KANDILA

Kandila, built at 775m above sea level, is a town in the province of Mantineia in the prefecture of Arcadia with a permanent population of about 510 inhabitants and belongs to the Municipality of the capital of the prefecture of Tripoli.It is located N.E. of Tripoli near the ancient Arcadian Orchomenos, at the foot of Mount Oligyrtos or Skipiza (1940m.) The village has been recorded in history since 1467 with a rich tradition and with the main feature being its holy Monastery (10th century) built at 940m inside a cave dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin Mary.

The monastery had a prominent role in the struggle of the Greeks as it was an asylum for the Christians of the area, a gunpowder supply center, but also a hospital for the fighters. The Elder of Moria Theodoros Kolokotronis himself had visited the Holy Monastery many times with his son and was in close contact with the Abbot as evidenced by a handwritten letter of his which is preserved and exhibited in the monastery with the signature and his stamp.

Touring the village’s alleys with its traditional stone houses takes you back in time in a calm and peaceful mountain landscape. On the contrary, Kandila, still alive despite the desolation of the countryside and with many young people, is a “living” village. You will find 2 bakeries, 2 mini markets, pharmacy, restaurants, taverns, cafes where locals and visitors enjoy for their needs and entertainment.

But perhaps the most privileged feature of the village is that it is close to all the interesting destinations in the area such as: