Ampeliona, Messinia, hiking in the village of director Th. Angelopoulos

Ampeliona, named after the many vines grown here. It is located in the Peloponnese and belongs to Patent. Eras, of Municipality Oichalia, Messinia.

It is built in the W.. of Lycaean terms, at the imaginary crossroads of three counties, Messinia, Ilia, Arcadia. Small mountain village, with stone houses, cobbled streets, springs with running water and a wonderful chestnut forest on the slope, the only protected in D. Peloponnese. It is an ideal destination for isolation, relaxation, exploration, hiking, meditation. Due to its short distance Vineyard from Andritsaina Ilia (17 km) They are also suitable for a one-day family getaway in nature.

TRANI FOUNTAIN-PRESERVED MONUMENT IN THE SQUARE

Ampeliona is the place of origin of Nikos Angelopoulos, President of the Aldemar Resorts group (https://www.aldemar-resorts.gr ) and his brother, of the award-winning Greek director Theodoros Angelopoulos (1935-2012). The family of N.. Angelopoulos, with her own care, remodeled the village and formed a network of paths, the Apollo Trails, for hiking enthusiasts to get to know the beauties of the area. The family plans to make Ampeliona an ideal destination for alternative tourism, which will offer relaxation and tranquility to the visitor.

Near Ampeliona are the sources of the river Neda, of the river named after Nymph Neda. According to legend, Zeus was born on Mount Lycaeus and Neda was one of the three Nymphs who helped Rhea give birth..

AMPELIONA - ACCOMMODATION

«Abeliona Retreat», 4*, owned by Spyros N. Angelopoulos, of the Aldemar group, tel.: 2626 023991-3, 6948 375905, https://www.abeliona-retreat.com. «Abeliona Retreat»

The hotel has among other things, restaurant where you will try local dishes made with local and pure ingredients and space dorm, a house 80 m² for yoga, meditation, relaxation as well as space 50 m² for outdoor sessions.

RESIDENCE YURT

In "Abeliona Retreat" you will also see objects by the late director Th. Angelopoulos from his films.

Municipal Guesthouse, in the village square, tel: 26260 23991-3.

AMPELIONAS - SIGHTS

Ampeliona is only far away 11 km, by Archaeological Site of Vassos. In the rocky landscape of Mount Kotyli dominates the Temple of Apollo the Auxiliary, the "Parthenon of the Peloponnese". belongs to World Heritage Sites of UNESCO from 1986.

The imposing temple, It was built in 2^The half of 5^th B.C. century. (between 420-400 B.C.) and attributed to Iktino, the architect of the Parthenon (http://odysseus.culture.gr, for visiting hours tel. : 26260 22275).

Sources of the river Neda, from abstain from Ampeliona about 5 Km and access is by asphalt road, after the village Neda (about 1 Km).

ΑΜΠΕΛΙΩΝΑ- EVENTS & FESTIVALS

Chestnut feast. It takes place on the last Sunday of October, in his yard Cultural Center «Theodoros Angelopoulos», next to Church of St. Nicholas (information on the date : Association of the people of Ampelion, tel. : 210 5236651, http://www.ambeliona.gr) .

Festival in the chapel of Agios Iakovos. Saint James celebrates on 30 April but the festival takes place on 1^or Sunday after 15 August, where boiled meat is offered by local farmers.

FOR FOOD IN AMPELIONA

The hotel restaurant «Abeliona Retreat», welcomes for food, in addition to regular customers and visitors to the village, tel: 26260 23991-3.

«The Shop of Spyros», cafe-tavern. It serves coffee and local food, with fresh raw material from local producers, like a roasted rooster with noodles, boiling scales, grilled dishes, omelette etc.. Open all year round, except Monday (in winter it opens after 10.30 a.m.), tel. : 26260 23000. It also has groceries where you can buy local produce, noodles from Andritsaina, mountain tea etc..

«The Trani Fountain"Or"in Papadia», tavern, tel: 26260 23097 (only SK).

ΑΜΠΕΛΙΩΝΑ – HIKING ROUTES

Ampeliona – Source Tritseli

Hiking to the historic fountain next to a green ravine, with dense vegetation, plane trees and springs. Access is by a paved path and the road continues to the chestnut forest.

Ampeliona – chestnut forest – chapel Agia Paraskevi

Hiking or cycling on the paved road, about 4 km, which crosses the chestnut grove and ends at the church of Ag. Friday. Easy route, Ideal for family outings and picnics.

Hiking to Apollo Trails.

The network includes 90 Km of mapped trails starting from the «Abeliona Retreat». These are the old paths that were cleaned and marked and connect Ampeliona with the neighboring villages, As the village of Neda with sources of the river Neda and especially with Temple of Apollo the Auxiliary, at Vasses Archaeological Site.

Information about the trails https://apollotrails.com, Ampeliona, tel. : 26260 23991-3, 210 6288520.

Indicative routes of Apollo Trails :

–Ampeliona - village of Agios Sostis - village of Neda (7,6 km, 2 hours and 35 ').

at Agios Sostis, you will see the Monument of 4 Greeks lost in the sinking of the Titanic (1912). at Neda, in the square with the plane tree, you can relax in the tavern-cafe "The Platanos of Neda» (tel.: 6940 957975, open the SK from the morning).

–Neda - Ampeliona – Temple of Apollo the Auxiliary (10,10 km, about 3 hours and 25 ')

-Xhour Neda – Neda springs – Ampeliona (5,4 km, 1 time and 55 ')

–Ampeliona–Sklirou village (in the chestnut forest)-Temple of Epicurus Apollo (7,7 km, 3 h 15 ')

-Ampeliona-Andritsaina (11,9 km, 5 hours and 5 ')

–Position Stavrouli- Lookout (1,8 km, 25’)

-Ampeliona – Agios Sostis - Altar of Zeus (at the top of Mount Lycaeus) (6,9 km, 3 hours and 25 ').

OTHER ALTERNATIVE ACTIVITIES

Mountain bikes, on paths around the "Abeliona Retreat», with altitude differences, soft soil and landscape alternations.
Yoga, in the hotel "Abeliona Retreat».

ΑΜΠΕΛΙΩΝΑ – ACCESS

Ampeliona is far from Andritsaina 17 km, the Megalopolis 29 Km, Karytaina 35 km and the Archaeological Site of Vassa, with the Temple of Apollo the Auxiliary, 11 km.

From Athens

NR. Athens-Corinth to Tripoli-Megalopolis-Karytaina-Andritsaina-Ampeliona.
NR. Athens-Corinth to Tripoli-Megalopolis-Lykosoura-Lycao (the road passes outside the village with 500 m. dirt road to Neda)-Neda-Ampeliona (is the closest route).
NR. Athens-Corinth to Tripoli-Megalopolis (through the District. GS. Nedas-Megaloupoleos) – I was fainting- PPC factory-Kastanochori-Lycao (outside the village, with 500 m. dirt road) -Neda-Ampeliona

From Kalamata