Attractions of the area
The Municipality of Stylida has a rich historical and cultural tradition, which includes elements of particular importance (churches, castles, etc.) that visitors can admire. It is dotted with dozens of churches and chapels, many of which are of historical value. However, special mention should be made of the monasteries and chapels that can be found in the area:
- Holy Monastery of Agios Vlasios:A post-Byzantine monument, built at the foot of Mount Otris, four kilometres from the town of Styida, overlooking the wider area.It was founded in 1746, with its chapel dedicated to the Transfiguration of Christ. The monastery, however, is known as St. Vlasiou’s from the dedicated chapel. It celebrates on 11 February and 6 August. During the pre-revolutionary period it flourished and contributed greatly to the enslaved race. In 1833, by decree of Otto, it was dissolved and remained abandoned and ruined until 1981, when the monastery was reconstructed, acquiring after many efforts something of its former glory. The chapel of the monastery is a single-aisled church in Byzantine style with an octagonal dome influenced by the Athonite architecture. The chapel of Agios Ioannos Prodromos, which is located a few metres from the monastery, is of simple shape, single-aisled and arched.
- Holy Monastery of Saint George: The Monastery of Agios Georgios, which is celebrated on 23 April, was built in the year 1753 on Mount Othris, near the village of Neraida and at an altitude higher than that of Agios Vlasios. The chapel, from an architectural point of view, is of the Athonite type, triconical, with domes in the nave and in the narthex. It has a chapel dedicated to Agios Andreas of Crete, which was also built in 1753. Both the church and the chapel are painted, with the iconostasis of the former being carved in wood. In 1996 the monastery was renovated. Cells, a monastery, a bell tower and other rooms were built and today it is a monastery for men. The monastery from a distance looks like a Byzantine castle.
- Holy Monastery of the Holy Archangels of Neraida: This monastery is located in Neraida. This is a Byzantine style church built in 1750 and hagiographed in 1756. It was classified as a listed monument, while today only ruins of the sanctuary remain. Until the dissolution of the monastery there were 24 cells.
- The monastery of Agia Paraskevi Spartia: One kilometer from the village of Spartias is the small monastery of Agia Paraskevi, which celebrates on July 26. The first location was further south at the “Metochi” site (12th-13th century) from which it was moved to the “Skitaria” site where it stands today. After excavations at the site, cist tombs of the Hellenistic period were found. The church is of Byzantine cross-shaped style with a dome. The ancient icon of Agia Paraskevi, the most valuable relic of the monastery, was stolen in 1979. The monastery had a large property, which after its dissolution became part of the parish of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary of Sparta. The archives of the historic monastery were taken with him when he left for Mount Athos by the last monk Germanos.
In Stylida, parts of its castles are preserved at the “Falara” site. These are located in the positions “Agia Aikaterini” west and “Kalogeros” east of the city. The submarine excavation of the port of Stylida in the last century completely destroyed the eastern castle, leaving the ruins of the base of the wall at ‘Nisaki’, which are still visible today. In the settlement of Achinos today there is a castle-acropolis with a fortification enclosure of isodomic masonry, which is identical to the fortification of the ancient city of Echinoundos and dates back to the 4th century BC, while it also bears later additions of the Justinian era. A tower to the east, a second tower to the north-west, the entrance to the south and a Roman heroon are also preserved in good condition. There are also the tower houses, showing that the present-day Achinos has a recent and remarkable history. In Pelasgia, parts of the wall from the fortified enclosure of the ancient city are preserved. Also preserved are the castle of Androna and the mythical Alos, cities of Myrmidons, Peleus and Achilles, which are important elements of the history of the region and are of great interest to every visitor. In Achladi is the Zacchaean mansion “the house of Abracomi”, which is preserved in excellent condition until today. Abracomi, sister of Zakka, donated the estate to the king after her death.
Museums and collections, such as the Pelasgia Ecclesiastical Museum, can be found in the area. In the underground area of the church of Pelasgia, and more specifically on its northern side, excavations were carried out in 1979 and the previous church of the Holy Apostles dating back to the 19th century was discovered. The church was restored and turned into a museum, where visitors can see sacred vessels, three crosses, icons, a bread basket, the altar of the old church, etc. Also in the village, since 2006, in a room of the old Primary School, there is a folklore museum where there are various household utensils, traditional costumes (Alatzas), a loom, tools of traditional trades, various traditional embroideries, etc. In addition, important folklore collections can be found in the settlements of Ano Spartia and Karavomilos.
Finally, other places worthy of special mention are the stone bridge in the settlement of Longitsi, the “Sapounorema” springs as well as the caves and the hunting shelters in the location of “Agioi Anargyri” in Stylida. During the summer months visitors can choose the beaches of the Municipality of Stylida, which are sea resorts for every taste. With organized and unorganized beaches in summer the area is full of life. The cafes and taverns by the sea give visitors the opportunity to enjoy the sea and combine it with water sports, swimming, beach volleyball and other activities. In addition, throughout the year the visitor can make mountaineering walks in Othri to the peaks “Giouzi” and “Arkodopyrni”, the position “Portes” and “Nerospilia”, to the peak “Gerakovouni”, the small gorge “Kanala” and the springs of Velas.