Ano Doliana (Ano meaning "upper", , ) is a stone-built mountainous village in the municipality of North Kynouria, in eastern Arcadia, Greece. As of 2021 it had 62 inhabitants. It is a protected traditional settlement.Υπουργείο Περιβάλλοντος, Ενέργειας και Κλιματικής Αλλαγής – Αρχείο Παραδοσιακών Οικισμών & Διατηρητέων Κτιρίων – Φ.Ε.Κ. Δ-908 α/ 13.11.1998 Υ.ΠΕ.ΧΩ.Δ.Ε. (in Greek)Υπουργείο Περιβάλλοντος, Ενέργειας και Κλιματικής Αλλαγής – Αρχείο Παραδοσιακών Οικισμών & Διατηρητέων Κτιρίων – Φ.Ε.Κ. Δ-1081 α/ 13.10.2003 Υ.ΠΕ.ΧΩ.Δ.Ε. (in Greek)
It used to be the main residence of the settlers, but nowadays only a handful of them stay throughout the year, as most use it as their summer residence and instead overwinter in Kato Doliana because of the milder climate.Kato Doliana, Ano Doliana , Regional Guide of Peloponnese In recent years it has emerged as a relatively popular tourist destination, with a significant number of visitors during the autumn and winter season weekends, as well as for hikers, especially during spring or autumn.
Location
The settlement is located on the southern outskirts of the plain of Tripoli. It extends at an altitude of 900 to 1.150 meters, built amphitheatrically on the northern slopes of mount Parnon, filled with fir, chestnut, platanus and cherry trees, surrounded by creeks and small waterfalls. The village overlooks the plateau of Tripoli, with the visual horizon reaching the mountains of Mainalo, Artemisio, Helmos and Erymanthos.
Settlement layout Ano Doliana is divided into seven distinct neighborhoods: Pournaria (Πουρνάρια), located at the lowest point of the settlement. Ai-Giorgis (Αϊ-Γιώργης) and Mesochori (Μεσοχώρι) to the west. Panagia (Παναγία) or Agora (Αγορά), forming the central part of the village. Bagiounetis (Μπαγιουνέτης), located slightly higher and to the east. Angeleika (Αγγελέικα), extending east on a second ridge of Mount Parnon. Choreftarou (Χορευταρού), situated at the westernmost and highest part of the village, where a forest guesthouse is located.
Flora and Funga
The village is overgrown with chestnut and platanus trees, while a natural fir forest starts at its northeastern tip. Sweet cherry trees thrive in the area, while there are sour cherry trees as well. One can also see apple trees, walnut trees, oak trees, almond-leaved pear trees, but also some hazel trees and pear trees, in a spectacle that is particularly interesting during autumn foliage of deciduous trees, fit for leaf peeping. (in Greek)5ente – Πεζοπορία (in Greek)
The area is also home to various species of mushrooms.
Fauna The fauna of the area consists of a plethora of non-migratory birds such as: European goldfinches, common blackbirds, Old World sparrows, true finches, white wagtails, calandra larks, European greenfinches and larks. Migratory birds that visit the area are: European turtle doves, common nightingales, swallows, Eurasian golden orioles and Eurasian hoopoes during spring throughout summer, but also thrushes and European robins during winter.
Mammals include European hares, martens and bats. Wild boars have reappeared in recent years, while European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) are an even more recent reintroduction to mount Parnon, following their disappearance from the area in the early 20th century.
Other species in the area include reptiles such as snakes (vipers, common European adders, Balkan whip snakes and others), Mediterranean house geckos and lizards. Finally, arthropods such as scorpions and spiders can often be found.
