Pyrgiotika Village
Perivoli Country Hotel & Retreat welcomes you to the village of Pyrgiotika (also Pirgiotika) on the eastern side of the Argolis, on Nafplio-Epidaurus National Road, about 6 km from the city of Nafplio.
Pyrgiotika took its name from the village of Pyrgaki, Gortynia in the prefecture of Arcadia, as the original village residents used to be shepherds from Arcadia. Since the winters in Arcadia were particularly severe, the sheep had to descend to the lowlands where the climate was milder. Thus, the shepherds from Pyrgaki chose this site for their sheeps' grazing during the harsh winters. In the summer, they would return to Gortynia. Over the years, some of the families of the shepherds built houses and in 1910, they formed a permanent settlement in the milder area, naming it Pirgiotika.
Built amphitheatrically at an altitude of 120 meters, the village today counts 278 permanent residents, most of them farmers, and is known for its green plains and its five churches. The small-knit community also has a school, a medical center and a typical village square, which is the heart of community life.
A walk around the pretty stone-built village offers a lovely view of Nafplio below while the collection of five churches bears witness to the dedication of its inhabitants to their favorite saints. In addition, one can visit the Educational and Cultural Center, which is housed in the old primary school, where the customs and folklore of the village are well preserved.
St. John, St. Archangels, St. Nikolaos and Agia Paraskevi are all important to the villagers, with the main church being St. George, due to its namesake – the patron saint of their original village. Each year on the Feast of All Saints, the faithful gather and make supplications, as well as visiting the Arcadian village of Roino and the Church of St. George to pay their respects. During the feast of St. George, the townsfolk offer traditional sweets such as "diples" (fried batter in honey) and celebrate with music and dancing, while the village is also well known for its tradition of making delicious pies, pastries and local cheeses.
As you walk through the tiny streets, it is easy to understand how the old farming community decided to eventually settle there. Surrounded by lush greenery on a gentle slope, its location offers a mild climate and makes it a cool summer retreat. Each weekend, visitors from the surrounding areas descend on Pyrgiotika in order to taste the succulent roasts in its traditional taverns and to savor the magnificent views of the Argolis plain all the way down to the glistening sea below.
