Stemnitsa, the mountain village of beauty, piety and tradition, is located on the western edge of Mount Mainalo.
It flourished during the latter years of Ottoman rule thanks to the metalworking craft practiced by its inhabitants. That tradition is preserved to this day by the School of Silver and Goldsmithing in the village. Take your time to get to know all its intriguing sights and the stories behind them. Its imposing tower houses, vaulted fountains and churches all have a majesty of their own. It is said that at one time more than 40 churches were in use, which explains why Stemnitsa has been called the “Arcadian Mystras”. Snuggled into its neighbourhoods are churches like the Virgin Mary of Baphero and St. Anargiroi boasting wonderful murals from the 15th, 17th and 18thcenturies. Above the village, you can visit the Monastery of Chryssopigi, where in a humble cell the members of the Peloponnesian Senate met in 1821.
The central square is the beating heart of the village, with the traditional shops and quaint taverns dotted generously around it. On its north side stands the parish Orthodox Church of St. George, which is embellished with frescoes created by FotisKontoglou. Crossing the main road of the village, not only will you find small gift shops with traditional works of art made of gold and silver, but also one of the best folklore museums of the Peloponnese.
Not far from the village, you can enjoy other attractive destinations, such as Ancient Gortys, the Holy Monastery of Timios Prodromos, Lousios River Gorge and the fir-covered slopes of Mount Mainalo.
