Platanaki

Platanaki is a mountain village in Southern Kynouria, built at an elevation of 900 meters on the slopes of Mount Parnonas, in an area with lush vegetation and a distinct mountainous character. A fir forest stretches nearby, while the wider area corresponds to ancient Glyppia, a place with deep historical roots. Its natural isolation, cool climate, and the seasonal migration of residents to Vlachiotis in Laconia during the winter months reflect the traditional way of life that developed in the village. The residents were primarily engaged in agriculture, beekeeping, and construction work.

The village is also of particular historical interest, as it is considered the birthplace of the Macedonian freedom fighter Captain Foufas (Zacharias Papadas). At the same time, the wider area preserves significant remnants of the past: northeast of the village, toward Agios Vasileios, the ruins of a medieval castle and the old Monastery of Palaiopanagia remain, while archaeological finds, such as pottery shards and a fragment of an ancient statue, have also been discovered. These findings attest to the area’s continuous habitation and significance from antiquity through to later periods.

Among the most important sights in Platanaki, the Church of the Virgin Mary (Nativity of the Theotokos) stands out; it is a 19th-century church with a remarkable wood-carved iconostasis and fine icons from the post-Byzantine period. Another distinctive feature of the village is the stone-built three-spouted fountain from 1889, which is closely linked to daily life and the traditional character of the village. Platanaki is thus a village where the natural environment, folk architecture, and historical memory coexist in a particularly fruitful and characteristic way for the mountainous region of Kynouria.