Only 10 km from Tripoli on the road to
Sparta, between the villages of Alea and Stadio, there is the region of Ancient Tegea an important town of Arcadia in ancient times. The ancient temple was destroyed by fire around 395 and was rebuilt in 340 BC by sculptor Skopa to house the ivory statue of Athena, of which only a few fragments remain. The Tegea museum displays numerous
findings of archaeological value. Tripoli is 165 km far from Athens. Being a military centre played a leading role in the war of independence of 1821.
The mount Mainalon next to Tripoli is the home of Panas the ancient god and Theodore Kolokotronis, the great general of the Greek revolution against
Turks. Arcadia had been the homeland of the Pelasgians, and was later inhabited by Dorians. Ancient Arcadian cities had many colonies, as in Cyprus (Pafos) and Italy (Rome). They sided against Sparta, with they had always been at odds. The more important Arcadian cities were Tegea and
Mantineia. The League of the Arcadians was founded in Megalopolis on 369 B.C. and, later Arcadia joined the Commonwealth of Achaia. Under Roman Rule, it began to decline and was subsequently deserted after raids by Alarichos and the Slavs. Franks came in the 12th Century, and it was later overrun by the Turks in 1458.
Arcadia was the site of major and decisive battles during the War of Independence of 1821 against the Turks. At 23 September 1821, general Theodoros Kolokotronis led Greek rebels to conquer and liberate Tripoli. It was a decisive fact for the progress and the final success of the revolution.
Tripoli, capital of Arkadia, was reconstructed after its destruction carried out by
Pasha Ibrahim in 1827. From the beginning of the revolution against the Turkish regime, Tripoli was the first key point for the Greeks in their fight against the Turks, arriving to release it in September of 1821. During the War for Independence, it had a very
important role and suffered many calamities, including the bombing of Ibrahim.
Tripoli constitutes the knot of communication between the localities of all the Peloponnese. It is an excellent departure point to know all the region, rich in places of archaeological interest, and picturesque villages and towns with their own and unmistakable colors, constructed on a wonderful mountainous terrain. Tripoli belongs to the province of Mantinia, that has inherited the name of the old city and its area. In their closed valley, several cities of the Arcadian world grew of north to the south: Kafies, Orhomenos, Nestani, Mantinia, Teguea, Palladio, Asea.
Starting off for the N., we find after 14 km, the picturesque town of Nestani, constructed on the ruins of the old city, that was one of the 5 municipalities of Mantineia. To a height of 640m. we will find the Monastery of the Gorgoepikoou where religious treasures of century X are conserved.
The old city of Mantineia is 13 km to the north of Tripolis. Named "Erateini Mantinei" by Homer, it was constituted by 5 municipalities, near the small hill, of the today, Gkortsouli. In the historic period, these 5 municipalities were constructed in the plain where today their ruins are located. Ally of the Athenians and the Spartans, Mantineia suffered massive destruction. The Mantineia, which is cited by Homer in
his Iliada, is considered as a very old city. In the early years of the IV century A.C., its inhabitants were unified to a common scheme that was tributary to Argos. In the Medic wars, the Mantinians fought in
Thermopilae, whereas in the Peloponnesian War the Spartans and the Athenians allied first.
