Dimitsana, Stone and Watermills Above the Gorges of Arcadia

You reach Dimitsana by climbing slowly through the woods of Arcadia, in the mountainous heart of the Peloponnese. The grey stone houses cling to the hillside, overlooking the gorge of the river Lousios, and bell towers rise among the tiled roofs. It's a place where the rhythm is that of a valley still living on silence, walks and fountains: no queues, no tour buses, just the odd traveller in search of the Greece that is least photographed.

Water and craftsmanship

The village preserves a long tradition tied to water and craftsmanship. Along the river, old mills and processing works have survived, now gathered in a small open-air museum devoted to hydraulic power, which recounts how these mountain communities lived before the modern age. Walking the lanes you come across historic houses, ancient libraries and hidden little churches, witnesses to a past in which Dimitsana was a centre of study and of trades.

The landscape

The real richness, though, is the landscape all around. From the Lousios gorge a network of paths sets off, linking monasteries carved into the rock, suspended above the void, and leading towards the ancient site of Gortys. It's an accessible and spectacular trek, ideal for those who want to walk far from the crowds, among running water, plane trees and stone walls. In spring the slopes are green and in bloom, in autumn they blaze with warm colours.

Slow tourism

Visiting Dimitsana means choosing slow and respectful tourism: sleeping in family-run inns, eating in the village tavernas, leaving the car behind and trusting to your feet. It's a real alternative to the islands taken by storm, a corner of mainland Greece where time seems to have stopped and where the mountains, not the sea, set the pace of the day.

Related guides: Less touristy Greek islands: where the sea stays authentic · Tired of Santorini? The Greek islands with the same blue domes and half the tourists.

Getting there

The reference centre is Tripoli, capital of Arcadia, from which Dimitsana is about an hour away by mountain road. From Athens you arrive by car in just over two hours along the motorway towards Corinth and then towards Tripoli, taking the exit for Vytina. The most convenient airport is Athens; there are also KTEL bus connections to Tripoli, from where you continue on to the village.