Arcadia is the center of Peloponnese. Other prefectures consist its borders and only in the east it is surrounded by sea. The prefecture of Arcadia is the largest in size in Peloponese. Its capital is Tripoli. The prefecture consists of several provinces: Mantineia whose capital is Tripoli, Gortinia whose capital is Dimitsana, Kinouria with Leonidio as a capital, and Megalopolis whose capital is Megalopolis. With the implementation of Kapodistria's project, Arcadia comprises 22 boroughs and one community. Tripoli consist at the same time the center of the constituency of central Peloponnese (prefectures of Arcadia, Lakonia, Messinia, Argolida, and Korinthia) and therefore has been developed (together with Patra) in an important administration center of Peloponnese.
The land of Arcadia is mainly mountainous. The economy is basically agricultural and based on cattle- raising. The local agricultural production is cereals, sour cherries, cherries, potatoes, legumes, vegetables, apples, pears, almonds, nuts and wine. Commercial activities are also important due to the geographical position of the prefecture. There are, however, industrial and handicraft units, many of which are situated in the Industrial area of Tripoli (developing with the support of ETVA).
As far as mineral industry is concerned, there are marble quarries in Vitina (the famous black marble is from this area's querry) and Doliana. There are also large amounts of lignite deposits in Megalopolis. Also in the same area there is the most important steam powered station of DEH. The hydroelectric station of DEH and the artificial dam of Ladona consist important works of infrastructure for Arcadia.
The prefecture has a fully developed road and railing network. Other national roads to the south or west-south Peloponese pass through Tripoli. The operation of the newly constructed national road Tripoli - Athens, as well as its imminent extension up to Kalamata is of great importance for the easy road access in the prefecture, as well as for the local economy. The seaside resorts of Arcadia (Astros, Leonidio, Tiros) are also connected with the rest of Greece by sea.
Arcadia has an excellent climate and combines the beauties of mountains and sea. The beauty of the natural landscape of the firry mount Mainalo, the ravine of Loussios, the mount Parnonas, and the beaches of Leonidio, Tiros, Astros and Simpatiki as well as the picturesque typical Arcadian villages of Stemnitsa, Dimitsana, Vitina, Lagadia, Karitaina, Kosmas, Kastanitsa and St. Peter are unique in Greece. Lastly on the mount Mainalo, at Ostrakina, one of the greatest ski--centers in Greece is operating.
Apart from the natural beauties, Arcadia has to show most important history ancient and modern, Archeology and museums (Tegea, Mantineia, Orhomenos, Megalopolis, Karitaina, Likosoura, Ancient Gortis etc) rich cultural inheritance and tradition and many important monasteries and churches. The undisciplined, tough, and proud temperament of the highlanders of the Arcadian land hindered the submission of to the political and military domination and contributed to the preservance of a pure original and unique color of the intellectual past not only in the ancient but also in the posterior years.
Today, Arcadia carries something from the glory and the symbol of the past. It maintains the nature and the landscape, inspired the poet Virgil to the expression of the idea of classical Arcadia (the Arcadian ideal) and to the praise of Arcadian nature, the painter Poussin in the creation of "The Shepherds of Arcadia" and many other painters and philosophers, mainly from the modern- classicism school, who saw human perfection pass through the footpaths of a bucolic, spiritual, plain and balanced life. Arcadia is the Eden of human thinking existence, clear of the fuss ornaments and goods. This country also preserves many of the traditions and the morals such as the undisciplined spirit, the frugality and pride which made her stand out during the Turkish domination, the German-Italian occupation (1940-1944) and the liberation struggle.
Arcadia experienced devastation and decline in difficult and unlucky years of poverty and foreigner's invasion. Arcadia anguished her children abandon her and spread all over the world. Finally she saw all of them succeed with power and vision return and benefit her, remember her. From the ancient Arcadian colonies (Italy, Pafos), up to the Arcadian homogeny of today, the emigrant Arcadians were and remain one of the most powerful, generous and devoted on the mother land units of Greeks.
Today, Arcadia approaching 2000 stands in front of the challenge of development. She succeeded in preserving many elements of her cultural and historical heritage under great stress and delays.. She ensured intolerable life for the remaining residents. She goes on, doing her best to ensure good conditions for the welcoming of the Greeks abroad who visit her or return home... At the same time she is welcoming all visitors, Greeks and foreigners, who would like to meet and taste the unfairly superseded and unrecognized Greek homeland.
Arcadia constitutes a challenge for the visitor, the traveler and the tourist. A challenge not far from the center of Athens (2-2.30 hours). So near to the thought, the nature, our senses... What remains is to find her again, to discover her...
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