Time there, has stopped a long time ago. It is about 2 and a half hours away from Athens and 45 km from Tripoli. It is built on the west slopes of Mainalon mountain at 1100 meters. Before you even reach the village you can see St. George’s church bell tower, made of white stone and built in 1877. When entering Stemnitsa you slowly realize that it is a preserved settlement of special charm and beauty. The stone built mansions, the stone paved roads, the churches, all create a unique feeling.
The central square is the meeting point both for tourists and visitors. The traditional cafeterias that encircle it, are full with smiling old faces, always happy to tell you a story about their beautiful village. If you look around you will be amazed by the wild natural beauty of the slopes of Mainalon. The old Platanus trees point the path of Loussios river, crossing the village.
A few steps ahead will lead you to the museum of Popular Art, that is housed in the Hatzis Mansion and operates since 1985. Stemnitsa is the birthplace of many of the country’s best goldsmiths and silversmiths, while some of the village’s young people still work in the field. No wonder that people here know all about good food. All restaurants in the area have a fireplace not only for aesthetic reasons, but also to fight the heavy cold during the winter. All dishes are homemade, an unusual fact for popular destinations. The most famous specialty in stemnitsa is the rooster cooked in wine with local handmade pasta. It is indeed a major gastronomic pleasure. The locals are proud for their pies. Cheese-pies and meat-pies are appetizers, available in all restaurants. Right after your meal ask for fried honey balls, a really satisfying flavor.
Despite it’s size Stemnitsa has a very developed infrastructure for the service of it’s visitors. There are hotels and rooms to let for all tastes. There you can find from the simplest room to the most exquisite ones with Jacuzzi and sauna.
