From the “Mount Parnon and Moustos Wetland Management Agency, 2015. Guide for the protected area of Mount Parnon and Moustos Wetland. Nature, Culture, Ecotourism. Astros of Arcadia “.
Sitaina The fir-covered Sitaina, Tsakonochori, at a distance of 23 km southwest of Astros and at an altitude of 740 m., Is built left and right of a beautiful – green ravine and below the imposing peaks of Parnon. Its traditional stone houses have the characteristics of Tsakonian architecture. The first written mention of the village is made in a chronicle of the well-known historian Georgios Frantzis, in the year 1435.
During the period of Kleftouria, Dimitrios Kaliotzis, Sitainiotis, is among the seven most famous Thieves of the Peloponnese, will be the terror of the Turks and his rich action will be praised by the popular Muse in many folk songs. The participation of the people of Sitaini in the national uprising of 1821 is impressive. In Sitaina, two military corps will be created, with more than 100 fighters and led by Georgios L. Bourmas and Theodoros Ioannou or Kritikos. With the beginning of the Revolution, Th. Ioannou will leave Nafplio, where he lived with two privately owned ships and the coal monopoly. In Sitaina he will organize and arm at his own expense, having sold his two ships, more than 80 Sitaini, under whose leadership they fought in all the battles of the Peloponnese. In the Byzantine castle of Zagoli, 3 km northeast of the village, late July-early August 1826, the fortified inhabitants and fighters of Sitina will successfully repel and humiliate the hordes of Ibrahim. In 1835, with a royal decree, the Municipality of Sitaini was created. The three impressive and intricately shaped cobbled squares of the village, the vaulted rich fountains and the crystal clear waters of many rich springs, the churches of Taxiarches and Agios Ioannis the Theologian with the strong Byzantine characteristics, the watermill and the rich , in combination with the rich and varied natural environment, create unique images of enchanting beauty, which win the visitor. The fir forest of Sitaina is a unique natural monument. Impressive plateaus, such as those of Profitis Ilias-Kambos, Loutsa and Kambos, rich and complex flora, a multifaceted world of trails, with strong traces and signs of intense human activity in the past marked by lime kilns and marbles , the wells. In the wider area of the village there are also interesting caves, which were a refuge of the inhabitants, both during the Turkish occupation and during the German occupation (Karatza, Kaliotzi, Karahaliou). Sitaina, thanks to its rich natural environment and the numerous paths, many of which follow the ancient road network of the area, is today a pole of attraction for groups of hikers and mountaineering clubs, for the needs of which a free camping area has been formed near the square. Theologos, from the cultural association of the village. Among the many and interesting paths that open and unfold from the village, those to the gorge and the waterfall of Louluga-castle Zagolis and to the plateau Profitis Ilias-peaks of Tourlas are routes known in Greece and with the greatest walking traffic. From the other routes, the old path-mule road that leads to Platanos, the route to the forest of Leka, the path to the bridge and the gorge of Koutoupou stand out. Sitaina is also an ideal starting point for exploring the wonderful world of Brasiatis Gorges. The poet Theodoros Papagiorgopoulos (1862-1941) was born and lived in Sitaina for many years, and he wrote articles in various newspapers and magazines in Athens under the pseudonyms “Sfouggis” and “Parnis”. Sitaina was also the birthplace of the monk Joseph Karatza, founder of the Holy Monastery of Malevi (1916). In addition to the religious festivals, the Cultural Association of the village organizes every summer rich cultural events and activities, such as the Meeting of the Sitainiotes, Youth Festivals, the Gorge Festival, the Bread Circle.
From ExploringGreece
Sitaina together with Kastanista and Prastos formed the original core of Tsakonia. Very picturesque village among the firs, offers multiple possibilities for excursions in the nature of Parnon. The village has traditional stone houses and a lot of water
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sitaina is a mountain village in the prefecture of Arcadia, built amphitheatrically on the slopes of Mount Parnon at an altitude of 700 m., Near its highest peak, Megali Tourla (1934 m.). The village is located 30 km from Astros .
