Valtesiniko

Valtesiniko, now part of the Municipality of Gortynia, is a picturesque yet vibrant village with around 350 residents—a significant number considering the depopulation seen in many other villages in the Arcadian countryside.

Many craftsmen, both local and from other regions, who studied at the woodcarving school that operated during the 1980s, later became distinguished in the art of woodcarving, especially in the creation of church iconostases.

Even today, local artisans continue this tradition, working with wood and keeping the village’s legacy alive. However, Valtesiniko’s connection to woodcarving goes back even further, from the late 19th to the mid-20th century. Visitors can easily admire examples of this intricate work in the elaborate walnut wood iconostases of the village’s two largest churches: St. George and Saints Theodoroi.

Today, Valtesiniko maintains a primary school, a rural clinic, a cultural center, a post office, and a citizens’ service center (KEP).

In the summer—especially during July and August—the population increases significantly, peaking during the celebrations of the Feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary on August 15th.

In recent years, the Municipality of Kleitor, in cooperation with the local Cultural Association “The Dormition of the Theotokos,” has established the celebration of the traditional threshing festival on August 16th.