The Town of Leonidion

Leonidion has approximately 5,000 residents. Many people from around the world (both Greek & Non-Greek) also have summerhouses here, making Leonidion a very popular spot during summer months. Easter is also a highly celebrated holiday here. The streets are packed with people celebrating the festivities from all over Greece. They even host a hot air kite/balloon race every Easter. (see my 'Events' section for pictures)

In the Southeast of the Peloponnese, on the coast of Arcadia and near the border with Lakonia is Leonidio, a town renowned for its natural beauty and its agricultural products. Leonidio is located 95 km from Tripoli, the capital of Arcadia and 210 km from Athens. It is the center of Tsakonia and the Tsakonian tradition, which is deeply rooted in ancient Greece and represented today by the dialect, which is spoken, and the handicrafts and art forms such as music and dance still practiced. The characteristic architecture of Leonidio rests among steep mountains. East of the town, the valley extends to the coastline. Through it runs the river Dafnona. The proximity of the sea and the general geographic formation of the area contribute to the creation of the necessary conditions for the cultivation of exceptional early garden vegetables and citrus fruit used for immediate consumption of processed in cooking, juice making and baking.

This information, is part of an overall strategy to effectively promote the exceptional products of the area and to secure for them a place in the market they justly deserve. We believe we will have accomplished this target once the consumers are familiar with our products. This information has been published with in the frame of an integrated project to support the farmers of Leonidion area. This project has been developed within the frame of the LEDA program of the European Union by the Local Union of Municipalities and Communities of Arcadia Prefecture in cooperation with the Municipality of Leonidion.

Special Thank You to the Mayor of Leonidion Dimirios Tsigkounis, his assistant Kostas Trohanis and my uncle Konstantinos Zarokostas (Zaranis) for all the information that they provided for me to make the information on this web page accurate.

There is still much information missing that needs to be said about this special town, yet time prevents me from making this a larger website. This site will always be an ongoing project for myself.

To all my viewers, please provide me with any input or stories you can give me about Leonidion. I am happy to add new sections and information that I am unaware of.

My heart is always in Leonidion.

Constadina Zarokostas

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

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