Arcadia (region, Greece)

Arcadia (region, Greece), region of the central Peloponnese of ancient Greece. The beauty of this mountainous region, known in Modern Greek as Arkadhia, has been captured by Greek, Roman, and Renaissance poets. Indeed, the Greeks believed that the gods chose Arcadia for their dances. Today Arcadia, covering an area of 4,419 sq km (1,706 sq mi), continues to attract many visitors who come to delight in the scenic splendours of the region. The region has a Mediterranean climate and is characterized by particularly erratic rainfall. Mountains dominate the landscape; between them lie inland basins and plains, which are drained by the Alfiós River and its tributaries. Coniferous forests cover the higher mountain slopes, while oak woodlands are scattered over lower elevations in the western part of the territory.

The present-day administrative region that makes up Arcadia is actually smaller than the ancient region. The bustling town of Tripolis is the capital of modern Arcadia, and is the centre of the tourist industry in the area. It is also Arcadia's transport hub, from where visitors explore the mountain ranges of Erimanthos, Menalo, and Oliginto, the so-called “Switzerland of Greece”.