Tripoli is a city in the central Peloponnese. It is the largest city and capital of Arcadia (Greece) and Mantinia province. Its population was 31,000 inhabitants in 2011.

Understand

Areos Square with the Court House, designed by Ernst Ziller

Climate

Because of its inland location and high altitude, Tripoli has hot dry summers and cold winters. Summer temperatures can exceed 38 °C (100 °F) and in winter temperatures below −10 °C (14 °F) have been observed. Snow or sleet can occur several times between late October and early April.

Get in

Because it is at the centre of the Peloponnese, Tripoli is a transportation hub. Corinth is 75 km (47 miles) NE, Pyrgos 145 kilometres (90 mi) E, Patras 144 km (89 mi) NW, Kalamata 65 km (40 mi) SW, and Sparti 60 km (37 mi) S.

Tripoli is mainly accessed from Athens and the rest of Greece through the Corinth-Tripoli-Kalamata motorway, known as the Moreas Motorway (A7). An alternative route is the GR-7 which used to be the main highway to Tripoli before the construction of the motorway. The city is also accessed by GR-74 and GR-76 from Pyrgos and by GR-39 from Sparta.

Get around

Its main plazas are aligned with the main street and with a highway linking to Pyrgos and Patras. One of them is named Kennedy, the other is named Georgiou B' (George II). The southern part has its main street named Washington. The main section of the city is enclosed around the castle walls that were built during the Ottoman occupation of Greece.

See

The archaeological museum

Agios Vasilios (St Basil), Tripoli's cathedral

• Archaeological Museum of Tripoli. It is housed in a two-storey neoclassical building, designed by architect Ernst Ziller. Finds from the excavations of ancient sites in Arcadia are exhibited. It includes Neolithic and Early Helladic objects and utensils from recent excavations in Sakovouni, Kamenitsa, Arcadia, as well as a rich collection of Late Mycenaean and Sub-Mycenaean times from Paleokastro of Gortyna. Finds of Geometric times from the cemeteries of Mantineia and pottery, sculpture and reliefs from Archaic to Roman times from areas of Arcadia are also on display. The only one in Greece stands outcollection of the cult figurines of the Early Helladic years from Sakovouni, as well as the homologous seated statue of a goddess (perhaps Athena) from Asea and the findings of the 15-year excavation at the Villa of Herodes Atticus in Loukos Kynourias. There are also finds of Early Christian and Early Byzantine times.
• War Museum. It was founded in February 2000 and is housed on the ground floor of Malliaropoulos' house in the central square of Agios Vassilios. It includes mainly exhibits from the struggle of 1821, as well as the war of 1940. The model of Theodoros Kolokotronis, his bust and collections of weapons and swords from the Revolution stand out.

Do

• Football: Asteras Tripoli play soccer in Superleague, the Greek top tier. Their home ground is Theodoros Kolokotronis Stadium (capacity 7400) one km southeast of town centre.

Sleep

• Mainalon Resort hotel
• Tripoli City Hotel
• Palatino Rooms & Apartments
• Arcadia Hotel