About Me
IN GENERAL
A community which, in 1999, was embodied in the Municipality of Leonidion. It is situated at an altitude of 540 m, above sea level, stretches over an area of 32 sq. km. A semi-mountainous village and an ideal holiday resort is expanding in a picturesque plateau between the Parnon pro-mountains "SGOURIA" (an altitude of 922m) and "KOUMARIA" (an altitude of 839 m) are some of the village areas with a perfect climate. Due to recovery reasons, doctors always advised their patients to have a stay in Tsitalia. A well constructed asphalted road of 9 Km with a sufficient visibility leads to Leonidion, the capital town of Kynouria prefecture, through rocky grounds with an exceptional view. According to the latest census, the village has 280 inhabitants (150 permanent ones, while in summer this number comes up to 500). They are famous for their traditional hospitality and the tasty Tsitaliotic bread. The inhabitants of Tsitalia, who have always been farmers and cattle-breeders, are hardworking, generous and like to emigrate. Nearly all the village houses are stone-built, by experiences local workers; the majority have two storeys. Tsitalia already gets water also from Parnon sources.
IN THE VILLAGE
The village square, which dominates its center, is elevated, including seats and play-ground; it is surrounded by trees. The community building is housed in an old traditional and restored two-storeyd building dated in 1888, and it is situated in a prominent place. The community clinic is also housed in the same building, as well as the community library, which is continuously enriched. The magnificent stone-built Byzantine church of St. George, including a dome, which is started in 1951 and was inaugurated in 1966. The nearby old church of St George, which was built in 1841, includes a precious Holy Relic, the Great wonder-working Cross of the wood-carved Iconostasis. The Cross worked miracles in 1825, when it was shot by the Ibrahim Pasha troops. The sacrilegious sign, the hole, made by that bullet, is clearly visible on the Cross. That Cross was bought in the 19th century from the church of the Virgin Mary, which was previously a monastery of the nearby village of Kynouria. The Cross worked miracles in other cases too. A small church of the 16th century, according to converging estimations, dedicated to Virgin Mary, the Source of Life, is situated at the cemetery, which one can visit through an asphalt road starting from the village, nearby the existing, exquisite new church of the Source of Life, which is of a cruciform style (including a dome) and which was built in 1972; the old church was built within 24 hours, according to the tradition, and was the village church during the Turkish occupation period and was also used as a Secret School. The small old church was recently supported. Some old dilapidated village houses are preserved near the cemetery at "Costakaiika". The Tsitalia Folklore Museum is housed and is now getting organized at the grandiose and surrounded by pine-trees stone-built village primary school, which was built in 1928. A rich amount of photographs s also collected. The adjacent room is used as a lecture room. The village park with a big dense pine-trees stretches over the back side of the primary school. The hero's tomb is situated opposite the school. On its column 23 names of shot Tsitalians are inscribed starting from the Tsitalian Hero "Christos Papagiannis", who was shot dead, while fighting in 1822 at Dervenakia. In 1995, at the village entrance, near the Hero's Tomb, the Association, at one of its private grounds built a monument, dedicated to the Tsitalian fighter of 1821, Dimitrios Sarros. A little further, one can find the big village football-field. Volley and basketball courts are also found at the school courtyard.
OUTDISE AND ROUND THE VILLAGE
Some of the small or big caves are worth seeing, but are still unexploited. Nearly 2,500 goats are breeded at the nearby hills and mountains, which are green all year round. The village is mainly a cattle-breeding area, while olive cultivation is developed at the plains. The ruins of the then inhabited castle of the Acropolis of the Ancient Prassies, rising above the sea, visibly exist at "Palaiokastro" and "Agios Thanassis" (580 m altitude) this area is mentioned among other writers by Thoukididis (book B' 56). The dilapidated small church of the Byzantine church of ST. Antahassios is situated inside the castle, which is related with all historic periods. Another small, restored Byzantine Church, St. Dimitrios, belonging to Leonidio is nearby, from the side of the sea. At the "Palaiokastro" greater area, at "Viglitsa", according to the tradition, one can find a Byzantine settlement including the remains of the church of St. George, which is situated at "Aigiorgis" lower area. One can admire a panoramic view from "Agiosthanassi", as well as from the nearby peak of "Pigadakia" (603 m altitude). At the end of the 19th century, the country church of the Prophet Ilias is situated at the proud peak, of the high mountain "Koumarias" the village pride (at the Southern part of the village). The view is marvelous both towards the sea (Spetses, Hydra, Argolis) and the land (the Parnon villages) A motor road is crossing an abundance of pine-trees up to the mountain peak; this street is also ideal for walking. Lastly, at the Southeastern part of the village, at the nearest to the village area "Ambelia" or "Kostaiika Ambelia", a distance of only 1,800 m. from it, a wonderful view is offered to the visitors both from the sea and the land, including steep ravines greedily making for the shore providing a picturesque island air. A motor road is also appropriate for walking as far as its end. The usual course from "Loutsa" to the "Voila Turn" is wonderful for an everyday walk; elevated seats can be found there and the walker can have a rest. Mulberry trees and Acacias ornate the street, while half the way is illuminated. One can also find at Tsitalia two coffee-houses and two taverns. The village religious feasts are on August 15th and 23rd, days dedicated to Virgin Mary, on Monday after Easter, on St George's day, as well as on July 20th, the day dedicated to the Prophet Ilias. The nearest pilgrimages : St Nicholas of Sunzas the Elona Virgin Mary and the Kounoupia Virgin Mary (including their wonder-working icons)
