read information on the nearby Elonas Monastery and the Natura 2000 area.
Did you know that
Leonidio is about 200 km from Athens.
There are traditional tavernas and good accommodation options in restored mansions and farmhouses.
Climbing in Leonidio
In recent years Leonidio has become a popular destination for climbers thanks to the impressive cliffs behind the village.
There are more than 1000 different routes, with varying degrees of difficulty. During the Climbing Festival which is organised every November, Leonidio is full of climbers from all over the world. The festival is organised by the Region of Peloponnese and the Municipality of South Kynouria (https://climbinleonidio.com).
The night of hot-air balloons in Leonidion
It’s worth visiting Leonidio in the Easter, in order to admire the marvellous spectacle with hundreds of bright hot-air balloons, rising in the sky, from the five parishes, as soon as “Jesus resurrected” is heard.
Light and colour! The Easter custom in Leonidio has become famous all over Greece, and you’ll be lucky if you happen to be in the area during the Easter holidays.
Thousands of photos and videos capture the marvellous spectacle with hundreds of bright hot-air balloons, rising in the sky, from the five parishes, as soon as “Jesus resurrected” is heard. In fact, recently the “Message of the hot-air balloon” was established, on occasion of several actual topics - such as the Greek Revolution of 1821, the war in Ukraine, etc.
The Easter hot-air balloons include a special mechanism, allowing them to rise: on their bottom, there is an opening, where a piece of cloth dipped in oil and petrol is fixed (the so-called “kollimara”). When it catches fire, it warms up the hot-air balloon, which takes off. The paper is light-weighted, and sheets of different colours are used.
The hot-air balloons have a maximum size of 2 m, so that they can rise very high - up to 1000 m! The fire burns for 30-40 minutes, and then they go “cold” and fall down.
We do not know the origin of the custom, which is unique in this area. It is said to have emerged in Leonidio around 1910-15.
See details on the website of the Municipality of Leonidio.
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