Tripoli is bidding to be the Cultural Capital of Europe for 2021 following a bid by the Municipality of Tripoli, te Peloponnese Tourism Organization and the Arcadia Hotels Association.

Success in this bid could help boost local tourism. The area is in the middle of a valley surrounded by Mt. Artemisio, Parthenios and the Mainalo Mountains. Neoclassic buildings are interspersed with blocks of flats and natural springs.

The city was established at the start of the 14th century and was called Tripolitsa until the end of the 19th century. Invaders such as the Venetians and Ottoman turks left their mark on the city, just 165 kms southwest of Athens.

What to see in the city:

* Areos central square with the Judicial Mansion and the statue of Theodoros Kolokotronis. His bones are still preserved on the base of the monument. A beautiful district with traditional houses and one storey buildings surrounds the square.
* Agios Vasilios metropolitan church at the homonym square
* Malliaropoulio Institution
* The house where poet Kostas Kariotakis was born, located in the city center
* Apostolos Kolokotronis house (nephew of Theodoros Kolokotronis)
* Matzounio Central Public Library with 20.000 volumes
* The Museum of War
* The Cultural Center where meetings and exhibitions take place
* The Archeological Museum housed in a building designed by Ernst Ziller which initially hosted the Pan Arcadian hospital. It includes findings from the surrounding area, covering the period from the Mycenaean times up to 2nd century A.D.
* Ai-Giorgis chapel built in a pine tree forest, 2 km from the city.

Events that take place there

* “Cultural Summer” with many different events such as concerts, theatrical performances, exhibitions, etc. in the frames of the festival
* Celebration of the city liberation from the Turks on September 23
* Religious celebration and procession in honor of the Martyrs Dimitrios and Pavlos, on May 22
* Commercial feast at the park of the Former Bishopric of Tegea