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Ελληνική Έκδοση
AREA INFORMATION
Ermionida
constitutes one of the three counties of Argolida in the north-east
Peloponnese whose rich and breathtaking landscape encompasses the famous
ancient sites of Corinth, Mycenae, Epidavros and Tyrins, and the lovely
town of Nafplion. Situated at the tip of the peninsula opposite the
islands of Spetses and Hydra the county of Ermionida has a mixture of
agricultural towns and fishing villages. Its coastline is rippled with
numerous inlets and small bays offering wonderful clear water and
natural harbors. The interior of rolling hills and plains
semi-encompassed by mountains to the north-west is covered by olive
groves and dotted by towns and villages in which the traditional rhythm
of daily life has remained unchanged.
Maps
Kranidi
dominates the interior plain of
Ermionida. Built on a hill it overlooks the mountain passes north and
east, and the port of Kilada below. Historically its inhabitants were
engaged in both agricultural and seafaring activities. Its importance as
a commercial center is still visible in its stately homes~ ornamented
with lace-like iron balconies and its numerous impressive churches. The
town still retains a charming old world appearance and atmosphere.
Walking along its narrow cobbled streets the sights, sounds and smells
transport one to a previous era.

Ermioni
is a charming town and port situated on a narrow peninsula whose history
goes back to antiquity. Archaeological traces of the ancient city have
been found throughout the present site and in the pine-covered area at
the tip of the peninsula called Bisti. The recent town is a Custer of
small houses, narrow store-covered streets surrounded on either side by
a harbor. Lining the main port are pensions, restaurant and shops, while
in the particularly picturesque quarter called Mandrakia with its old
colorful houses and taverns lining the waterfront is another harbor
where the fishermen's boats are docked and their nets put out to dry.

The road leading north- east of
Ermioni is dotted with small seaside towns and resorts. Particularly
attractive is the area around Thermissia and Plepi with its seemingly
endless beaches lining the coast. rewarding visit while in the area is
to the monastery of Agii Anagriri which dates from the eleventh century.
The existing buildings are dated from the seventeenth century. The walls
of the churches are adored with frescoes from this period and the
elaborately carved wooden iconostasis covered in gold leaf dates from
1711.
Porto CHeli
is picturesque because of its fascinating beaches, a tourist centre
because of its luxurious hotels, unique because of its secure port,
bright because of its 350 days of sunshine, unforgettable because of its
wonderful sunset, inexhaustible because of its innumerable cultural
activities.
All these qualities made Porto CHeli,
this little village of fishermen, a unique summer holiday centre. Its
first name, "ALIIS" meaning fishermen came from the occupation of its
inhabitants. However conquerors changed it into "Porto CHeli". There 's
an ancient city at the bottom of the sea near Hotel Giouli. We can
distinguish the walls, the temple, the Acropolis.
Archaeological researches have proved
that the city was autonomous and rich (commerce, pottery, agriculture).

For unknown reasons, the story of the
city is suddenly interrupted, leaving a lot of unanswerable questions to
the archaeologists.
Today, this village of fishermen,
still maintaining its charm has evolved into a tourist centre where a
lot of ship - owners have had their houses built, a lot of luxurious
yachts are sheltered in its natural port. We are also certain that its
modern and comfortable hotels along with its luxurious rented rooms will
make your visit unforgettable.
Its perfect road network and means of
transportation makes it even easier for you to visit the place and enjoy
its serenity, its warm climate and the traditional Greek life.
You can spend your day on its vast
beaches, with pine trees that reach the sand or in small picturesque
bays, have lunch at the traditional taverns and ouzeri along the port
and finally live an intense night that will keep you awake till down.
Kilada,
a quiet fishing village 6 kilometers from Kranidi, despite a few modern
buildings lining the port evokes the same atmosphere of a pre-
industrial way of life. Its harbor is crowded with colorful fishing
vessels built by local craftsmen. Past traditions still retain a
spontaneous nature particularly evident in the festival which takes
place on the first of August every year celebrating the embarking of the
fishing fleet.

Nearby opposite the port is the mouth
of a large cave (refereed to by the local residents as The cave of
Cyclops') in which pre-historic remains have been excavated dating from
25,000 to 5,000 B.C.
Didima.
Further inland 14 kilometers from Kranidi near the village of Didima is
another large cave (visible from the road) and crater which are believed
to have created by the fall of a meteor. At the bottom of the crater
(which can be reached by a tunnel) are two tiny churches.
One is of St. George in which traces
of old frescoes are evident and the other is the tiny cave-like chapel
of the Metamorphosis.

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