History and attractions of Kyparissia

Kyparissia is located in the form of an amphitheater and stretches from the foot of the mountain Egaleo to the Ionian Sea. Arcadia Castle and Upper Town give a historical atmosphere to the modern village. Kyparissia is divided to the old Upper Town, which has been declared a traditional settlement, and New (or Lower) Town, a newly built area that reaches the coast. It is good idia to walking through the streets of the Upper Town and reaching the castle to enjoy an incredibly beautiful view of the bay.

There are several versions of the origin of the name of the village. Perhaps the name comes from the large number of cypress trees that grew in the area, or maybe it comes from the name of the son of Minia (the king of the prehistoric Minion tribe) - Cypresso.

The history of the town is very old. Its beginning is lost in the prehistoric depths where myth replaces history. Mythology mentions that the first inhabitants of the town were giants who built the castle. Prehistoric Kyparissia is also found in the famous work of Homer (Iliad B-593) as Kyparissyentia, considered as one of the nine cities belonging to the kingdom of Nestorius. In the campaign against Troy Kyparissia was participated in the battles under the command of Nestorius. From this reference, as well as other historical and archaeological data, follows that the history of Kyparissia begins long before 1500 B.C.

The Upper Town has many scattered historical monuments that testify to its history: the Castle of Arcadia which stands proudly on top of the hill, Arcadia Square with the plane tree and fountains at the entrance to the castle, the public baths (hamam), Pazarovrisi, the park gate (Venetian era) opposite the Church of the Virgin Mary, traditional paved streets and old houses of various architectural styles. Also in the Upper Town there is a war memorial, the monument to the Unknown Soldier and the churches of the Holy Trinity and the Virgin Mary.

Lower Town is a modern village with several traditional elements. There is a square in its center, and in the nearby streets there is a market filled with all sorts of consumer goods. There is a Spring of Dionysias on the waterfront of Kyparissia. Pausanias mentions in his descriptions that Dionysus tapped his staff and the spring "Dionysiades" appeared at the point of impact. Not far from the waterfront is Katsaros Park, a green oasis with views of the sea and port.