Tripolis

The Town

Tripoli is located at the centre of Peloponnese and is a city known for its important part in the modern history of Greece. Theodoros Kolokotronis, the famous general of the Greek Revolution, is a historical figure of the city since he was in charge of the operations which led to the liberation of the city in 23rd of September in 1821. Tripoli is the largest city and the capital of Arcadia county. While you are in here, don’t miss the wonderful opportunity to visit the traditional villages of the mountainous Arcadia, like Dimitsana, Stemnitsa, Vitina etc, which are great throughout the year and offer plenty of experiences to their travelers. Due to its central location, Tripoli is also a great place for day trips in the nearby locations, like Astros, Sparta, Kalamata, Nafplio and many more! Very close to Tripoli you will find one of the three ski centers of Peloponnese, the ski centre of Mainalos.

History

Ottoman occupancy

Tripoli is a relatively new city and the first mention of its name was in 1467. During the end of the 17th century the city was populated with over 20.000 residents and was under the Ottoman occupancy. Around 1770 the Ottomans punished the Christians of the city by killing around 3.000 people and destroying their properties. Gradually Tripoli became the most powerful military base of the Ottomans in Southern Greece.

Fall of Tripolitsa

In April of 1821 Greeks attacked the Ottomans and the siege of the city started. The leading figure of the Greeks was Theodoros Kolokotronis. According to his memoir, thousands of Ottomans died during the battles while only 100 Greeks died from the Greek revolutionaries. The siege ended on 23rd of September of the same year after 3 days of bloodshed. These events are known as the “Fall of Tripolitsa”.

Ibrahim Pasha

Theodoros Kolokotronis had ordered to burn the city before it was handed to Ibrahim Pasha in 1825. He used the city as a starting point for his invasions. After 3 years the Greeks besieged the city and in 1828 Ibrahim finally abandoned the city. However before he left, he set on fire the whole city probably to make the city useless to his enemies and as an action of revenge for the destruction of his fleet in the Battle of Navarino.

After the liberation

The reconstruction of the city started after the last destruction of 1828 and the population was gradually increased. During the German occupancy of Greece, the German Command was established in the city in order to prevent any revolutionary actions. The years which followed were harsh for the residents of Tripoli and many of them reacted at the regime by joining the National Resistance. You can still see the monuments which are dedicated to the heroes of this period, one is at the square of Independence and the other one is behind the cemetery of Ai-Thanasi.

Sightseeing

“Agios Vasileios square” is the central square of Tripoli. The metropolitan holy temple of Agios Vasileios is the most notable monument here. The temple was built in the location where a mosque used to be. Close to “Agios Vasileios square” you will find the War Museum of Tripoli. Here you can see priceless artifacts from the Greek War of Independence in 1821 and from the battles of 1940. Guns and swords which were used during the battles, documents, the death mask of Theodoros Kolokotronis and uniforms are some of the most important exhibits of the museum. You can’t miss the “Areos square” which is located at the place where the seraglio used to be. Here you will see the marble column which is dedicated to the heroes who played an important part during the liberation of Tripoli from the Ottomans in 1821. The historical building of the courthouse was founded in 1914 and was inaugurated in 1934. In this square you will also find the monument where the bones of Theodoros Kolokotronis are kept under the impressive statue of the brave general on his horse A beautiful neoclassical building, which was designed by the architect Ernst Ziller, houses the archaeological museum of Tripoli. Initially it was used as the hospital of the city and today you can admire numerous treasures – more than 7000 findings- from the Arcadian history. The “Petrinou square” has become the most vibrant place of the city due to the many cafes, bars and restaurants around this area. The “municipal theatre Malliaropouleio” is the most notable building here. The theater was founded in 1905 and was a donation of Ioannis Malliaropoulos, who was a doctor and art lover. The grove of Agios Georgios (St. George) is located about 1km away from the centre of the city. Don’t miss the opportunity to follow the paths and find the temple of Agios Georgios inside the grove. Here you will also find the theater which is used for theatrical and musical events during the summer period.

Outside the city

Cave of Kapsia Just 15km away from Tripoli there is one of the most beautiful caves of Greece. The cave of Kapsia reveals the geological events which took place even 3 million years ago! Fragments of bones, the traces of a major flood and the magnificent stalagmites and stalactites will enchant you during your visit. The villages of mountainous Arcadia Close to Tripoli you could visit beautiful picturesque villages, with houses made of stones, surrounded by the beautiful nature with the forests, the mountains, the gorges and the rivers. One of the most known is Dimitsana, a beautiful village with plenty choices for your accommodation, traditional restaurants and the amazing open air hydro movement museum. In the museum you have the opportunity to learn everything about the traditional small industries and how they operated by using the energy from the water. Close to Dimitsana, you could also visit some historical monasteries of Arcadia, the philosopher’s monastery or even try hiking at the gorge of Lousios River. Close to Dimitsana you could visit Stemnitsa, where you will find a Folklore museum of Arcadia. Around 56km away from Tripoli you could find Lagadia village which will impress its visitors with its amazing view and architecture. Vitina must be one of the most popular destinations of the traditional villages in Arcadia. People tend to visit this destination throughout the year where you will find traditional hotels and apartments as well as plenty of restaurants to enjoy the local cuisine. Last but not least, in Libovisi village you will find the house of the famous chieftain Theodoros Kolokotronis which today is a museum with exhibits from the battles of the Greeks against the Ottomans. Arcadia is also a perfect destination for religious travelling. Some of the most important monasteries here is the historical monastery of Epano Xrepas (10km), the beautiful monastery of Varson (11km), the byzantine temple of Tegea close to the archaeological site (7km), the monastery of Panagia Eleousa (33km), the monastery of Panagia Vlacherna (33km) and the historical monasteries of the Lousios gorge. You could also try visiting some of the most beautiful lakes around the area. The closest one is the Taka Lake, only 10km away from Tripoli. It is an important hydro biotope of Peloponnese where many species of migratory birds find shelter. The artificial lake of Ladona is located between the Arcadian mountains offering an amazing view to its visitors. The most famous one is however the Cave of the lakes which is an amazing location 60km away from Tripoli. The arcades, the stalactites and the lakes create a unique location which won’t disappoint the visitor.