Talking with the Ancient
Near the south-eastern tip of Arcadia, in a fertile valley at the foot of imposing Mount Parnon and not far from the shores of the Myrtoan Sea, lies Leonidio, one of the oldest seafaring towns in Greece. It was once the capital of Tsakonia – a region comprising several villages and hamlets distinguished by their Doric-derived dialect and equally ancient customs, which are reverently preserved to this day. The Tsakonian dance, to name but one, performed by men, women and children alike, has survived the centuries with its spiral and serpentine formations unchanged. Possibly an ancient sacred dance, it is now a symbol of deeply felt local identity.
The people of Leonidio are proud of their heritage and this is evident as soon as you enter the town, where signposts are written in the Tsakonian dialect with the modern Greek translation below. An exquisite scent of geraniums, honeysuckle and lemon trees from the gardens wafts through the picturesque streets of the town. Beautifully renovated pre-1800 mansions and towers and 19th-century neoclassical buildings have earned Leonidio the status of a traditional village of historical importance, a testament to the will of local seafaring merchants to maintain a link with their birthplace.
Home to the celebrated Eggplant
Leonidio is also famous for an unusual, sweet variety of aubergine grown in the surrounding fertile plain – the DOP ‘Tsakonian Aubergine’. It is thin with thin purple and white stripes, and the locals prepare it in a myriad of ways: stuffed, roasted, fried, baked with cheese, pureed, as a topping on pizzas, in spaghetti sauce, wrapped in crispy puff pastry, as jam, and as candied baby eggplant in a syrup made with hot spices and almonds. So precious is this local crop that it has its own festival called Melitzazz (a word formed by combining the Greek words for aubergine and jazz). On this festive occasion, local chefs prepare and serve delicious dishes based entirely on this vegetable, to the accompaniment of jazz music.
The Easter custom of the Balloons
The celebration of Easter in Leonidio is unique in colour, devotion and excitement. On the night of Easter Saturday, the locals and visitors who have gathered in the town’s main square wait impatiently for the big moment: at midnight, to the chant of “Christos Anestis” (Christ is risen) and amid the fireworks in the sky, five to six hundred handmade hot-air balloons (that is, about one balloon per house) are released over the water and slowly fill the sky with their sparkling light. Tradition has it that whatever the weather, calm prevails and only a gentle westerly wind blows, just strong enough to allow the balloons to reach the stars.
Tsakonian Villages
Pragmatefti, Sabatiki, Livadi, Pera Melana, Tyros, Sapounakaiika, Agios Andreas, Prasto, Kastanitsa and Sitaina, as well as the hamlets of Fouska and Vaskina… a series of villages that dot this enchanting Arcadian area, preserving and enriching its unique character.
Tyros, with its colourful community of Germans, Belgians, Austrians, Dutch, Danes, British and Greeks, who have restored the old houses of the village; Kastanitsa, with its characteristic stone houses and chestnut forest, located in a region where 16 species of plants are unique in the world; Pera Melana, with its celebration of the Honey Festival; Prasto, with its celebration of the Archangels; Sabatiki, with its fishermen’s festival…
Blue Mosaic invites you to celebrate the beauty of this unique region with our fine villas within easy reach (Villa Starlett, Villa Negroni, Villa Daiquiri).