History The village was established as the primary residence of the settlers, who were mainly shepherds, leaving a pastoral life and herding livestock around open areas of land. Therefore, they settled on the mountains. Doliana was used as a secondary settlement, in which the inhabitants migrated during the winter months to protect the animals from low temperatures and snow. At the same time, the mountain pastures were given time to rejuvenate. But with the modernization of life and the transformation of the main occupation of the inhabitants from livestock to cultivation, especially olive oil trees, the roles of the two settlements were reversed. Over the years and because of the abandonment of its role as a basic settlement of the inhabitants, the village has managed to maintain its graphic character relatively intact, avoiding the extensive human interventions of the modern era.
Ancient quarries Ancient marble quarries are located northwest of the community, dating back to the archaic-classical era. The homonymous Doliana marble (in Greek) was and is still being extracted here. It is white in color, with a tone of light blue or blue.National and Kapodistrian University of Athens: Department of History and Archaeology – Corpus of Ancient Quarries (in Greek)Department of Archaeology and Art History of the University of Athens – Corpus of Ancient Quarries , p. 164 (in Greek) It is one of the highest quality marbles in the Peloponnese, showing similarities with the Pentelic marble of Attica, although it does not reach the qualitative characteristics of the latter.Richard Lepsius: Griechische Marmorstudien. Königlich Preussische Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin vom Jahre 1890, p. 31-34, 112. (in German) It was most primarily used as a building block in antiquity and rarer in sculpture.
Among others, it has been used in the following cases: Temple of Artemis Knakeatis Temple of Athena Alea. Villa of Herodes Atticus. Ancient Olympia, mainly for sculpture. Epidaurus. Mantineia Base.
Greek revolution
During the Greek War of Independence, a battle against the Turks took place in the village on 18 May 1821, known as the Battle of Doliana which was victorious for the Greeks.
In this battle, Nikitaras with 300 men, managed to repel 4.000 Turks that attacked the village with artillery. It was on this day that he took on the nickname "Turkophagos" which later accompanied him, because according to tradition many of the opponents died of his hands. At the entrance of Doliana and specifically at the point where the main battle unfolded, named "Tsakonas ravine", an honorable bust of Nikitaras has been erected.
During the later stages of the Revolution in July 1825, the troops of Ibrahim Pasha invaded the area. The local Greek forces put up resistance in what is known as the Second Battle of Doliana. Following the battle, Ibrahim's forces set fire to and destroyed a large portion of the settlement.
In the post-revolutionary period (around 1826–1830), one of the earliest Lancastrian (mutual-teaching) schools in the region was established in Doliana to provide elementary education to the local children.
Information Traditionally, the main repatriation of the inhabitants of Kato Doliana, as well as internal migrants and expatriates, takes place the week of the feast of Virgin Mary. Especially on the eve and on the day of 14 and 15 August, the concentration of Dolianites (as they call themselves) in the settlement is peaking. During this time folk festivals and other events take place, such as a traditional feast on the central square, movie screenings, as well as Youth Festivals at the chapel of Saint John located on a slope that faces the village.Astros News – «Όνειρα Θερινής Νυκτός» 2019 (in Greek)Kalimera Arkadia – Κινηματογραφικό Φεστιβάλ στα Άνω Δολιανά (in Greek)Arcadia Portal – Η Κατερίνα Στανίση στα Άνω Δολιανά (in Greek)
Ancient marble quarries can be found in the vicinity of the community, producing the homonymous "Doliana marble",The Arcadia Website – Δικτυακός Τόπος ΑΡΚΑΔΙΑ, University of Patras – Δολιανά (in Greek) which was used -among others- in the construction of the Temple of Apollo Epicurius of Bassae, the Temple of Athena Alea in Tegea and possibly the Mantineia Base.
