The municipality of North Kynouria covers the western part of the Province of Arcadia County with the same name.
What the visitor of our region can surely notice is the succession of mountainous and field areas, a harmonious combination of mountain and sea view, the succession of the blue and green colors, as well as the fact of a great natural beauty offering unique experiences and relaxation opportunities.
The villages in the plains of our municipality are laying harmonically in the olive-groves, touching the eternal blue of the Argolic gulf limpid water; though, the mountain villages spread among the green chestnuts, firs and pines, tracing strokes of indelible plasticity on the sublime and hospitable Parnon.
Parnon, being the biggest mountain range of Peloponnese, leads from the center, that is the Tripoli plateau, to Cavo-Malias, dividing the areas of Arcadia and Laconia. Its length is about 70 kms and its highest summit, Big Tourla, which is situated between Ag. Petros and Kastanitsa, reaches 1 936 meters above the sea level.
The seaside vacation centers, Paralion Astros, Xiropigado, Portes Meligous, Vervena Coast and Ag. Andreas Coast, as well as the beautiful mountainous traditional villages, being under state protection, Ag.Petros, Ayiannis, Doliana, Vervena, Kastanitsa, Kastri, Platanos and Prastos, offer even to the most hard to please visitor a great number of satisfying alternatives.
The amazingly beautiful beaches of the area are limpid and ideal for swimming; likewise the switchback ways are a great alternative solution for those who prefer to get with the forest and its relaxing calmness.
Astros is a port city near the Argolic Gulf in the northeast Peloponnese in eastern Arcadia. The name and the settlement both date back to ancient times, when it was known as Astron. Astros is the seat of North Kynouria municipality, which is the largest in Arcadia and has the greatest number of communities and settlements. Astros is accessible by the road connecting Tripoli and Argos and Leonidio and Monemvasia to the south; reportedly, it is the most popular vacation destination for the inhabitants of Tripoli.
Astros was the site of the Second National Assembly of the Hellenes during the Greek War of Independence. Astros has a school, a lyceum, a high school, a number of churches including one which is situated on a hilltop, banks, and a post office. The port on the east side serves ferries to Spetses. There is a beach to the northeast. In the southern part of Astros, there is a water tower, and a square (plateia). Much of the land is rocky and bushy and unsuitable for cultivation, but there are some farms and groves are in low-lying areas near town.
The panoramic view from Astros includes portions of the promontory protecting the harbor, and the western and the southern portion of Argolis, except for the most low-lying areas. This view sometimes includes the shoreline communities, but these can only be seen on clearer days. The western portion of the island of Spetses is only occasionally visible.
Paralio Astros, the port serving the inland town, possesses beaches and a harbor, which can accommodate small ships. It is a popular vacation spot for inhabitants of Tripoli and other parts of Greece. As of 2001, the port had 874 permanent inhabitants.
Castle of Paralion Astros
The castle located on the south summit of the hill called "Nissi" was built in the Medieval period and was later remodelled as a strong defensive complex. In the 18th century, the three Zapheiropoulos brothers, merchants living abroad, returned to their home town to fight for the Greek revolution and built their houses inside the castle.
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