By having as a base the "Evanthia's Traditional Mansion", the visitor has the possibility of enjoying the sights of village:

The most ancient church of the region dedicated in the "Dormition of Virgin Mary", built approximately two centuries ago with great pictures of saints that attract many religious tourists.

The picturesque small church of Saint Nikolaos in the top of the hill, looking faraway an impressive horizon and the captivating beauty of the area around.

The region of Saint Paraskevi with the small church, surrounded and covered by long aged oaks.The cavern Velhaki with the amazing internal small lakes.

The numerous picturesque paths that give the possibility to lovers of nature for walks in the nearby river and in the foothills of Oiti.

Also, by having as a base the village of Kastriotissa, the guest can visit the traditional villages: Mayrolithari, Athanassios Diakos, Moysoynitsa, Panourgias, Pira and Stromi.

History of the Region

Kastriotissa is the oldest village of  the municipality of Kallieon.  Today, there are still traces of the ancient castle that was build at around 500 b.c and it was the buttress of the Dorians.  During the classical period (6th-4th century b.c.) the technique for the castles and the fortresses was perfect.  The stones are well carved and have vertical (molding) engravings.

It was conquered by the Persians at 325 b.c. after the battle of Thermopylae.  The first excavations were made at about 1800 b.c. and brought to light the today's remains of the castle.  In 1987 an Englishman by the name Woodhouse published in Oxford his book "Eastern Aitolia" and on page 371 he writes:  "At the north part of the valley of Mega, Kastriotissa is located.  The walls of its castle are build in an exact irregular Greek style and protected from the square fortresses, which you can still see clearly from the three parts of the hill".

Remains of the walls are found today at the south part of the village and there is a large number of boulders scattered on the side of the mountain.  According to tradition, up till a few years ago, there was towards the west, the gate of the castle, which does not exist any more.  This is confirmed today by some of the elderly residents of Kastriotissa.

The historical author Dimitrios Fallis, relying on some testimonies, supports the view that on the present Kastriotissa there was, in the ancient time, the city Kallipolis.  It was named Kastriotissa later on because of the castle.  This ancient city must have been a popular city with thousand of residents and great culture, as it was surrounded by such a great castle.

This view is supported by the fact that according to many people there are buried in Kastriotissa many other antiquities.  At the square of the village, next to the school, there is an inland cave with 10-12 steps  with earthenware jars and other remarkable things.  There, according to tradition there was the palace of  king Kallia.

In Kastriotissa as well, we find the historical church of the Assumption Day.  At its place there was an old monastery with nuns build approximately in the year 1110 a.c.  There was some addition to it in 1853.    During the period of Turkish domination, there, would find shelter whoever from our area was chased from the invaders.  Maybe it was monastery dependency from Monastery Agathonos.  There were a lot of ancient wall paintings that have been painted over from recent Byzantium paintings.

The churche's present form was established in 1890 and it is a huge three-aisled basilica with a women's quarters and a small dome at the centre of the middle aisle. It is the characteristic basilica big dimensional that are founded in the Greek area during the 18th and 19th century.  At the bottom, all around, it is build with second used huge squared stones that are probably from the remains of the castle.

It is certain, however, that there are many other antiquities buried in the soil of our area.  We know about this for many years and talk about it as well as  that in that place, there are some stones  (ancient) , in another part marble and in another part ancient tombs.

Often, for many years now the hammer and the plower bring to the surface different "strange" things, small earthen pots of different shapes  "lainakia" in local dialect. Many of these had inside ancient currency , broken amphora, scattered currency, funeral gift graves, etc.

Most of the people who found these, did not know their value and did not pay any attention.  They would just leave them there and with the passage of time, these would be buried again.  Others would use them for their daily needs and others would sell them at any price to the traders.

All these, if they are combined with certain historic evidence show that the subsoil of our  municipality is rich in archaeological treasures.

Hercules fighting
Picture of ancient coloured pottery,  6th century b.c