The mountain top of Saint Elias, a name often given to mountain tops in Greece, rises above the village. Here, on 20 July, residents gather in the homonymous chapel, at an altitude of 1.280 meters and perform a liturgy. Due to its high altitude of 1.390 meters, it is also being used as a telecommunications hub for the wider region, with antennas transmitting signals for OTE, television, radio and mobile telephony. It is accessible by a 4 km long road that starts from Doliana.Kalimera Arkadia – Άνω Δολιανά _ Γιορτή του Προφήτη Ηλία ... σε υψόμετρο 1.250 μέτρα (in Greek)Astros News – Εσπερινός στον Αϊ Λια στα Άνω Δολιανά (in Greek)
Demographic evolution + Year Population 1834 893 1861 1,336Στατιστική της Ελλάδος – Πληθυσμός του έτους 1861 (in Greek) 1870 1,323 1879 1.682Εργαστήριο Δημογραφικών και Κοινωνικών Αναλύσεων Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλίας – Εργο e-Demography – Εκδόσεις ΕΛΣΤΑΤ – Απογραφές – 1879 (in Greek) 1889 1.577Εργαστήριο Δημογραφικών και Κοινωνικών Αναλύσεων Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλίας – Εργο e-Demography – Εκδόσεις ΕΛΣΤΑΤ – Απογραφές – 1889 (in Greek) 1896 1,649Εργαστήριο Δημογραφικών και Κοινωνικών Αναλύσεων Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλίας – Εργο e-Demography – Εκδόσεις ΕΛΣΤΑΤ – Απογραφές – 1896 (in Greek) 1907 1,627 1920 1,849 1928 1,796 1940 1,594 1951 66 1961 12 1971 6 1981 19 1991 69 2001 80 2011 90 2021 62
Sights
On 23 May 2015, the "Historical and Ethnographical Museum of Doliana" was inaugurated, dedicated to the historic battle that took place in the village, but also to the wider folklore of everyday life in the area. It is located in Christofili's house, which was the house where Nikitaras and his klephts fort upped during the battle, thus it was named "To tampouri tou Nikitara" (i.e. "The bulwark of Nikitaras").Το ΑrcadiaPortal σας ξεναγεί στο Ιστορικό και Εθνογραφικό Μουσείο Δολιανών (in Greek)Arcadia Portal – Ανακαλύψτε το ταμπούρι του Νικηταρά στα Άνω Δολιανά (in Greek) It is open to the public every Saturday and Sunday morning and is admission free.Δημοτική Ραδιοφωνία Τρίπολης – Κάθε Σαββατοκύριακο ανοιχτό το "Ταμπούρι του Νικηταρά" στα Άνω Δολιανά (in Greek)
The old elementary school is of particular interest, as it has been declared a traditional building by the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning and today operates as a traditional guesthouse.Υπουργείο Περιβάλλοντος, Ενέργειας και Κλιματικής Αλλαγής – Αρχείο Παραδοσιακών Οικισμών & Διατηρητέων Κτιρίων – ΦΕΚ Δ-133 α/14.03.1995 (in Greek) As a school, it used to operate during September and October of each school year, until the farmers would complete the harvest of chestnuts and other crops and move to the lowland settlement. It ceased its operation in October 1982.
Churches and chapels
The settlement is home to two main historical churches, as well as several notable chapels located in and around the village: Church of Panagia (Dormition of the Virgin Mary): Built in 1810 using local marble. Its original wooden interior was destroyed by fire during the Greek War of Independence. It was reconstructed in the 1970s into its current form as a domed basilica. Church of Agios Georgios (Saint George): A pre-revolutionary basilica that served as the headquarters of Kechagiabey during the historic Battle of Doliana in 1821, according to historical accounts by Fotakos. Chapel of Agios Ioannis (Saint John): Situated about 1.5 km from the village center on a slope overlooking Ano Doliana. On May 16, 1821, Nikitaras and his fighters encamped here prior to the Battle of Doliana. Chapel of Profitis Ilias (Prophet Elias): Located above the village at an altitude of 1,300 meters, near the mountain peak (1,390 m). A celebratory liturgy takes place here every year on July 20. Chapel of Agia Paraskevi: Located at the lower entrance of the village, built through local fundraising initiated by Eleni I. Tsiamoulou.
Events