Kaltezes

Kaltezes, one of the most imposing and historically significant settlements in mountainous Arcadia, is a quiet village within the Municipality of Tripolis. Situated on the southeastern border with Laconia—nestled on a wooded mountainside at an altitude of 669 meters—it rightfully holds a prominent place in the pantheon of our national heritage as the political cradle of the free Greek state. A key landmark of the area is the renowned 18th-century Holy Monastery of Saint Nicholas of Kaltezes; it served as a "secret school" and a gunpowder depot during the War of Independence, with the convening of the Assembly of Kaltezes in May 1821 marking a pivotal historical moment. It was there, under the presidency of Petrobey Mavromichalis, that the "Act of Kaltezes" was drafted and the First Peloponnesian Senate was established—forming the first official central administration and the first governing charter of revolutionary Greece. Today, Kaltezes captivates visitors with its authentic Arcadian serenity, traditional houses, and lush natural surroundings, as the settlement is embraced by a beautiful, dense forest of oak, chestnut, and pine trees. Distinguished by its fortress-like monastery—which safeguards, as a sacred relic, the Gospel upon which the Senators took their oath—and its close proximity to the ruins of the mysterious Byzantine settlement of Palaiochora, the village is a premier destination for enthusiasts of national history, religious tourism, and alternative travel, offering beautiful nature-focused hiking trails that begin in nearby Vlachokerasia.