Sitaina is administratively part of the Municipality of North Kynouria. Sitaina is a Tsakonochori in which, along with the nearby villages of Prastos and Kastanitsa, the Tsakoniki dialect is still spoken by the elders.
History
Sitaina is mentioned for the first time in the Chronicle of the Fall of Georgios Sfrantzis, under the name Sitana. The name “Sitaina” is Slavic [3] and means swamp, swamp. In the following years, it is mentioned in various documents of the Turkish occupation and the Venetian occupation. During the pre-revolutionary years, the well-known thief and captain of Captain Zacharias, Dimitrios Kaliontzis, was born in Sitaina. The contribution of the village was also important during the Revolution of 1821, as 150 Sitainiotes joined various corps, with great success. In 1826 Ibrahim Pasha completely destroyed the village, as well as all the other villages of Kynouria. According to tradition, the villagers took refuge in the cave of Zaggoli. In the following years Sitaina became the seat of the Sitaini Community.
The village
The village is full of firs and various trees, while, like the other Tsakonochoria, it has many mansions – tower houses, samples of Tsakonian architecture. Sitaina has two churches: Taxiarches and Agios Ioannis Theologos. Near the top of Parnon, there is the church of Profitis Ilias.
Near the village there is the fortified church of Panagia Zaggoli, mentioned by the traveler William Martin Lake in 1805. The inhabitants of Sitaina took refuge in this cave, after its destruction by Ibrahim. Nearby are the gorges of Loulouga, Koutoupou, Zarbanitsa and Mazia, where hiking and mountaineering takes place. Near Sitaina are the villages of Prastos, Kastanitsa, Arcadia, Platanos, Arcadia, etc.
From the “Mount Parnon and Moustos Wetland Management Agency, 2015. Guide for the protected area of Mount Parnon and Moustos Wetland. Nature, Culture, Ecotourism. Astros of Arcadia “.
The Tsakonian dialect is spoken by Leonidio, Pragmatefti, Melana, Tyros, Sapounakeika, Agios Andreas, Prasto, Sitaina, Kastanitsa. Settlements: Sampatiki, Livadi, Vaskina, Paliochora, Agios Panteleimonas (Fouska), Dernikeika
The Tsakonian dialect
The Tsakonian dialect, the Tsakonian dance, the costume, the customs and traditions of the Tsakonians, are another dynamic of the Parnon area. According to the “Chronicle of Monemvasia”: “And the prefectures and peasants of Thremte were settled in the rugged places adjacent to it, and finally the jaconia were named”. The Tsakones, as true descendants of the Dorians, kept their roots intact and the Tsakonian language is still the living expression of the Doric dialect. In the cradle of Tsakonia, today insists on walking and creating in the footsteps of yesterday in a perpetual and uninterrupted breath of Greece.
The special linguistic treasure of our place The Tsakonian dialect has been included in the list of endangered languages of UNESCO and is recognized as a cultural achievement and a unique treasure of culture. The language was preserved genuine and unadulterated in the mouths of ordinary people, peasants, shepherds and farmers. In wishes, in greetings, in curses, in everyday expressions, in teasing and jokes, there is for centuries now the linguistic treasure of the Tsakonians. In this special part of the Greek land called Tsakonia (the birthplace of Tsakonia was Prastos, Kastanitsa and Sitaina), in these rugged places, the inhabitants of the area, with few means, not only survived, but left behind a valuable heritage, the Tsakonian tradition, the beautiful language, the unique evocative Tsakonian dance, the Tsakonian songs, the weaving art, their habits, what we call today customs and traditions. All this composes the identity of the place with a living language that is in the hands of the Tsakonians, but also of all Hellenism, to embrace it and protect it from oblivion
See the link
http: //www.tsakonianarchives.gr / …
astrosgr.com 