Aria: Plain, Churches and Traditions

Aria combines sweeping views across the Argolis plain with church architecture, places of remembrance and local traditions. This gives you two ways to plan your trip: the landscape as a defining impression, and the history you can discover through specific buildings and stories.

Landscape and sweeping views

From Aria, the view stretches across almost half of the Argolis plain. This broad perspective puts the landscape itself at the centre of the area’s character. It offers a different starting point for a trip than the history of a single building: those who enjoy contemplating landscapes will find a special connection to the plain here, while those mainly interested in architectural history can focus on the area’s churches.

These interests can be helpful when choosing a destination. Consider whether sweeping landscape views or the history of specific buildings appeals to you more. In Aria, both themes sit side by side, and you do not have to limit your trip to just one of them.

Churches with different historical contexts

The central Church of the Dormition of the Virgin in Aria was built in 1866 over an older Early Christian-Byzantine church. The building thus connects the history of a 19th-century church with that of an earlier predecessor. The marble templon also has its own date: it was built in 1893. A templon is an architectural screen within a church; here, both the marble building material and the later construction date form part of the central church’s history.

The Church of Saint Vasilios, Aria’s patron saint, is in a different location. It stands on Magoula Hill, north of the village, and is a small basilica with a flat roof. The two churches can therefore first be distinguished by their location: the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin is central to Aria, while Saint Vasilios stands on the hill north of the village. The description of it as a small, flat-roofed basilica adds a specific architectural feature to this distinction in location.

Near Aria is the Holy Monastery of Aria, a well-preserved example of a Byzantine church from the mid-12th century. This provides another point of reference in time alongside the central church, built in 1866, and its marble templon, dating from 1893. The dates are given at different levels of precision: for the monastery, the middle of the century is specified, while the church and templon are associated with exact years. This comparison shows how far apart the churches’ historical periods in the surrounding area are.

Places of remembrance and local traditions

The monument to artillery lieutenant Sp Diovouniotis stands near the place where he died and near the old spring. Its location is thus defined by two specific reference points. As a landmark in Aria, it complements the churches with a place of remembrance whose position is connected to the site of his death and the spring.

Aria’s spring is also linked to local tradition: many authors associate it with the ancient spring of Kanathos. According to mythology, Hera bathed in Kanathos and regained her virginity there. This association is presented as an interpretation passed down by many authors; the story itself belongs to the realm of mythology. Here, a named place and an ancient mythical story meet in local history.

Bourtzi is also nearby: it can be seen from Aria and once protected the port of Nafplio. This view extends beyond Aria to a historical feature of the port city, while the churches, monument and spring offer different themes in the area and its surroundings.

Find the right focus for your trip

When looking for a holiday rental in Aria, you can first consider what interests you most in a destination: views across the plain, the timeline of the church buildings, or the links between places of remembrance and local traditions. This can help you decide whether you want the landscape, architectural history or local stories to shape your trip to Aria.

Discover more destinations: Thermisia, Nea Tiryntha, Kiveri, Tolo, Vivari, Agia Triada, Paralia Irion, Aghios Emilianos.

Explore the broader travel guide: Argolis.