KOSMAS
This is the lovliest mountain village we know! It's located in the Arcadian mountains, at about 1150 meters above sea level. It's just perfect to visit Kosmas on hot summer days, it's always a little cooler under the huge trees at this mountain village, than at the coast.
Kosmas invites us to spend some lazy hours in the beautiful square, with great food and drinks, a good book or philosophical conversations. The city's 300 or so inhabitants are always welcoming guests, and it's even possible to stay the night in a hotel if you want a longer visit.
Kosmas is perfectly situated on the road to several other see-worthy places in the Peloponnese, like Mani and Mystras.
Leonidio and Kosmas are located in the county of Arcadia, 80 and 100 km from Nafplio.
LEONIDIO
More than anything, Leonidio is a climber's paradise, some even call it Greece's climbing capital. And even if you didn't know that, the massive wall that rises high above the town (pic. right) will surely tempt you if you enjoy a climb.
Other than that it's a peaceful village filled with handsome villas, a few shops, hotels, pensions and eateries, it all feels very welcoming and laidback. If you want a swim, head down to Plaka (4 km) for beaches and a few taverns.
Leonidio has other claims to fame as well, like the language Tsakonian that stems from Doric Greek (and not Attic-Ionic like modern Greek). It's a critical endangered language which only a few hundred or thousand elderly people speak fluently - and it's here, in and near Leonidio, that they live.
Also from Leonidio are the small, seedless tsakonian aubergines, a milder version than the standard ones. Try to taste them when they're in season and/or join the feast when they're celebrated - in the end of August. Another festive time in Leonidion is Easter, when lanterns made of oranges and handmade hot air ballons brigthens the town.
Finally, the monastery Elonas, almost unbelievably resting on a mountains side, is worth a stop if you have access to a car.
To travel to Leonidio, take a local bus to the bus station in Argos, and from there catch the Athens - Leonidio bus run by KTEL Arkadias.
Try some local produce, you are in an area with excellent, local food. Here's honey from Rodomelo in the main street.
Lunch at Simeron Echi Pagoto. Original name, meaning "Today we have ice cream". Here, in the olden days, they displayed a sign saying precisely that, those summer days they had ice cream in stock.
A climber's paradise, a lovely mountain village