Aria: Plain, Churches and Local Tradition

From Aria, the view stretches across almost half of the Argolida Plain. This expansive panorama gives the village a distinct landmark in its landscape. Churches, a monument, and the tradition surrounding an old spring also shape its historical character. You can therefore consider Aria as a travel destination both for its landscape and for its specific buildings and stories.

Churches and Architectural History

At the center of Aria stands the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. It was built in 1866 over an older Early Christian-Byzantine church; its marble templon dates from 1893. The two dates relate to different parts of the building’s history: 1866 to the church built over the older place of worship, and 1893 to the templon. This makes it possible to distinguish chronologically between the earlier church, the central church, and the templon added later.

The Church of Saint Vasilios, the patron saint of Aria, offers another point of reference. It stands on Magoula Hill, north of the village, and is a small basilica with a flat roof. Compared with the centrally located Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, both its location and architectural form are different: Saint Vasilios is characterized by its hilltop location north of the village and the flat roof of a small basilica, while the Church of the Dormition is characterized by its central location and the building history of 1866 and 1893.

The Holy Monastery of Aria is also located in the area. It is one of the few well-preserved examples of a Byzantine church dating from the mid-12th century. Its date clearly distinguishes it from the building history of the central Church of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. Considered together, the Holy Monastery and the Church of the Dormition offer two different historical reference points: a Byzantine church from the 12th century and a church building with a marble templon dated to a later period.

Monument, Spring and Surroundings

Another historical landmark is the monument to Artillery Lieutenant Sp Diovouniotis. It stands near the place where he died and the old spring. Many authors associate the spring in Aria with the ancient spring of Kanathos; according to mythology, Hera bathed in this spring and regained her virginity there. The spring thus connects a specific local landmark with a mythological story; the association with Kanathos is attributed to many authors.

Bourtzi is also part of the surrounding area: it can be seen from Aria and protected the port of Nafplio. The distinction in location is important: Bourtzi is a landmark in the surrounding area, while its historical defensive role was to protect the port of Nafplio.

Aria as a Travel Destination

For planning your trip, the attractions can be clearly distinguished: the views across the plain represent the landscape, the churches showcase different architectural forms and periods, and the spring is linked to a mythological tradition. If these are the kinds of things that interest you, consider Aria as a destination and look for hotels in Aria for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Kranidi, Ermioni, Porto Cheli, Agia Triada, Akti Idras, Nea Tiryntha, Nafplion, Kiveri

Go to the main travel overview: Argolis.