Figaleia

Figaleia, one of the most imposing and historic traditional settlements of mountainous Elis (on the borders with Arcadia and Messinia), is a historical site of the Municipality of Zacharo built on a steep and verdant mountainside at an altitude of 480 meters (Nea Figaleia), which rightly attracts global interest due to its rich archaeological heritage and wild natural beauty. A reference point of the region is Ancient Figaleia, one of the strongest and most isolated city-states of ancient Arcadia, whose inhabitants commissioned the leading architect Iktinos to build the famous Temple of Apollo Epicurius in nearby Bassae, as gratitude for their salvation from a deadly plague epidemic. Today, the area enchants the visitor with its well-preserved stone houses, picturesque alleys, imposing ancient walls stretching for kilometers, the ancient fountain and the impressive Neda Gorge that flows on its outskirts. With its unique geographical location that combines the mountainous Arcadian landscape with direct access to the only female river in Greece, it is a top destination for lovers of archaeology, mythology and alternative activities, such as trekking and crossing the Neda Gorge.