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Andritsena the city of stones! |
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Andritsena, the grand lady of stones!.
A town of stone built like an amphitheatre |
on a with a commanding view, with a long history and endless beauty, Andritsena, the capital city of the municipality with the same name, is like a precious jewel with its traditional architecture and a cultural centre.
Lagadians, people from Epirus, and Italian craftsmen when passing through left their imprint as they painstakingly carved stone with artistry, thus constructing wonderful cobblestone paths, stately houses, bridges, churches and fountains.
One of these is renowned, called «Trani Vrisi» which is one of the oldest in the Peloponnese, keeping company with the church of St. Nikolaos, dedicated to three saints in all, in the centre of the town, whereas further down at the district of Mourmoureika, we can see the well-known church of St. Therapon and several older and more impressive mansions.
A recent addition to the symphony of stones is the town's lovely theatre.
The locals are well-known farmers and stockbreeders, producing and selling in the local markets original diary products, fresh vegetables and delicious fruit. Traditional sweets and savoury noodles are all homemade, whereas the bread, freshly-kneaded and baked in ovens heated by wood pervades the town.
Andritsena has always been at the heart of events, proof of which is the traditional printer's shop of the local newspaper «New Horizon», published non-stop since 1926. The historicity of the region, its contribution to the Sacred Struggle for Independence and the bravery of its people are unquestionable.
A true son of Andritsena, Panayiotis Anagnostopoulos, whom Modern Hellenic History did not treat justly unlit recently, was proven to be, together with Tsakalov and Skoufas, the genuine first three founders of the «Philiki Etaireia» - Society of Friends. The statue of he first founder of this society that adorns the town as well as the monastery of Panagia Naphiliotissa bear witness to the fact that town passionately adored both freedom and the Virgin Mary.
Andritsena is the cultural corner of the Peloponnese, boasting an exceptional library, with old books and manuscripts of the Franks, Venetian and Chieftains of 1821. The library was a donation by Agathofrona Nikolopoulos, a so of the town. Its corridors are decorated with copies of pediments of Alkamene's «Epicurean Apollo» namely the famous «Amazon battle» and «Battle of Centaurs».
Valuable books waited patiently in 47 crates for some 35 years at the chapel of St Barbara, until in 1875, the National bank of Greece constructed the building that today houses the town's students, but also provided the shelter this cultural treasure deserved.
The collection has been moved and currently it is preserved at an newer adjacent two-storey edifice, the library of Andritsena. Its donor, Nikolopoulos, suffered hunger, hardships and deprivations in Paris, where he lived and worked as a librarian at the Institute of France, in order to collect these 3696 very rare titles. In the library's second chamber, other significant patriots and patrons of the letters, the heirs to E. Kallaniotis, donated 3600 volumes of his exquisite private collection.
The restored mansion of Kanellopoulos, an example of 18th century architecture, houses the Folklore Museum, with original furniture of the period, authentic clothing, personal items of the benefactors, a plethora of private documents and photographs. The Museum, of unique architectural inspiration and aesthetics, is a true reconstruction of an upper middle-class mansion and each of its three floors displays a complete theme, while more than 4000 valuable exhibits take the lucky visitor back in history to the period from 1832-1932.
Andritsena...nowdays
The heart of Andritsena beats hard to modern rhythms, offering contemporary enjoyments. Very attractive, traditional tavernas and rest restaurants exude smells and fragrances, never known before.
The local products and the artistry of their chefs and broilers make our gastronomic journeys unique.
Picturesque hostels, spotless rooms to let and their hospitable owners transform the traveller's stay into a unique experience.
Our nights are filled with intensity, high spirits and fun at the local bars and clubs, while relaxing coffee at the picturesque cafes make for a soothing afternoon.
Andritsena appears warm and hospitable in everything it has to offer, like a real hostess. How could it be otherwise since it was named after a legendary female personality. The widow of Andritsos Mourmouris (from Mourmoura in Crete) or some fellow named Andrikos Fanaritis who was being pursued and had an Inn in the area.
The town once belonged to the Seigniory of Mystra and later it came under the rule of the Franks, when it grew so much that it was mentioned in the «Chronicle of Moreas».
When the locals rebelled against the Franks, they turned to the Paleologues for help. From 1427-1456, the rule of the region was the wise Georgios Plithon Gemistos.
Turkish and Franks laid claim to the area alternatively, until eventually it came under Turkish Occupation. Until 1700, however, Andritsena was already a commercial centre, with considerable power and was well-known for its shops, tanneries, textile mills and flour mills. Thus, Andritsena, the grand lady, was no stranger to wealth or battles and as such, remains proud and indomitable in her unconquered haunt till today.
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Accommodation proposals, entertainment and shopping in Andritsena |
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Texts - Information: Andritsena Municipality
Photographs: Nikos Papadopoulos |
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Exploration
