Aroania or Sopoto

Aroania or Sopoto is one of the smallest and most beautiful villages of mountainous Achaia, characterized by the plane trees, the crystal clear waters, the stone fountains, the old mansions and the clean air.The village, 32 km from the city of Kalavrita, at an altitude of 930 m, is ideal for winter and summer excursions. Above the village dominates Tartaris, the wake of Erymanthos, where there are also ruins of a Frankish castle.

The village is divided into two parishes (mahalades) based on its two central churches. The first one, the church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, is located in the central square of the village and was 'erected and restored', as the relevant inscription from 1703 states. The second, the church of Agios Georgios, is a three-aisled domed basilica and is considered to be 50 to 80 years older. It is noteworthy that the two lateral aisles of the church have the form of a chapel, as St Demetrios is venerated in the right one and St Charalambos in the left one. 000 years old) cypress tree that used to stand in the courtyard of the church with a base diameter of 9 m and a height of over 40 m. Today, part of the trunk and the roots of the tree are left in its place to testify to its splendour.

In the square of the village and under the shade of a century-old plane tree, the traditional cafeteria of the village operates, where the visitor can taste local traditional flavors, hot chocolate in winter and the famous "submarine" in summer, enjoy the sound of dice from backgammon and try his luck in the traditional for the region "δηλωτη"!

Above the café is the stone-built Primary School of the village which now functions as a cultural space in the courtyard where films are shown by the Village Association during the summer months. In the same parish there is the tower of the Petimezaia of this historic Kalavritan family with its great contribution to the liberation struggle and the picturesque church of the New Martyr Paul, which is decorated with hagiographies by Fotis Kontoglou.

In the parish of Agios Georgios there is a traditional guesthouse of the village where the visitor can find accommodation with a unique view of the mountain range of Erymanthos. A short distance from the guesthouse there is the folklore museum of the village with a wealth of family heirlooms that highlight the history of the region and the small everyday stories of the people who lived in Sopoto.

Finally, near Sopoto is the Monastery of Panagia Faneromeni.According to an old inscription, which unfortunately does not survive today, the church was built in the year 1616 while the adjective Faneromeni indicates that probably in this place was found, after a vision, an icon of the Virgin Mary. The church is surrounded by a wall and its impressive stone entrance leads to the courtyard surrounded by the ruined cells of the monks. 

Sopoto is a picturesque village that offers unique experiences to the visitor both during the summer and winter months, bringing him in direct contact with nature and traditions and a way of life that tends to get lost in the internet and the modern lifestyle!

Origin of the name of the village and the year of its foundation

The village of Aronia or Sopoto is located 32 km southwest of Kalavrita. It is built at an altitude of 930 metres, at the foot of Mount Tartaris, which is a tributary of the Erymanthos mountain range.

The exact date of the village's construction is not known. However, there are indications that Sopoto was founded in the 8th century AD.

The original name of the village - Sopoto - is believed to be of Slavic origin, which is supported by the fact that Sopot in Serbo-Croatian means falling water, and the village is famous for the abundance as well as the quality of its springs. The name Aroania is derived from the word Aornos, which for the ancient Greeks meant Hades (a-ornos, the place not inhabited even by birds), thus indicating the awe that the high peaks of the Aroanians aroused in them.

Sightseeing

Monastery of Panagia Faneromeni

The Monastery of Faneromeni is built on the slope of the Monastiri mountain, at an altitude of about 1,000 metres. According to an old inscription, which unfortunately does not survive today, the church was built in the year 1616. The adjective Faneromeni, which is common in our province, indicates that most probably an image of the Virgin Mary was found in this place, following a vision.

The Monastery of Faneromeni flourished during the years of Turkish rule. It is indicative that the monastery of Agioi Theodoroi was originally a part of the monastery and owned the entire area where the village of Alestaina is located today.

Churches of Evangelistria and St. George

The church of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary is located in the central square of the village and "was built and restored", as the relevant inscription at the main entrance of the church states, in 1703 at the expense of Ionikiou Nirus on the pre-existing church of Agios Charalambos according to tradition. The interior decoration of the church consists of hagiographies, which are distinguished for their exceptional art, the vividness of their colours and the rich themes from the Old and New Testaments. In the dome of the church there is a representation of the Almighty, holding the Gospel with his left hand and blessing the faithful with his right.

The church of St. George is considered older than the Evangelistria by 50 to 80 years and is also a three-aisled domed basilica but with hagiographies only in the middle nave. The addition of the two lateral beds was probably made in 1834 with the renovation of the church, which became necessary due to the continuous increase in population and the prosperity of the village. In fact, the two side aisles have the form of a chapel, as Agios Dimitrios is venerated in the right one and Agios Charalambos in the left one.

It is worth mentioning the tall and perennial (over 4,000 years old) cypress tree that stood in the northern courtyard of the church with a base diameter of 9 metres and a height of over 40 metres. Today, part of the trunk and the roots of the birch tree remain in its place, testifying to its splendour.

The Sopoto School

The Greek School of Sopotou was founded in 1796 with money from the bequest of Athanasios Tsipiiras, a merchant in Patras, who came from Sopotou. The School operated, with a short interruption due to financial difficulties, until 1821 when classes were stopped for two years as the needs of the struggle did not allow it.

In 1831, at the request of the inhabitants of the village to the government of I. Kapodistrias, it was converted into a mutual school (where older students could also teach), which was to be maintained with the resources of the estate and from contributions from the adjacent monasteries of Panagia Faneromeni and Agioi Theodoroi.

The School's courses included, among others, Physics, Mathematics and Philosophy, which aimed at the all-round development of the students' personality, something that is also proven by the number of its famous graduates. In 1888 it became a public school and in 1930 it was converted into a semi-gymnasium, to operate from 1939 to 1946 as a three-grade agricultural school. Finally, since 1946 it has been a branch of the Kalavrita Gymnasium.

Prominent Sopotinians and their work

The New Martyr Paul

He was born in Sopoto in 1785 and met a tragic death in Tripoli in 1818, when he wanted to defend the faith of his ancestors... His memory is commemorated on 22 May. The picturesque church of Neomartyr in the village is decorated with hagiographies by Fotis Kontoglou.

Neophytos Kausokalyvitis

He was one of the most important representatives of the modern Greek enlightenment with a significant literary work. He was a student of Eugene Voulgaris and a professor at the Athoniada School.

Panagiotis Sofianopoulos, the medical philosopher

He is considered by many to be the first Greek visionary of socialism, because of his progressive ideas for his time. He was one of the first ardent supporters of gender equality and did not hesitate to break with Otto by criticizing political events through his journal "Progress". However, his personal history was marred by his participation in the civil war on the side of the chieftain Gouras.

Andreas Petimezas

A son of the well-known family who, although not born in Sopoto, due to his long residence there, is inextricably linked to the history of the village. He was, together with his father Constantis Petimezas, one of the pioneers of the 1821 revolution and personal physician to Georgios Karaiskakis. After the revolution he settled permanently in Sopoto where he built the famous tower of the Petimezaia, which stands in a prominent position in the village.

Evangelos Papanoutsos

He was born in Piraeus of Sopotian parents. He is known mainly for his role in the educational reform and his rich literary work.

The painter Konstantinos Fassosos

His works, which are distinguished by the strong presence of the Greek element, are permanently inspired by his homeland. His daughter is the well-known singer and writer Giovanna.

Ioannis Sofianopoulos

He was director of the press office under Eleftherios Venizelos and minister of foreign affairs in the government of Sofoulis. He was distinguished mainly for his honesty and the sincerity of his words.