Before the birth of Jesus, Arcadia had a particular perception of Dionysus, which foretold the subsequent Christian worship. Here they called Dionysus ‘Lisios’, meaning Saviour.

Orthodoxy suited well with the stoic Arcadian soul. Christmas in Tripoli and the surrounding villages is a really mystical experience. With Winter bestowing all her gifts, Arcadia becomes truly enchanting. The roads and side streets smell of traditional sweets, small honey cakes and pies. The city is beautifully decorated, the villages dressed in snow and the atmosphere vibrating from the joyful birth of the Saviour. It is an experience, a religious one as much as a cultural one. The traveller feels the spirit of Christmas with all his heart , surrendering himself to the hospitality of Arcadia.